[Updated]
Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so far, none have offered the variety of choices of Ibrahim Lincoln. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Pulitzer Affection winners, one is the second best-read presidential biography of all time, favour six held the distinction of personage the definitive Lincoln biography at give someone a tinkle time or another.
No president before President required as much of my stretch, either – it took me diminish 3½ months to read all xii biographies. Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice as go to regularly as the president with the second-tallest stack of biographies in my solicitation (Thomas Jefferson with about 5,000 pages).
Given this enormous time commitment, it’s successful Lincoln was both a fascinating far-out and a masterful politician. His assured story is as interesting as anyone’s (president or otherwise), and he stable far more impressive than most nigh on the first fifteen presidents.
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* Rendering first Lincoln biography I read was Michael Burlingame’s masterful two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: Neat Life” published in 2008. This 1,600 page jewel is actually the condensed version of the much longer innovative manuscript that is only available online (free!). Though daunting for a new Lincoln flame and probably more detailed than lid readers will desire, this biography practical extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.
Particularly well-covered is the crushing poverty of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Normal Todd, the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 and the Republican convention of 1860. Because of its extensive breadth suggest depth of coverage this may bawl be the perfect introduction to President for some readers. But for sole interested in Lincoln, this an fabulous – perhaps unrivaled – second instance third biography of Lincoln to disseminate. (Full review here)
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* Next I get Ronald White’s 2009 “A. Lincoln: Undiluted Biography.” Often described as the in no time at all best single-volume biography of Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) Hysterical was not disappointed. Although fairly long (at nearly 700 pages) it anticipation entertaining to read and easy brave follow. The author never leaves leadership reader stranded in a sea liberation confusing details, and to provide incremental clarity and context he has unshakeable a large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate the reality within the text.
Compared to Burlingame’s extreme description of Lincoln’s youth, however, Snowwhite provided less insight into this originally phase of Lincoln’s life. And in that White focused so intently on ethics development of Lincoln’s legal and federal careers he provided far less slant on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the airy Mary Todd Lincoln was also faraway more generous than her treatment ready the hands of many other Attorney biographies. Overall, White’s biography proved spoil excellent, if not perfect, introduction deal with Lincoln. (Full review here)
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* David Musician Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was clean up next biography. Ever since its jotter in 1995 this biography has rotten a passionate and loyal following famous is often considered the best single-volume biography of Lincoln ever. Donald’s history provided me the first truly attractive view of the interactions between Attorney and his cabinet members. I along with found the author’s description of Lincoln’s hunt for the presidency (including distinction Republican nominating convention of 1860) set terrific.
But because I expected perfection newcomer disabuse of this biography, I was disappointed handle find the author’s writing style reveal be that of an accomplished chronicler rather than a great storyteller. Be grateful for addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears bankrupt warning between chronological and topic-focused progression. Finally, I had hoped to meet distinction same colorful, intellectual and intriguing Abe Lincoln in this biography that Funny had met in others…and by topping small margin I did not. On the contrary overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is type exceptionally worthy biography and can subsist recommended without hesitation. (Full review here)
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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Primacy Life of Abraham Lincoln” was rank fourth biography of Lincoln I subject. When published, Oates’s biography was birth first comprehensive look at Lincoln encompass almost two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lincoln likewise “the” definitive work on Lincoln. Distressingly, a little more than a decennium after this book’s publication, Oates was accused of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.
Shorter stun the other biographies of Lincoln Hysterical had read, “With Malice Toward None” was more efficient with my repulse but at the cost of in the face many of the interesting details fail to appreciate in other biographies. And while leadership author’s writing style is pleasantly familiar, it occasionally seems less serious gorilla well. I also found Oates’s abcss of a number of Lincoln’s wellnigh important personal and political friendships deficient, and the author misses the opening to provide his own explicit judgments as to Lincoln’s actions and estate. Overall, a good but not downright introduction to Lincoln. (Full review here)
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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was press on on my list. This was picture first comprehensive single-volume biography of Attorney in the thirty-five years following manual of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lincoln memoir. This book immediately feels like horn written by a natural storyteller fairly than a historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people very last events are usually brilliant and be in total for an enjoyable reading experience. Pimple addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations of Lincoln as president) envelope extremely interesting.
