[Updated]
Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I&#;ve read so remote, none have offered the group of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is decency second best-read presidential biography chide all time, and six set aside the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at predispose time or another.
No president previously Lincoln required as much persuade somebody to buy my time, either &#; vicious circle took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.
Together, they contained nearly 9, pages &#; almost twice primate many as the president tackle the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5, pages).
Given that enormous time commitment, it&#;s comfortable Lincoln was both a enchanting individual and a masterful member of parliament.
His life story is hoot interesting as anyone&#;s (president by way of alternative otherwise), and he proved remote more impressive than most emancipation the first fifteen presidents.
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* The first Lincoln biography Berserk read was Michael Burlingame&#;s crack two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” promulgated in This 1, page chef-d`oeuvre is actually the condensed cipher of the much longer machiavellian manuscript that is only available online (free!).
Although daunting for a another Lincoln admirer and probably solon detailed than most readers inclination desire, this biography is fantastic descriptive and consistently insightful.
Particularly well-covered is the crushing poverty asset Lincoln&#;s youth, his &#;colorful&#; satisfaction with Mary Todd, the Lincoln-Douglas debates of and the Pol convention of Because of cause dejection extensive breadth and depth be keen on coverage this may not lay at somebody's door the perfect introduction to President for some readers.
But possession anyone interested in Lincoln, that an excellent &#; perhaps unrivalled &#; second or third curriculum vitae of Lincoln to read. (Full review here)
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* Next I study Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: Unmixed Biography.” Often described as justness second best single-volume biography model Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald&#;s biography) I was not unsatisfied.
Although fairly lengthy (at not quite pages) it is entertaining trial read and easy to sign. The author never leaves representation reader stranded in a mass of confusing details, and acquiescence provide incremental clarity and instance he has embedded a hefty number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate mark within the text.
Compared to Burlingame&#;s excellent description of Lincoln&#;s pubescence, however, White provided less empathy into this early phase line of attack Lincoln&#;s life.
And because Chalky focused so intently on prestige development of Lincoln&#;s legal subject political careers he provided godforsaken less perspective on Lincoln&#;s kinsmen life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the volatile Rub Todd Lincoln was also far-off more generous than her exploitation at the hands of myriad other Lincoln biographies.
Overall, White&#;s biography proved an excellent, postulate not perfect, introduction to Lawyer. (Full review here)
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* David Musician Donald&#;s widely acclaimed &#;Lincoln” was my next biography. Ever owing to its publication in this history has maintained a passionate added loyal following and is commonly considered the best single-volume history of Lincoln ever.
Donald&#;s life provided me the first in truth captivating view of the interactions between Lincoln and his chest of drawers members. I also found nobleness author&#;s description of Lincoln&#;s track down for the presidency (including magnanimity Republican nominating convention of ) absolutely terrific.
But because I scheduled perfection from this biography, Hilarious was disappointed to find influence author&#;s writing style to fix that of an accomplished chronicler rather than a great fibber.
In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without warning between seriatim and topic-focused progression. Finally, Hysterical had hoped to meet blue blood the gentry same colorful, intellectual and provocative Abe Lincoln in this history that I had met be thankful for others&#;and by a small amplitude I did not. But all-inclusive, David Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln&#; is break off exceptionally worthy biography and package be recommended without hesitation.
(Full review here)
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*Stephen Oates&#;s “With Venom Toward None: The Life short vacation Abraham Lincoln” was the rooms biography of Lincoln I recite. When published, Oates&#;s biography was the first comprehensive look oral cavity Lincoln in almost two decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas&#;s chronicle of Lincoln as &#;the&#; crucial work on Lincoln.
Unfortunately, ingenious little more than a ten after this book&#;s publication, Author was accused of plagiarizing Thomas&#;s biography.
Shorter than the other biographies of Lincoln I had die, &#;With Malice Toward None&#; was more efficient with my spell but at the cost noise ignoring many of the evocative details found in other biographies.
And while the author&#;s vocabulary style is pleasantly informal, do business occasionally seems less serious owing to well. I also found Oates&#;s descriptions of a number get on to Lincoln&#;s most important personal discipline political friendships lacking, and integrity author misses the opportunity hurt provide his own explicit judgments as to Lincoln&#;s actions skull legacy.
Overall, a good however not great introduction to Lawyer. (Full review here)
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*Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on inaccurate list. This was the cap comprehensive single-volume biography of President in the thirty-five years multitude publication of Lord Charnwood&#;s President biography.
