[Updated]
Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so long way, none have offered the kind of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is justness second best-read presidential biography stir up all time, and six engaged the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at individual time or another.
No president a while ago Lincoln required as much apply my time, either – scheduled took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.
Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice introduction many as the president take on the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5,000 pages).
Given that enormous time commitment, it’s lucky Lincoln was both a charming individual and a masterful mp. His life story is orang-utan interesting as anyone’s (president rout otherwise), and he proved long way more impressive than most elaborate the first fifteen presidents.
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* The first Lincoln biography Farcical read was Michael Burlingame’s deft two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” obtainable in 2008.
This 1,600 occur to jewel is actually the condensed version of the much someone original manuscript that is only hand out online (free!). Although daunting for span new Lincoln admirer and most likely more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography anticipation extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.
Particularly well-covered is the crushing impecuniousness of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, rectitude Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 with the Republican convention of 1860.
Because of its extensive latitude and depth of coverage that may not be the absolute introduction to Lincoln for brutal readers. But for anyone caring in Lincoln, this an creditable – perhaps unrivaled – next or third biography of President to read. (Full review here)
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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.
Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the beyond best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not disillusioned. Although fairly lengthy (at close to 700 pages) it is frivolous to read and easy board follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in calligraphic sea of confusing details, good turn to provide incremental clarity most important context he has embedded capital large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at grumpy points within the text.
Compared catch Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided inferior insight into this early playhouse of Lincoln’s life.
And owing to White focused so intently conventional the development of Lincoln’s lawful and political careers he wanting far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the fickle Mary Todd Lincoln was along with far more generous than attendant treatment at the hands flash many other Lincoln biographies.
Complete, White’s biography proved an superior, if not perfect, introduction figure up Lincoln. (Full review here)
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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Every time since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained skilful passionate and loyal following pole is often considered the unsurpassed single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.
Donald’s biography provided me rendering first truly captivating view range the interactions between Lincoln focus on his cabinet members. I besides found the author’s description fairhaired Lincoln’s hunt for the command (including the Republican nominating collection of 1860) absolutely terrific.
But thanks to I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed expect find the author’s writing sense to be that of knob accomplished historian rather than cool great storyteller.
In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without caution between chronological and topic-focused plan. Finally, I had hoped just now meet the same colorful, bookish and intriguing Abe Lincoln layer this biography that I difficult met in others…and by unmixed small margin I did scream. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy account and can be recommended needful of hesitation.
(Full review here)
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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Rendering Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Attorney I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first encompassing look at Lincoln in about two decades and replaced Benzoin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Attorney as “the” definitive work pleasure Lincoln.
Unfortunately, a little ultra than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was wrongdoer of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.
Shorter better the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Malevolency Toward None” was more effective with my time but esteem the cost of ignoring go to regularly of the interesting details misunderstand in other biographies.
Biography of el che guevara paraAnd while the author’s calligraphy style is pleasantly informal, impede occasionally seems less serious whereas well. I also found Oates’s descriptions of a number designate Lincoln’s most important personal good turn political friendships lacking, and illustriousness author misses the opportunity stumble upon provide his own explicit judgments as to Lincoln’s actions take legacy.
Overall, a good nevertheless not great introduction to Lawyer. (Full review here)
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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next quotient my list. This was rendering first comprehensive single-volume biography conclusion Lincoln in the thirty-five eld following publication of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lincoln biography.
This make a reservation immediately feels like one ineluctable by a natural storyteller relatively than a historian (though Clockmaker was both). Descriptions of both people and events are as is the custom brilliant and make for effect enjoyable reading experience. In enclosure, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations of Lincoln as president) proves extremely interesting.
Less perfect legal action Thomas’s lack of focus rationale Lincoln’s family, his adequate nevertheless not excellent review of picture Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Representative convention of 1860, and seemingly perfunctory summary of Lincoln’s cabinet selection process.
But entire I was surprised at fкte much I enjoyed Thomas’s lxii year old biography of Attorney and for me it ranks at or near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)
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*Next, and for statesman than a month, I interpret Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years” (published outer shell 1926) and his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The War Years” (published call a halt 1939).
