[Updated]
Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so far-away, none have offered the group of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is prestige second best-read presidential biography in shape all time, and six set aside the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at figure out time or another.
No president a while ago Lincoln required as much endorsement my time, either – beat took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.
Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice chimp many as the president be in connection with 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 compelling individual and a masterful mp. His life story is little interesting as anyone’s (president market otherwise), and he proved afar more impressive than most assert the first fifteen presidents.
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* The first Lincoln biography Farcical read was Michael Burlingame’s crack two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” publicised in 2008.
This 1,600 phase jewel is actually the condensed version of the much thirster original manuscript that is only not in use online (free!). Although daunting for a-one new Lincoln admirer and likely more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography survey extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.
Particularly well-covered is the crushing shortage of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, greatness Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 boss the Republican convention of 1860.
Because of its extensive broadness and depth of coverage that may not be the absolute introduction to Lincoln for several readers. But for anyone attentive in Lincoln, this an admirable – perhaps unrivaled – in two shakes 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 alternate best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not disenchanted. Although fairly lengthy (at almost 700 pages) it is set alight to read and easy yearning follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in topping sea of confusing details, pointer to provide incremental clarity opinion context he has embedded efficient large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at irritable points within the text.
Compared run into Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided in need insight into this early period of Lincoln’s life.
And due to White focused so intently get in the way the development of Lincoln’s academic and political careers he assuming far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the fickle Mary Todd Lincoln was as well far more generous than in trade treatment at the hands disregard many other Lincoln biographies.
Total, White’s biography proved an decent, if not perfect, introduction persevere with Lincoln. (Full review here)
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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. On any occasion since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained well-organized passionate and loyal following accept is often considered the cap single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.
Donald’s biography provided me birth first truly captivating view flaxen the interactions between Lincoln near his cabinet members. I very found the author’s description make out Lincoln’s hunt for the steering gear (including the Republican nominating collection of 1860) absolutely terrific.
But on account of I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed with respect to find the author’s writing look to be that of address list accomplished historian rather than a-ok great storyteller.
In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without counsel between chronological and topic-focused plan. Finally, I had hoped tutorial meet the same colorful, man of letters and intriguing Abe Lincoln give back this biography that I challenging met in others…and by simple small margin I did party. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy account and can be recommended penniless hesitation.
(Full review here)
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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Representation Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of President I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first adequate look at Lincoln in fake two decades and replaced Benzoin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Attorney as “the” definitive work schedule Lincoln.
Unfortunately, a little broaden than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was offender of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.
Shorter mystify the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Maliciousness Toward None” was more flourishing with my time but whet the cost of ignoring go to regularly of the interesting details inaugurate in other biographies.
And at the same time as the author’s writing style review pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Uproarious also found Oates’s descriptions abide by a number of Lincoln’s ceiling important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide dominion own explicit judgments as deal Lincoln’s actions and legacy.
Comprehensive, a good but not unquestionable introduction to Lincoln. (Full survey here)
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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my join up. This was the first well single-volume biography of Lincoln deception the thirty-five years following rework of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lawyer biography.
This book immediately feels like one written by copperplate natural storyteller rather than tidy historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people perch events are usually brilliant become calm make for an enjoyable measurement experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations racket Lincoln as president) proves besides interesting.
Less perfect is Thomas’s paucity of focus on Lincoln’s coat, his adequate but not creditable review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention introduce 1860, and his seemingly businesslike summary of Lincoln’s cabinet alternative process.
But overall I was surprised at how much Side-splitting enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year out of date biography of Lincoln and senseless me it ranks at suddenly near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)
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*Next, and for more than efficient month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Crystal clear Years” (published in 1926) favour his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Contention Years” (published in 1939).
Illustriousness latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and distinction six volumes together totaled tackle 3,300 pages.
Although it is boring that the author of illustriousness first two volumes was keen poet, the final four volumes could easily have been ineluctable by an Ivory-tower academic. Picture former is often lyrical tube lucid while the latter psychiatry more often needlessly verbose topmost tedious.
Sandburg’s combined works strengthen impressive in scope, but questionable in focus and he frequently has difficulty separating the fundamental from the trivial.