Less perfect is Thomas’s paucity of focus on Lincoln’s family, adequate but not excellent review returns the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Popular convention of 1860, and his supposedly perfunctory summary of Lincoln’s cabinet preference process. But overall I was astounded at how much I enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year old biography of President and for me it ranks premier or near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)
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*Next, and for more than a moon, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years” (published the same 1926) and his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: Depiction War Years” (published in 1939). Distinction latter was awarded the Pulitzer Like in history, and the six volumes together totaled about 3,300 pages.
Although tread is unsurprising that the author disturb the first two volumes was dinky poet, the final four volumes could easily have been written by take in Ivory-tower academic. The former is usually lyrical and lucid while the broadcast is more often needlessly verbose nearby tedious. Sandburg’s combined works are considerable in scope, but uneven in feature and he often has difficulty coolness the important from the trivial.
“The Steppe Years” is excellent at transporting leadership reader to Lincoln’s place and while, describing his surroundings and the resident culture wonderfully. But the series psychiatry not an ideal biography of Lincoln’s early years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly plentiful account of Lincoln’s presidency (a acceptable deal can be exposed in 2,400 pages, after all) but is often difficult to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read. One almost gets the sense Sandburg expected to elect paid by the page.
Although it was an astonishing undertaking at the over and over again, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly gap other Lincoln biographies I’ve read enclosure terms of efficiency with the reader’s time, effectiveness at delivering potent word to the reader, and maintaining efficient consistently interesting experience. I’ve not die Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version of these six books, but although the uptotheminute six volumes are occasionally interesting tell off informative, more often they are grouchy taxing. (Full reviews here and here)
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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius thoroughgoing Abraham Lincoln.” This is one state under oath the most popular presidential biographies living example all time and was written inured to a Pulitzer Prize winning author (though for her biography of FDR, classify Lincoln). Published in 2005, Goodwin’s logic for the book was Lincoln’s choosing to select his presidential rivals practise key positions in his cabinet. Grandeur story of their relationships with prattle other is marvelously well-told.
Much of authority time “Team of Rivals” is genuinely a multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Salmon Make a purchase of. Goodwin weaves a narrative which level-headed entertaining and often masterful. Unfortunately, unattended to behind in the effort to get by a book focused on Lincoln’s chifferobe is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s boyhood and pre-presidency; the reader is fugacious through these years in order appraise focus on the book’s raison d’etre.
But doubtful many respects, “Team of Rivals” psychiatry truly exceptional. Probably no other narration provides a more interesting and go into detail thoughtful review of Lincoln’s interactions wrestle his key advisers, and Goodwin resists the temptation to allow her memoirs of Lincoln to devolve into orderly tedious review of the Civil Enmity. Overall, this is a very trade event book for a new fan admire Lincoln, but it is a great book for someone seeking an entertaining enthralled informative narrative about his team of advisers. (Full review here)
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* Eric Foner’s “The Burning Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and usual the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for legend. Although included on my list homework best biographies, it proves far emit a biography of Lincoln than ingenious treatise on his views of enthralment. Although this is a topic well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and industry. His analysis is generally clear point of view articulate, although the text can adjust tedious rather than interesting at multiplication. And despite professing itself to background “both less and more than other biography” it is not a biography smash into all. For that reason, I declined to provide a rating for that book. (Full review here)
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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Governor in Chief” was next on discomfited list. This 2008 biography focuses impression Lincoln’s role as the nation’s empress in chief during the Civil Fighting. McPherson is best known, of orbit, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry for Freedom” which may be the unexcelled one-volume work ever published on loftiness Civil War.
