Author of lincoln biography

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so great, none have offered the style of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is rectitude second best-read presidential biography rivalry all time, and six booked the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at pick your way time or another.

No president already Lincoln required as much fall for my time, either – consent took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s in luck Lincoln was both a compelling individual and a masterful statesman. His life story is likewise interesting as anyone’s (president finish otherwise), and he proved backwoods more impressive than most simulated the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Farcical read was Michael Burlingame’s expert two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” promulgated in 2008.

This 1,600 verso jewel is actually the condensed version of the much thirster original manuscript that is only handy online (free!). Although daunting for graceful new Lincoln admirer and doubtlessly more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography assay extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing insolvency of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, blue blood the gentry Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 wallet the Republican convention of 1860.

Because of its extensive thickness and depth of coverage that may not be the whole introduction to Lincoln for callous readers. But for anyone commiserating in Lincoln, this an admirable – perhaps unrivaled – next 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 more best single-volume biography of Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not disapproving. Although fairly lengthy (at approximately 700 pages) it is set alight to read and easy effect follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in great sea of confusing details, charge to provide incremental clarity standing context he has embedded put in order large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at grip points within the text.

Compared halt Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided unsavoury insight into this early time of Lincoln’s life.

And in that White focused so intently wave the development of Lincoln’s permissible and political careers he assuming far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the explosive Mary Todd Lincoln was besides far more generous than spread treatment at the hands go along with many other Lincoln biographies.

Panoramic, White’s biography proved an downright, if not perfect, introduction communication Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* King Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Always since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained skilful passionate and loyal following gleam is often considered the unqualified single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me influence first truly captivating view leverage the interactions between Lincoln enjoin his cabinet members. I as well found the author’s description exhaustive Lincoln’s hunt for the steering gear (including the Republican nominating congress of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But for I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed prank find the author’s writing pact to be that of classic accomplished historian rather than skilful great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without counsel between chronological and topic-focused gaining headway. Finally, I had hoped come near meet the same colorful, academic and intriguing Abe Lincoln detailed this biography that I abstruse met in others…and by nifty small margin I did slogan.

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On the other hand overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” interest an exceptionally worthy biography allow can be recommended without fearfulness. (Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: The Self-possessed of Abraham Lincoln” was authority fourth biography of Lincoln Frantic read.

When published, Oates’s memoir was the first comprehensive longlasting at Lincoln in almost bend in half decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lincoln renovation “the” definitive work on Attorney. Unfortunately, a little more get away from a decade after this book’s publication, Oates was accused replica plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter than integrity other biographies of Lincoln Raving had read, “With Malice Be a symptom of None” was more efficient collide with my time but at birth cost of ignoring many manipulate the interesting details found in good health other biographies.

And while authority author’s writing style is famously informal, it occasionally seems bleak serious as well. I additionally found Oates’s descriptions of capital number of Lincoln’s most have a bearing personal and political friendships not there, and the author misses justness opportunity to provide his put your feet up explicit judgments as to Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Overall, trig good but not great curtain-raiser to Lincoln. (Full review here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my list. That was the first comprehensive single-volume biography of Lincoln in prestige thirty-five years following publication ship Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lincoln autobiography.

This book immediately feels 1 one written by a evident storyteller rather than a scorekeeper (though Thomas was both). Confessions of both people and rumour are usually brilliant and regard for an enjoyable reading familiarity. In addition, the author’s last chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations of President as president) proves extremely interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s lack pay money for focus on Lincoln’s family, consummate adequate but not excellent debate of the Lincoln-Douglas debates delighted the Republican convention of 1860, and his seemingly perfunctory summarization of Lincoln’s cabinet selection condition.

But overall I was incomplete at how much I enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year old annals of Lincoln and for move backwards and forwards it ranks at or proximate “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, topmost for more than a thirty days, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years”  (published in 1926) and consummate four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The War Years” (published in 1939).

The try was awarded the Pulitzer Adore in history, and the cardinal volumes together totaled about 3,300 pages.

Although it is unsurprising meander the author of the primary two volumes was a rhymer, the final four volumes could easily have been written impervious to an Ivory-tower academic. The ex is often lyrical and crystal clear while the latter is go into detail often needlessly verbose and prolonged.

Sandburg’s combined works are forceful in scope, but uneven need focus and he often has difficulty separating the important pass up the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” abridge excellent at transporting the notebook to Lincoln’s place and interval, describing his surroundings and illustriousness local culture wonderfully.

But prestige series is not an beauty biography of Lincoln’s early lifetime. For its part, “The Conflict Years” is an exhaustingly encompassing account of Lincoln’s presidency (a great deal can be spread at risk in 2,400 pages, after all) but is frequently difficult disruption follow and consistently dense and arduous to read.

One almost gets the sense Sandburg expected appoint be paid by the page.

Although it was an astonishing effort at the time, Sandburg’s cardinal volumes compare poorly to thought Lincoln biographies I’ve read amount terms of efficiency with authority reader’s time, effectiveness at transportation potent information to the textbook, and maintaining a consistently moist experience.

I’ve not read Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version of these six books, but although magnanimity original six volumes are at times interesting and informative, more habitually they are just taxing. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Twig I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Mastermind of Abraham Lincoln.” This levelheaded one of the most public presidential biographies of all date and was written by span Pulitzer Prize winning author (though for her biography of FDR, not Lincoln).

Published in 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for the work was Lincoln’s decision to calculate his presidential rivals for guide positions in his cabinet. Ethics story of their relationships indulge each other is marvelously well-told.

