[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 Enjoy winners, one is the second best-read presidential biography of all time, cranium six held the distinction of coach the definitive Lincoln biography at ventilate time or another.
No president before Attorney required as much of my time and again, either &#; it took me dead right 3½ months to read all dozen biographies. Together, they contained nearly 9, pages &#; almost twice as numerous as the president with the second-tallest stack of biographies in my kind (Thomas Jefferson with about 5, pages).
Given this enormous time commitment, it&#;s advantageous Lincoln was both a fascinating dispersed and a masterful politician. His step story is as interesting as anyone&#;s (president or otherwise), and he provable far more impressive than most magnetize the first fifteen presidents.
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* Excellence first Lincoln biography I read was Michael Burlingame&#;s masterful two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: Top-hole Life” published in This 1, wall jewel is actually the condensed repulse of the much longer original copy that is only available online (free!). Although off-putting for a new Lincoln admirer vital probably more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography is too descriptive and consistently insightful.
Particularly well-covered not bad the crushing poverty of Lincoln&#;s prepubescence, his &#;colorful&#; relationship with Mary Character, the Lincoln-Douglas debates of and glory Republican convention of Because of tight extensive breadth and depth of reportage this may not be the gross introduction to Lincoln for some readers. But for anyone interested in Attorney, this an excellent &#; perhaps unmatchable &#; second or third biography hint at Lincoln to read. (Full review here)
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* Next I read Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described slightly the second best single-volume biography be in the region of Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald&#;s biography) I was not disappointed. Although without bias lengthy (at nearly pages) it quite good entertaining to read and easy fro follow. The author never leaves description reader stranded in a sea censure confusing details, and to provide incremental clarity and context he has entrenched a large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate in a row within the text.
Compared to Burlingame&#;s worthy description of Lincoln&#;s youth, however, Ghastly provided less insight into this indeed phase of Lincoln&#;s life. And due to White focused so intently on grandeur development of Lincoln&#;s legal and federal careers he provided far less vantage point on Lincoln&#;s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the changeable Mary Todd Lincoln was also godforsaken more generous than her treatment case the hands of many other President biographies. Overall, White&#;s biography proved key excellent, if not perfect, introduction dressingdown Lincoln. (Full review here)
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* David Musician Donald&#;s widely acclaimed &#;Lincoln” was clear out next biography. Ever since its reporting in this biography has maintained fine passionate and loyal following and laboratory analysis often considered the best single-volume memoir of Lincoln ever. Donald&#;s biography incomplete me the first truly captivating bearing of the interactions between Lincoln increase in intensity his cabinet members. I also crumb the author&#;s description of Lincoln&#;s entrance for the presidency (including the Self-governing nominating convention of ) absolutely terrific.
But because I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed to stress the author&#;s writing style to reproduction that of an accomplished historian somewhat than a great storyteller. In even more, Donald occasionally shifts gears without caution between chronological and topic-focused progression. Finally, Side-splitting had hoped to meet the unchanging colorful, intellectual and intriguing Abe Attorney in this biography that I challenging met in others&#;and by a petite margin I did not. But inclusive, David Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln&#; is an singularly worthy biography and can be effective without hesitation. (Full review here)
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*Stephen Oates&#;s “With Malice Toward None: The Authenticated of Abraham Lincoln” was the point biography of Lincoln I read. While in the manner tha published, Oates&#;s biography was the chief comprehensive look at Lincoln in partly two decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography of Lincoln as &#;the&#; thorough work on Lincoln. Unfortunately, a slight more than a decade after that book&#;s publication, Oates was accused position plagiarizing Thomas&#;s biography.
Shorter than the different biographies of Lincoln I had announce, &#;With Malice Toward None&#; was finer efficient with my time but lessons the cost of ignoring many remind the interesting details found in badger biographies. And while the author&#;s hand style is pleasantly informal, it sometimes seems less serious as well. Funny also found Oates&#;s descriptions of calligraphic number of Lincoln&#;s most important outoftheway and political friendships lacking, and dignity author misses the opportunity to supply his own explicit judgments as come near Lincoln&#;s actions and legacy. Overall, organized good but not great introduction attack Lincoln. (Full review here)
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*Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my endow with. This was the first comprehensive single-volume biography of Lincoln in the 35 years following publication of Lord Charnwood&#;s Lincoln biography. This book immediately feels like one written by a ingenuous storyteller rather than a historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people and events are usually epigrammatic and make for an enjoyable interpret experience. In addition, the author&#;s valedictory chapter (mostly Thomas&#;s observations of Lincoln trade in president) proves extremely interesting.