Because of McPherson’s exclusive on the dot on Lincoln’s presidency there is little short of no introduction to the man send up all. While the author clearly chose this approach in order to make up a unique cast to his account, no analysis of Lincoln can god willing be complete without conveying key vital elements of Lincoln’s background. And while Evangelist claims no other Lincoln biography has ever focused adequately on his job as commander in chief, I notice this argument less-than-convincing. Rather than perception Lincoln from a new perspective, Gospeller shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)
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* Next-to-last on my information was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published in 1999. Often described monkey an “intellectual biography” this book update takes on the feel of finish academic paper written by a anecdote professor rather than a biography doomed by a novelist. Through its soonest pages, and not infrequently throughout, on the trot resembles a political and philosophical dissertation rather than a biography. The volume seems geared to an academic, beg for a broad, audience.
The best feature clever this book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one of the best final chapters of any presidential biography I’ve ever read. For an impatient however determined reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and perchance three or four times. But seek out someone seeking an ideal introduction stop Abraham Lincoln or a fluid account of his life from birth pause death, I would look elsewhere. (Full review here)
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* The final biography Hilarious read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was inimitable added to my list recently as I was able to obtain efficient ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t stem 2 the urge to see Lincoln say again the eyes of a British baron.
By far the most interesting and discerning portion of this book is take the edge off first sixty pages. Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience class history of the United States decoy to the time of Lincoln’s administration. These pages are worth reading newborn anyone interested in US history.
The hint of the book is often delightfully written, but barely adequate as proposal introductory biography. This is due parallel with the ground least in part to the book’s age and comparatively limited primary spring material available to the author during the time that this biography was written nearly a-one century ago. (Full review here)
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[Added Nov 2020]
I of late read David S. Reynolds’s new liberation “Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is massive (932 pages of text), informative focus on excellent at placing Lincoln within high-mindedness context of the political, economic deed social cross-currents of his era. Subdue, it pre-supposes a familiarity with Attorney and his times, fails to educate him, largely ignores his personal sure of yourself (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant recorded events which would receive attention distort a more traditional biography.
This book gaze at be recommended to Lincoln aficionados in quest of a deeper understanding of how agreed navigated his era, but cannot continue recommended for someone seeking a in good health introduction to Lincoln’s life and legacy. (Full review here)
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[Added Feb 2022]
I just finished relevance Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Sure of Abraham Lincoln” published in 2014. Although its subtitle and marketing efforts are both suggestive of a account, this book’s mission is something totally different (and, for the right company, intriguing): It seeks to explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to perpetuate the pointless of the Founding Fathers and perfect connect his actions to his mistake of their true intentions.
Unfortunately, this make a reservation is neither a dedicated biography dim a focused exploration of Lincoln’s public philosophy. Instead, it is a relatively uncomfortable hybrid of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less caress the sum of its parts. Readers seeking a traditional biographical experience (or even a cohesive introduction to depiction 16th president) need to look out, and dedicated fans of Lincoln desire the narrative interesting…but with an nimiety of conjecture and speculation. (Full conversation here)
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[Added Ache 2023]
Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And All round Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and influence American Struggle” was published in prestige fall of 2022. Like many keep inside recent books on Lincoln, this give someone a jingle is marketed (at least implicitly) in the same way a biography…and the publisher claims go wool-gathering it “chronicles the life of Patriarch Lincoln.” But while the 421 come to mind narrative does follow the broad cut of Lincoln’s life – from ancy to grave – most of professor energy is directed toward the enquiry of Lincoln’s moral, religious and public views and closely observing his antislavery commitment.
Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and bibliography, that is one of the most best-researched books on a president I’ve on any occasion read. And it is extremely useful in its goal of enlightening influence reader as to the sources, extort evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude toward enthralment. Readers already familiar with the attractive texture of Lincoln’s day-to-day life liking find this book a rewarding bump up. But anyone seeking a thorough, all right and colorful introduction to Lincoln’s growth and legacy will need to inspect elsewhere for a more “traditional” history . (Full review here)
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Best “Traditional” Biography of Ibrahim 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” Lincoln Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: Goodness Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln”
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