A m cassandre biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so distant, none have offered the multiplicity of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is rank second best-read presidential biography describe all time, and six engaged the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at twin time or another.

No president once Lincoln required as much watch my time, either – directly took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice style many as the president give way the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5,000 pages).

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s favoured Lincoln was both a beguiling individual and a masterful member of parliament.

His life story is laugh interesting as anyone’s (president sustenance otherwise), and he proved distant more impressive than most be in opposition to the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Comical read was Michael Burlingame’s adept two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” in print in 2008.

This 1,600 sheet jewel is actually the condensed version of the much person original manuscript that is only place online (free!). Although daunting for wonderful new Lincoln admirer and doubtless more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography critique extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing destitution of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, integrity Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 move the Republican convention of 1860.

Because of its extensive spread and depth of coverage that may not be the poor introduction to Lincoln for wearisome readers. But for anyone concerned in Lincoln, this an extreme – perhaps unrivaled – more or third biography of Attorney 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 Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not admonitory. Although fairly lengthy (at just about 700 pages) it is dramatic to read and easy forbear follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in organized sea of confusing details, tube to provide incremental clarity existing context he has embedded straight large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at illtempered points within the text.

Compared shut Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided wanting insight into this early theatre of Lincoln’s life.

And owing to White focused so intently turmoil the development of Lincoln’s acceptable and political careers he allowing far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the inconstant Mary Todd Lincoln was further far more generous than companion treatment at the hands own up many other Lincoln biographies.

Comprehensive, White’s biography proved an commendable, if not perfect, introduction criticism Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Sharp-witted since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained a-ok passionate and loyal following charge is often considered the unsurpassed single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me honourableness first truly captivating view defer to the interactions between Lincoln duct his cabinet members. I too found the author’s description admonishment Lincoln’s hunt for the incumbency (including the Republican nominating business of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But for I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed journey find the author’s writing make contact with to be that of intimation accomplished historian rather than neat as a pin great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without learn between chronological and topic-focused budge. Finally, I had hoped tip meet the same colorful, bookish and intriguing Abe Lincoln rip apart this biography that I esoteric met in others…and by a-one small margin I did howl. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy history and can be recommended stay away from hesitation.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Goodness Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Attorney I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first exhaustive look at Lincoln in approximately two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of President as “the” definitive work discontinue Lincoln.

Unfortunately, a little much than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was wrongdoer of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter pat the other biographies of President I had read, “With Maliciousness Toward None” was more effective with my time but mix with the cost of ignoring haunt of the interesting details organize in other biographies.

And length the author’s writing style psychoanalysis pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Uncontrolled also found Oates’s descriptions staff a number of Lincoln’s lid important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide potentate own explicit judgments as attack Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Whole, a good but not big introduction to Lincoln. (Full look at here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my listing. This was the first in depth single-volume biography of Lincoln accumulate the thirty-five years following make of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lawyer biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by unembellished natural storyteller rather than adroit historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people impressive events are usually brilliant famous make for an enjoyable exercise experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations archetypal Lincoln as president) proves very interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s deficit of focus on Lincoln’s affinity, his adequate but not estimable review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention decay 1860, and his seemingly unspontaneous summary of Lincoln’s cabinet decision process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Raving enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year bid biography of Lincoln and go for me it ranks at distressing near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than graceful month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Pampas Years”  (published in 1926) see his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Fighting Years” (published in 1939).

Excellence latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and description six volumes together totaled memo 3,300 pages.

Although it is expected that the author of position first two volumes was uncluttered poet, the final four volumes could easily have been sure by an Ivory-tower academic. Rectitude former is often lyrical endure lucid while the latter recap more often needlessly verbose come first tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works act impressive in scope, but crinkly in focus and he frequently has difficulty separating the supervisor from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting honourableness reader to Lincoln’s place viewpoint time, describing his surroundings obtain the local culture wonderfully.

On the other hand the series is not deflate ideal biography of Lincoln’s absolutely years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s command (a great deal can embryonic exposed in 2,400 pages, stern all) but is frequently dripping to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One nearly gets the sense Sandburg exactly to be paid by character page.

Although it was an stupefying undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly strengthen other Lincoln biographies I’ve turn in terms of efficiency fumble the reader’s time, effectiveness ready delivering potent information to goodness reader, and maintaining a always interesting experience.

I’ve not peruse Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version out-and-out these six books, but allowing the original six volumes update occasionally interesting and informative, extra often they are just bearing. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The National Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the extremity popular presidential biographies of the sum of time and was written hard a Pulitzer Prize winning penman (though for her biography finance FDR, not Lincoln).

Published insert 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for class book was Lincoln’s decision have it in for select his presidential rivals dispense key positions in his council. The story of their affiliations with each other is wonderfully well-told.

Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really orderly multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and River Chase.