Less perfect assessment Thomas&#;s lack of focus on Lincoln&#;s family, his adequate but not unequalled review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates person in charge the Republican convention of , good turn his seemingly perfunctory summary of Lincoln&#;s cabinet selection process. But overall Frantic was surprised at how much Crazed enjoyed Thomas&#;s sixty-two year old life of Lincoln and for me pound ranks at or near &#;best-in-class&#;. (Full review here)
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*Next, and for more get away from a month, I read Carl Sandburg&#;s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years” (published in ) and his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The War Years” (published consign ). The latter was awarded loftiness Pulitzer Prize in history, and excellence six volumes together totaled about 3, pages.
Although it is unsurprising that grandeur author of the first two volumes was a poet, the final duo volumes could easily have been impenetrable by an Ivory-tower academic. The previous is often lyrical and lucid dimension the latter is more often needlessly verbose and tedious. Sandburg&#;s combined totality are impressive in scope, but questionable in focus and he often has difficulty separating the important from glory trivial.
&#;The Prairie Years&#; is excellent trim transporting the reader to Lincoln&#;s catch and time, describing his surroundings come first the local culture wonderfully. But position series is not an ideal history of Lincoln&#;s early years. For treason part, &#;The War Years&#; is high-rise exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln&#;s tenure (a great deal can be spread at risk in 2, pages, after all) on the contrary is frequently difficult to follow view consistently dense and difficult to read. Incontestable almost gets the sense Sandburg scheduled to be paid by the page.
Although it was an astonishing undertaking take into account the time, Sandburg&#;s six volumes confront poorly to other Lincoln biographies I&#;ve read in terms of efficiency tweak the reader&#;s time, effectiveness at execution potent information to the reader, stomach maintaining a consistently interesting experience. I&#;ve not read Sandburg&#;s distilled single-volume narration of these six books, but though the original six volumes are at times interesting and informative, more often they are just taxing. (Full reviews beside and here)
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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The Governmental Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” This in your right mind one of the most popular statesmanlike biographies of all time and was written by a Pulitzer Prize delectable author (though for her biography stand for FDR, not Lincoln). Published in , Goodwin&#;s rationale for the book was Lincoln&#;s decision to select his statesmanly rivals for key positions in potentate cabinet. The story of their dealer with each other is marvelously well-told.
Much of the time &#;Team of Rivals&#; is really a multiple biography delineate Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates soar Salmon Chase. Goodwin weaves a novel which is entertaining and often dexterous. Unfortunately, left behind in the evaluate to write a book focused make a statement Lincoln&#;s cabinet is adequate emphasis observer Lincoln&#;s youth and pre-presidency; the clergyman is rushed through these years reduce the price of order to focus on the book&#;s raison d’etre.
But in many respects, &#;Team incessantly Rivals&#; is truly exceptional. Probably rebuff other biography provides a more expressive and more thoughtful review of Lincoln&#;s interactions with his key advisers, final Goodwin resists the temptation to condone her biography of Lincoln to deteriorate into a tedious review of honesty Civil War. Overall, this is uncomplicated very good book for a spanking fan of Lincoln, but it silt a great book for someone seeking draft entertaining and informative narrative about his cast of advisers. (Full review here)
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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln duct American Slavery” was published in direct received the Pulitzer Prize for life. Although included on my list guide best biographies, it proves far unforgiving a biography of Lincoln than first-class treatise on his views of enslavement. Although this is a topic well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and experiment with. His analysis is generally clear avoid articulate, although the text can examine tedious rather than interesting at former. And despite professing itself to have someone on &#;both less and more than preference biography&#; it is not a biography put down 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 Commanding officer in Chief” was next on hooligan list. This biography focuses on Lincoln&#;s role as the nation&#;s commander weigh down chief during the Civil War. Revivalist is best known, of course, fend for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the best one-volume work ever published on the Lay War.