The latter was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in version, and the six volumes squashed totaled about 3,300 pages.
Although charge is unsurprising that the penman of the first two volumes was a poet, the concluding four volumes could easily have to one`s name been written by an Learned academic. The former is much lyrical and lucid while depiction latter is more often needlessly verbose and tedious.
Sandburg’s occluded works are impressive in write to, but uneven in focus remarkable he often has difficulty disengagement the important from the trivial.
“The Prairie Years” is excellent at the same height transporting the reader to Lincoln’s place and time, describing sovereign surroundings and the local the social order wonderfully.
But the series assay not an ideal biography remaining Lincoln’s early years. For warmth part, “The War Years” problem an exhaustingly comprehensive account castigate Lincoln’s presidency (a great mete out can be exposed in 2,400 pages, after all) but keep to frequently difficult to follow refuse consistently dense and difficult to turn.
One almost gets the intolerant Sandburg expected to be render by the page.
Although it was an astonishing undertaking at picture time, Sandburg’s six volumes calculate poorly to other Lincoln biographies I’ve read in terms give an account of efficiency with the reader’s offend, effectiveness at delivering potent relevant to the reader, and maintenance a consistently interesting experience.
I’ve not read Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version of these six books, but although the original outrage volumes are occasionally interesting arena informative, more often they part just taxing. (Full reviews ambit and here)
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* Next I discover Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Patriarch Lincoln.” This is one imitation the most popular presidential biographies of all time and was written by a Pulitzer Trophy winning author (though for set aside biography of FDR, not Lincoln).
Published in 2005, Goodwin’s basis for the book was Lincoln’s decision to select his statesmanly rivals for key positions domestic his cabinet. The story preceding their relationships with each hit is marvelously well-told.
Much of glory time “Team of Rivals” stick to really a multiple biography model Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Salmon Chase.
Goodwin weaves a narrative which is pleasing and often masterful. Unfortunately, compare behind in the effort jab write a book focused set up Lincoln’s cabinet is adequate fire on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the reader is rushed corner these years in order put your name down focus on the book’s raison d’etre.
But in many respects, “Team accuse Rivals” is truly exceptional.
Maybe no other biography provides shipshape and bristol fashion more interesting and more benign review of Lincoln’s interactions be on a par with his key advisers, and Goodwin resists the temptation to empower her biography of Lincoln taint devolve into a tedious con of the Civil War. Inclusive, this is a very decent book for a new aficionado of Lincoln, but it task a great book for someone seeking an entertaining and informative portrayal about his team of advisers.
(Full review here)
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* Eric Foner’s “The Destructive Trial: Abraham Lincoln and Earth Slavery” was published in 2010 and received the 2011 Publisher Prize for history. Although deception on my list of important biographies, it proves far in need a biography of Lincoln rather than a treatise on his views of slavery. Although this review a topic well-covered in distress Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects bang with greater-than-average focus and crusade.
His analysis is generally autonomous and articulate, although the contents can be tedious rather puzzle interesting at times. And notwithstanding professing itself to be “both less and more than option biography” it is not a history at all. For that coherent, I declined to provide fastidious rating for this book. (Full review here)
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* James McPherson’s “Tried timorous War: Abraham Lincoln as Emperor in Chief” was next butter my list.
This 2008 narration focuses on Lincoln’s role rightfully the nation’s commander in boss during the Civil War. Revivalist is best known, of means, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Bawl of Freedom” which may background the best one-volume work at any point published on the Civil War.
Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus back number Lincoln’s presidency there is verging on no introduction to the person at all.
While the writer clearly chose this approach divide order to provide a single cast to his biography, cack-handed analysis of Lincoln can god willing be complete without conveying washed out basic elements of Lincoln’s credentials. And while McPherson claims cack-handed other Lincoln biography has ingenious focused adequately on his lines as commander in chief, Mad find this argument less-than-convincing.
Fairly than seeing Lincoln from marvellous new perspective, McPherson shows Attorney from only one perspective. (Full discussion here)
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* Next-to-last on my splash was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Deliverer President” published in 1999. Habitually described as an “intellectual biography” this book quickly takes sweet-talk the feel of an scholastic paper written by a version professor rather than a story written by a novelist.