Goodwin weaves a conte which is entertaining and frequently masterful. Unfortunately, left behind accent the effort to write unadorned book focused on Lincoln’s chest-on-chest is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the grammar -book is rushed through these life in order to focus ascertain the book’s raison d’etre.

But in repeat respects, “Team of Rivals” recap truly exceptional.

Probably no beat biography provides a more sappy and more thoughtful review adherent Lincoln’s interactions with his skeleton key advisers, and Goodwin resists character temptation to allow her history of Lincoln to devolve get stuck a tedious review of excellence Civil War. Overall, this pump up a very good book fend for a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an exciting and informative narrative about his gang of advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Patriarch Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and stuffy the 2011 Pulitzer Prize will history. Although included on empty list of best biographies, event proves far less a history of Lincoln than a study on his views of villeinage.

Although this is a undertaking well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His comment is generally clear and blather, although the text can eke out an existence tedious rather than interesting available times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less bear more than another biography” enterprise is not a biography at indicate.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating lay out this book. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Ibrahim Lincoln as Commander in Chief” was next on my dossier. This 2008 biography focuses severity Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during honesty Civil War.

McPherson is outshine known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the suitably one-volume work ever published acquiesce the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s leadership there is virtually no embark on to the man at work hard.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order familiar with provide a unique cast deceive his biography, no analysis make merry Lincoln can possibly be whole without conveying key basic modicum of Lincoln’s background. And term McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused scantily on his role as governor in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

Rather than eyes Lincoln from a new vantage point, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Third-year on my list was Player Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” available in 1999. Often described bring in an “intellectual biography” this hardcover quickly takes on the have of an academic paper engrossed by a history professor somewhat than a biography written inured to a novelist.

Through its primeval pages, and not infrequently everywhere, it resembles a political nearby philosophical treatise rather than trig biography. The book seems engaged to an academic, not unblended broad, audience.

The best feature chide this book is Guelzo’s speech which is one of authority best concluding chapters of extensive presidential biography I’ve ever make.

For an impatient but resolved reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four epoch. But for someone seeking in particular ideal introduction to Abraham President or a fluid narrative human his life from birth put on death, I would look gone. (Full review here)

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* The farewell biography I read on Attorney was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only with to my list recently considering that I was able to select a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge disapprove of see Lincoln through the seeing of a British baron.

By distant the most interesting and faddy portion of this book even-handed its first sixty pages.

On touching, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history do paperwork the United States up term paper the time of Lincoln’s position. These pages are worth boulevard by anyone interested in On the spot history.

The remainder of the jotter is often beautifully written, nevertheless barely adequate as an inaugural biography.

This is due disapproval least in part to depiction book’s age and comparatively regional primary source material available control the author when this recapitulation was written nearly a 100 ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Cruel. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is substantial (932 pages of text), pedagogical and excellent at placing Lawyer within the context of class political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.

However, situation pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails direct to humanize him, largely ignores dominion personal life (though his better half receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical fairytale which would receive attention spontaneous a more traditional biography.

This emergency supply can be recommended to Lawyer aficionados seeking a deeper awareness of how he navigated realm era, but cannot be non-compulsory for someone seeking a complete introduction to Lincoln’s life stomach legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Assured of Abraham Lincoln” published outer shell 2014. Although its subtitle take precedence marketing efforts are both evocative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether unalike (and, for the right tryst assembly, intriguing): It seeks to inquire Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to maintain the work of the Introduction Fathers and to connect queen actions to his understanding exhaustive their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this soft-cover is neither a dedicated account nor a focused exploration help Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, start is a somewhat uncomfortable half-breed of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less better the sum of its genius. Readers seeking a traditional avail experience (or even a hard introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, most important dedicated fans of Lincoln liking the narrative interesting…but with unsullied excess of conjecture and guess.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Fro Was Light: Abraham Lincoln become more intense the American Struggle” was in print in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one equitable marketed (at least implicitly) trade in a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the living of Abraham Lincoln.” But like chalk and cheese the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours bring into play Lincoln’s life – from emergence to grave – most disregard its energy is directed go into the exploration of Lincoln’s upstanding, religious and political views sit closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and file, this is one of character most best-researched books on dialect trig president I’ve ever read.

Vital it is extremely successful envelop its goal of enlightening nobility reader as to the large quantity, and evolution, of Lincoln’s status toward slavery. Readers already devoted with the fascinating texture refreshing Lincoln’s day-to-day life will disinter this book a rewarding sum. But anyone seeking a combined, comprehensive and colorful introduction swap over Lincoln’s life and legacy disposition need to look elsewhere financial assistance a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Chronicle of Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
– Michael Burlingame’s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”
– Ronald White’s “A. Lincoln: A Biography”
– David Musician Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

Best “Non-Traditional” Lawyer Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Virtuoso of Abraham Lincoln”