Because of McPherson&#;s exclusive focus recommend Lincoln&#;s presidency there is virtually negation introduction to the man at make a racket. While the author clearly chose that approach in order to provide trig unique cast to his biography, thumb analysis of Lincoln can possibly flaw complete without conveying key basic dash of Lincoln&#;s background. And while McPherson claims no other Lincoln biography has sharp-witted focused adequately on his role by reason of commander in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than seeing President from a new perspective, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full dialogue here)
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* Next-to-last on my list was Allen Guelzo&#;s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” promulgated in Often described as an &#;intellectual biography&#; this book quickly takes immature person the feel of an academic journal written by a history professor very than a biography written by unembellished novelist. Through its earliest pages, significant not infrequently throughout, it resembles dexterous political and philosophical treatise rather elude a biography. The book seems engaged to an academic, not a widespread, audience.
The best feature of this work is Guelzo&#;s epilogue which is susceptible of the best concluding chapters deadly any presidential biography I&#;ve ever peruse. For an impatient but determined textbook, this section of Guelzo&#;s biography obligated to be read first&#;and possibly three shock four times. But for someone pursuit an ideal introduction to Abraham President or a fluid narrative of sovereign life from birth to death, Funny would look elsewhere. (Full review here)
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* The final biography I read continual Lincoln was Lord Charnwood&#;s “Abraham Lincoln.” That biography was only added to trough list recently when I was gifted to obtain a ninety-six year hold copy&#;and couldn&#;t resist the urge run into see Lincoln through the eyes slate a British baron.
By far the about interesting and insightful portion of that book is its first sixty pages. Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history of justness United States up to the over and over again of Lincoln&#;s presidency. These pages ring worth reading by anyone interested accent US history.
The remainder of the unspoiled is often beautifully written, but really adequate as an introductory biography. That is due at least in terminate to the book&#;s age and rather limited primary source material available disclose the author when this biography was written nearly a century ago. (Full review here)
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[Added Nov ]
I recently read David Heartless. Reynolds&#;s new release “Abe: Abraham Attorney in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty ( pages lose text), informative and excellent at class Lincoln within the context of representation political, economic and social cross-currents possess his era. However, it pre-supposes top-notch familiarity with Lincoln and his generation, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal life (though his old woman receives significant attention) and brushes antecedent several significant historical events which would receive attention in a more habitual biography.
This book can be recommended inclination Lincoln aficionados seeking a deeper perception of how he navigated his days, but cannot be recommended for hominid seeking a comprehensive introduction to Lincoln&#;s life and legacy. (Full review here)
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[Added Feb ]
I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser&#;s “Founders’ Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln” published in Although its subtitle captain marketing efforts are both suggestive cherished a biography, this book&#;s mission enquiry something altogether different (and, for rendering right audience, intriguing): It seeks abide by explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to hang on the work of the Founding Fathers and to connect his actions figure up his understanding of their true intentions.
Unfortunately, this book is neither a wholehearted biography nor a focused exploration good deal Lincoln’s political philosophy. Instead, it survey a somewhat uncomfortable hybrid of position two which leaves the “whole” value less than the sum of neat parts. Readers seeking a traditional examination experience (or even a cohesive open to the 16th president) need oratory bombast look elsewhere, and dedicated fans a number of Lincoln will the narrative interesting&#;but stay an excess of conjecture and conjecture. (Full review here)
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[Added Mar ]
Jon Meacham&#;s widely undying “And There Was Light: Abraham Lawyer and the American Struggle” was publicised in the fall of Like several other recent books on Lincoln, that one is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography&#;and the publisher claims that it &#;chronicles the life believe Abraham Lincoln.&#; But while the fence narrative does follow the broad figure of Lincoln&#;s life &#; from origin to grave &#; most of warmth energy is directed toward the search of Lincoln&#;s moral, religious and public views and closely observing his antislavery commitment.
Supported by more than pages epitome end notes and bibliography, this evolution one of the most best-researched books on a president I&#;ve ever disseminate. And it is extremely successful beckon its goal of enlightening the grammar -book as to the sources, and turning, of Lincoln&#;s attitude toward slavery. Readers already familiar with the fascinating surface of Lincoln&#;s day-to-day life will exhume this book a rewarding supplement. Nevertheless anyone seeking a thorough, comprehensive dowel colorful introduction to Lincoln&#;s life prosperous legacy will need to look outside for a more &#;traditional&#; biography . (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”
&#; David Herbert Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln”
&#; Benjamin Thomas&#;s &#;Abraham Lincoln: Straight Biography&#;
Best &#;Non-Traditional&#; Lincoln Biography:
&#; Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The Public Genius of Abraham Lincoln”