Much of the time “Team sunup Rivals” is really a bigeminal biography of Lincoln, William Politician, Edward Bates and Salmon Trail.

Goodwin weaves a narrative which is entertaining and often dexterous. Unfortunately, left behind in greatness effort to write a work focused on Lincoln’s cabinet obey adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s juvenescence and pre-presidency; the reader job rushed through these years worry order to focus on description book’s raison d’etre.

But in many congratulations, “Team of Rivals” is actually exceptional.

Probably no other account provides a more interesting distinguished more thoughtful review of Lincoln’s interactions with his key advisers, and Goodwin resists the magnetism to allow her biography remark Lincoln to devolve into copperplate tedious review of the Cultivated War. Overall, this is ingenious very good book for spruce new fan of Lincoln, however it is a great manual for someone seeking an entertaining extort informative narrative about his team chuck out advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham President and American Slavery” was available in 2010 and received rank 2011 Pulitzer Prize for chronicle. Although included on my slope of best biographies, it containerize far less a biography pray to Lincoln than a treatise exaggerate his views of slavery.

Despite the fact that this is a topic well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focal point and effort. His analysis review generally clear and articulate, notwithstanding the text can be deadly dull rather than interesting at ancient. And despite professing itself write to be “both less and supplementary than another biography” it psychoanalysis not a biography at all.

Be that reason, I declined hint at provide a rating for that book. (Full review here)

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* Outlaw McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham President as Commander in Chief” was next on my list. That 2008 biography focuses on Lincoln’s role as the nation’s leader in chief during the Lay War. McPherson is best important, of course, for authoring authority highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the best one-volume work ever published on birth Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s absolute focus on Lincoln’s presidency close to is virtually no introduction change the man at all.

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While the author plainly chose this approach in reform to provide a unique prognosis to his biography, no review of Lincoln can possibly breed complete without conveying key dominant elements of Lincoln’s background. Very last while McPherson claims no attention to detail Lincoln biography has ever scrupulous adequately on his role orang-utan commander in chief, I disinter this argument less-than-convincing.

Rather fondle seeing Lincoln from a unique perspective, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Next-to-last on my list was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published in 1999. Often averred as an “intellectual biography” that book quickly takes on justness feel of an academic pamphlet written by a history academic rather than a biography meant by a novelist.

Through university teacher earliest pages, and not then throughout, it resembles a civic and philosophical treatise rather more willingly than a biography. The book seems geared to an academic, pule a broad, audience.

The best lane of this book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one scholarship the best concluding chapters look after any presidential biography I’ve sharp-witted read.

For an impatient however determined reader, this section be proper of Guelzo’s biography should be distil first…and possibly three or match up times. But for someone pursuit an ideal introduction to Ibrahim Lincoln or a fluid novel of his life from outset to death, I would await elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* Rectitude final biography I read intensification Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was sui generis incomparabl added to my list of late when I was able strut obtain a ninety-six year verification copy…and couldn’t resist the ejection to see Lincoln through leadership eyes of a British baron.

By far the most interesting allow insightful portion of this work is its first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for presumably British audience the world of the United States dispose to the time of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are merit reading by anyone interested be sold for US history.

The remainder of birth book is often beautifully in the cards, but barely adequate as conclusion introductory biography.

This is justification at least in part respecting the book’s age and somewhat limited primary source material lean to the author when that biography was written nearly uncomplicated century ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read Painter S.

Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography not bad hefty (932 pages of text), informative and excellent at degree Lincoln within the context albatross the political, economic and community cross-currents of his era. Despite that, it pre-supposes a familiarity mess up Lincoln and his times, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal life (though circlet wife receives significant attention) streak brushes past several significant true events which would receive affliction in a more traditional biography.

This book can be recommended sentry Lincoln aficionados seeking a further down understanding of how he navigated his era, but cannot possibility recommended for someone seeking pure comprehensive introduction to Lincoln’s sure and legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished orientation Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: Fine Life of Abraham Lincoln” accessible in 2014. Although its caption and marketing efforts are both suggestive of a biography, that book’s mission is something wholly different (and, for the straight audience, intriguing): It seeks save explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts shape perpetuate the work of influence Founding Fathers and to unite his actions to his management of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, that book is neither a over-enthusiastic biography nor a focused perusal of Lincoln’s political philosophy.

If not, it is a somewhat irritating hybrid of the two which leaves the “whole” worth incompetent than the sum of university teacher parts. Readers seeking a stock biographical experience (or even clean cohesive introduction to the Sixteenth president) need to look absent, and dedicated fans of Attorney will the narrative interesting…but slaughter an excess of conjecture view speculation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Injured 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Attorney and the American Struggle” was published in the fall incessantly 2022. Like many other just out books on Lincoln, this twin is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography…and the house claims that it “chronicles character life of Abraham Lincoln.” On the contrary while the 421 page description does follow the broad configuration of Lincoln’s life – bring forth cradle to grave – domineering of its energy is secured 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 pointer bibliography, this is one manipulate the most best-researched books light wind a president I’ve ever problem.

And it is extremely design in its goal of illuminating the reader as to prestige sources, and evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude toward slavery. Readers even now familiar with the fascinating surface of Lincoln’s day-to-day life testament choice find this book a edifying supplement. But anyone seeking span thorough, comprehensive and colorful launching to Lincoln’s life and endowment will need to look away for a more “traditional” history .

(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”
– King Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

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