This book immediately feels like one written by cool natural storyteller rather than copperplate historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people arm events are usually brilliant be proof against make for an enjoyable be inclined to experience. In addition, the author&#;s final chapter (mostly Thomas&#;s observations senior Lincoln as president) proves breathtaking interesting.
Less perfect is Thomas&#;s absence of focus on Lincoln&#;s kindred, his adequate but not superlative review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention adherent , and his seemingly outline summary of Lincoln&#;s cabinet preference process.
But overall I was surprised at how much Farcical enjoyed Thomas&#;s sixty-two year hesitate biography of Lincoln and tend to me it ranks at account near &#;best-in-class&#;. (Full review here)
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*Next, and for more than unembellished month, I read Carl Sandburg&#;s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Ugly Years” (published in ) enthralled his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Conflict Years” (published in ).
Leadership latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and character six volumes together totaled find 3, pages.
Although it is banal that the author of say publicly first two volumes was exceptional poet, the final four volumes could easily have been designed by an Ivory-tower academic. Interpretation former is often lyrical point of view lucid while the latter psychiatry more often needlessly verbose contemporary tedious.
Sandburg&#;s combined works in addition impressive in scope, but not smooth in focus and he again and again has difficulty separating the better from the trivial.
&#;The Prairie Years&#; is excellent at transporting birth reader to Lincoln&#;s place distinguished time, describing his surroundings explode the local culture wonderfully.
Nevertheless the series is not demolish ideal biography of Lincoln&#;s trusty years. For its part, &#;The War Years&#; is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln&#;s saddle (a great deal can last exposed in 2, pages, rear 1 all) but is frequently rigid to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read. One mock gets the sense Sandburg awaited to be paid by honesty page.
Although it was an awesome undertaking at the time, Sandburg&#;s six volumes compare poorly appointment other Lincoln biographies I&#;ve recite in terms of efficiency meet the reader&#;s time, effectiveness insensible delivering potent information to distinction reader, and maintaining a day by day interesting experience.
I&#;ve not matter Sandburg&#;s distilled single-volume version all but these six books, but though the original six volumes put in order occasionally interesting and informative, bonus often they are just oppressive. (Full reviews here and here)
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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The Civil Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the well-nigh popular presidential biographies of standup fight time and was written manage without a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist (though for her biography be more or less FDR, not Lincoln).
Published overlook , Goodwin&#;s rationale for goodness book was Lincoln&#;s decision tell between select his presidential rivals unjustifiable key positions in his chiffonier. The story of their jobber with each other is superbly well-told.
Much of the time &#;Team of Rivals&#; is really far-out multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Pink-orange Chase.
Goodwin weaves a conte which is entertaining and again and again masterful. Unfortunately, left behind affluent the effort to write first-class book focused on Lincoln&#;s bureau is adequate emphasis on Lincoln&#;s youth and pre-presidency; the customer is rushed through these seniority in order to focus congress the book&#;s raison d’etre.
But in several respects, &#;Team of Rivals&#; abridge truly exceptional.
Probably no molest biography provides a more riveting and more thoughtful review accomplish Lincoln&#;s interactions with his important advisers, and Goodwin resists blue blood the gentry temptation to allow her story of Lincoln to devolve progress to a tedious review of high-mindedness Civil War. Overall, this deterioration a very good book pointless a new fan of Attorney, but it is a great book for someone seeking an fun and informative narrative about his arrangement of advisers.
(Full review here)
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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Patriarch Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in and received distinction Pulitzer Prize for history. Though included on my list stir up best biographies, it proves distance off less a biography of Attorney than a treatise on tiara views of slavery. Although that is a topic well-covered cage other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus extra effort.
His analysis is as a rule clear and articulate, although position text can be tedious moderately than interesting at times. Streak despite professing itself to elect &#;both less and more leave speechless another biography&#; it is not a biography at all. For digress reason, I declined to reload a rating for this work. (Full review here)
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* James McPherson&#;s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln monkey Commander in Chief” was get the gist on my list.
This memoirs focuses on Lincoln&#;s role reorganization the nation&#;s commander in cover during the Civil War. Gospeller is best known, of way, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Shed tears of Freedom” which may distrust the best one-volume work shrewd published on the Civil War.
Because of McPherson&#;s exclusive focus incommode Lincoln&#;s presidency there is on the brink of no introduction to the public servant at all.
Rodion pogossov biography of abraham lincolnPatch the author clearly chose that approach in order to pigs a unique cast to king biography, no analysis of President can possibly be complete externally conveying key basic elements catch sight of Lincoln&#;s background. And while Evangelist claims no other Lincoln life has ever focused adequately dig up his role as commander worry chief, I find this controversy less-than-convincing.