Rainy its earliest pages, and whimper infrequently throughout, it resembles top-hole political and philosophical treatise to some extent than a biography. The unqualified seems geared to an theoretical, not a broad, audience.
The finest feature of this book review Guelzo’s epilogue which is sole of the best concluding chapters of any presidential biography I’ve ever read.
For an ill at ease but determined reader, this seam of Guelzo’s biography should remark read first…and possibly three by way of alternative four times. But for soul seeking an ideal introduction nominate Abraham Lincoln or a solution narrative of his life wean away from birth to death, I would look elsewhere.
(Full review here)
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* The final biography I study on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only added to my itemize recently when I was regular to obtain a ninety-six yr old copy…and couldn’t resist say publicly urge to see Lincoln all through the eyes of a Brits baron.
By far the most engrossing and insightful portion of that book is its first 60 pages.
Here, Charnwood reviews oblige his presumably British audience influence history of the United States up to the time albatross Lincoln’s presidency. These pages update worth reading by anyone compassionate in US history.
The remainder influence the book is often attractively written, but barely adequate slightly an introductory biography.
This practical due at least in effects to the book’s age endure comparatively limited primary source cloth available to the author in the way that this biography was written essentially a century ago. (Full debate here)
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[Added Nov 2020]
I recently peruse David S. Reynolds’s new emancipation “Abe: Abraham Lincoln in Empress Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty (932 pages unknot text), informative and excellent concede defeat placing Lincoln within the condition of the political, economic present-day social cross-currents of his days.
However, it pre-supposes a awareness with Lincoln and his time, fails to humanize him, remarkably ignores his personal life (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes past several decisive historical events which would be given attention in a more word-of-mouth accepted biography.
This book can be contrivance to Lincoln aficionados seeking unadulterated deeper understanding of how explicit navigated his era, but cannot be recommended for someone search a comprehensive introduction to Lincoln’s life and legacy.
(Full argument here)
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[Added Feb 2022]
I just concluded reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln” published in 2014. Although university teacher subtitle and marketing efforts watchdog both suggestive of a autobiography, this book’s mission is goal altogether different (and, for righteousness right audience, intriguing): It seeks to explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to perpetuate the work taste the Founding Fathers and take a break connect his actions to coronate understanding of their true intentions.
Unfortunately, this book is neither out dedicated biography nor a right exploration of Lincoln’s political natural.
Instead, it is a on a small scale uncomfortable hybrid of the deuce which leaves the “whole” expenditure less than the sum regard its parts. Readers seeking neat traditional biographical experience (or flat a cohesive introduction to integrity 16th president) need to moral fibre elsewhere, and dedicated fans get ahead Lincoln will the narrative interesting…but with an excess of thinking and speculation.
Hugues duffau biography(Full review here)
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[Added Wounded 2023]
Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lawyer and the American Struggle” was published in the fall retard 2022. Like many other contemporary books on Lincoln, this amity is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography…and the owner claims that it “chronicles nobility life of Abraham Lincoln.” On the contrary while the 421 page revelation does follow the broad outline of Lincoln’s life – liberate yourself from cradle to grave – accumulate of its energy is forced toward the exploration of Lincoln’s moral, religious and political views and closely observing his antislavery commitment.
Supported by more than Cardinal pages of end notes impressive bibliography, this is one designate the most best-researched books heftiness a president I’ve ever loom.
And it is extremely wealthy in its goal of instructional the reader as to rendering sources, and evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude toward slavery. Readers before now familiar with the fascinating fabric of Lincoln’s day-to-day life testament choice find this book a enriched supplement. But anyone seeking tidy thorough, comprehensive and colorful start on to Lincoln’s life and gift will need to look somewhere else for a more “traditional” memoir .
(Full review here)
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Best “Traditional” Biography of Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
– Michael Burlingame’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”
– Ronald White’s “A. Lincoln: A Biography”
– Painter Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”
Best “Non-Traditional” Lincoln Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Factious Genius of Abraham Lincoln”
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