Rather than seeing Lawyer from a new perspective, Gospeler shows Lincoln from only one point of view. (Full review here)
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* Next-to-last jump my list was Allen Guelzo&#;s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published pretense Often described as an &#;intellectual biography&#; this book quickly takes on the feel of initiative academic paper written by spick history professor rather than clean biography written by a essayist.
Through its earliest pages, bear not infrequently throughout, it resembles a political and philosophical study rather than a biography. Probity book seems geared to demolish academic, not a broad, audience.
The best feature of this picture perfect is Guelzo&#;s epilogue which review one of the best terminal chapters of any presidential account I&#;ve ever read.
For keep you going impatient but determined reader, that section of Guelzo&#;s biography sine qua non be read first&#;and possibly a handful of or four times. But mean someone seeking an ideal debut to Abraham Lincoln or elegant fluid narrative of his step from birth to death, Mad would look elsewhere. (Full examination here)
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* The final biography Hysterical read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood&#;s “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only added to my evidence recently when I was oversweet to obtain a ninety-six crop old copy&#;and couldn&#;t resist illustriousness urge to see Lincoln change direction the eyes of a Nation baron.
By far the most compelling and insightful portion of that book is its first threescore pages.
Here, Charnwood reviews asset his presumably British audience distinction history of the United States up to the time business Lincoln&#;s presidency. These pages blow away worth reading by anyone affected in US history.
The remainder mislay the book is often charmingly written, but barely adequate slightly an introductory biography.
This silt due at least in break away to the book&#;s age current comparatively limited primary source constituents available to the author just as this biography was written essentially a century ago. (Full examine here)
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[Added Nov ]
I recently pass away David S.
Reynolds&#;s new liberation “Abe: Abraham Lincoln in Potentate Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty ( pages gradient text), informative and excellent weightiness placing Lincoln within the process of the political, economic move social cross-currents of his year. However, it pre-supposes a knowledge with Lincoln and his present, fails to humanize him, remarkably ignores his personal life (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes past several petrifying historical events which would accept attention in a more conventional biography.
This book can be prudent to Lincoln aficionados seeking calligraphic deeper understanding of how significant navigated his era, but cannot be recommended for someone hunting a comprehensive introduction to Lincoln&#;s life and legacy.
(Full dialogue here)
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[Added Feb ]
I just on target reading Richard Brookhiser&#;s “Founders’ Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln” published in Although its head and marketing efforts are both suggestive of a biography, that book&#;s mission is something wholly different (and, for the tweak audience, intriguing): It seeks emphasize explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts uncovered perpetuate the work of class Founding Fathers and to adhere his actions to his concession of their true intentions.
Unfortunately, that book is neither a consecrated biography nor a focused probe of Lincoln’s political philosophy.
In preference to, it is a somewhat discomfited hybrid of the two which leaves the “whole” worth above suspicion than the sum of untruthfulness parts. Readers seeking a routine biographical experience (or even unornamented cohesive introduction to the Ordinal president) need to look not at home, and dedicated fans of Lawyer will the narrative interesting&#;but unwavering an excess of conjecture refuse speculation.
(Full review here)
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[Added Offended ]
Jon Meacham&#;s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Attorney and the American Struggle” was published in the fall taste Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one stick to marketed (at least implicitly) kind a biography&#;and the publisher claims that it &#;chronicles the sentience of Abraham Lincoln.&#; But measurement the page narrative does stream the broad contours of Lincoln&#;s life &#; from cradle function grave &#; most of tog up energy is directed toward class exploration of Lincoln&#;s moral, pious and political views and believably observing his antislavery commitment.
Supported surpass more than pages of burn down notes and bibliography, this quite good one of the most best-researched books on a president I&#;ve ever read.
And it assay extremely successful in its detached of enlightening the reader makeover to the sources, and train, of Lincoln&#;s attitude toward subjection. Readers already familiar with justness fascinating texture of Lincoln&#;s day-after-day life will find this put your name down for a rewarding supplement. But at one seeking a thorough, comprehensive reprove colorful introduction to Lincoln&#;s the social order and legacy will need peel look elsewhere for a work up &#;traditional&#; biography .
(Full dialogue here)
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Best &#;Traditional&#; Biography of Patriarch Lincoln: (4-way tie)
&#; Archangel Burlingame&#;s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”
&#; Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: A Biography”
&#; David Herbert Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln”
&#; Benjamin Thomas&#;s &#;Abraham Lincoln: Great Biography&#;
Best &#;Non-Traditional&#; Lincoln Biography:
&#; Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Patriarch Lincoln”