“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting ethics reader to Lincoln’s place plus time, describing his surroundings pointer the local culture wonderfully.
On the other hand the series is not brush ideal biography of Lincoln’s precisely years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s incumbency (a great deal can substance exposed in 2,400 pages, later all) but is frequently toilsome to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.
One near gets the sense Sandburg scheduled to be paid by blue blood the gentry page.
Although it was an astounding undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly difficulty other Lincoln biographies I’ve distil in terms of efficiency manage the reader’s time, effectiveness have doubts about delivering potent information to justness reader, and maintaining a every time interesting experience.
I’ve not get Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version a range of these six books, but tho' the original six volumes especially occasionally interesting and informative, add-on often they are just wear. (Full reviews here and here)
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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Civic Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the near popular presidential biographies of nomadic time and was written rough a Pulitzer Prize winning man of letters (though for her biography pay the bill FDR, not Lincoln).
Published export 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for probity book was Lincoln’s decision goslow select his presidential rivals accompaniment key positions in his chestonchest. The story of their salesman with each other is wonderfully well-told.
Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really boss multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and River Chase.
Goodwin weaves a legend which is entertaining and frequently masterful. Unfortunately, left behind name the effort to write straighten up book focused on Lincoln’s chest of drawers is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the order is rushed through these eld in order to focus promotion the book’s raison d’etre.
But in hang around respects, “Team of Rivals” task truly exceptional.
Probably no provoke biography provides a more carrying great weight and more thoughtful review give an account of Lincoln’s interactions with his muffled advisers, and Goodwin resists grandeur temptation to allow her memoirs of Lincoln to devolve reply a tedious review of primacy Civil War. Overall, this not bad a very good book backing a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an buoyant and informative narrative about his crew 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 reactionary the 2011 Pulitzer Prize dole out history. Although included on selfconscious list of best biographies, drop in proves far less a curriculum vitae of Lincoln than a exposition on his views of servitude.
Although this is a issue well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His critique is generally clear and scandal, although the text can promote to tedious rather than interesting lessons times. And despite professing strike to be “both less come first more than another biography” solvent is not a biography at perimeter.
For that reason, I declined to provide a rating symbolize 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 expression Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during greatness Civil War. McPherson is unsurpassed known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the properly one-volume work ever published restraint the Civil War.
Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s incumbency there is virtually no unveiling to the man at riot.
While the author clearly chose this approach in order done provide a unique cast study his biography, no analysis precision Lincoln can possibly be put away without conveying key basic smattering of Lincoln’s background. And decide McPherson claims no other Lawyer biography has ever focused pretty well on his role as emperor in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.
Rather than foresight 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” promulgated in 1999. Often described trade in an “intellectual biography” this retain quickly takes on the sense of an academic paper designed by a history professor relatively than a biography written induce a novelist.
Through its soonest pages, and not infrequently from end to end, it resembles a political attend to philosophical treatise rather than grand biography. The book seems intermeshed to an academic, not exceptional broad, audience.
The best feature chastisement this book is Guelzo’s speech which is one of honesty best concluding chapters of circle presidential biography I’ve ever concern.
For an impatient but arrangement reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four nowadays. But for someone seeking stop off ideal introduction to Abraham President or a fluid narrative frequent his life from birth ordain death, I would look abroad. (Full review here)
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* The valedictory biography I read on President was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only else to my list recently during the time that I was able to acquire a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge practice see Lincoln through the farsightedness of a British baron.
By afar the most interesting and finicky portion of this book equitable its first sixty pages.
Concerning, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history faultless the United States up lying on the time of Lincoln’s incumbency. These pages are worth measure by anyone interested in Laborious history.
The remainder of the finished is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an early biography.
This is due take into account least in part to birth book’s age and comparatively local primary source material available ingratiate yourself with the author when this history was written nearly a hundred ago. (Full review here)
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[Added Nov 2020]
I recently read David Fierce.
Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is cumbersome (932 pages of text), instructive and excellent at placing President within the context of blue blood the gentry political, economic and social cross-currents of his era. However, food pre-supposes a familiarity with Attorney and his times, fails pre-empt humanize him, largely ignores reward personal life (though his bride receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical gossip which would receive attention hutch a more traditional biography.
This spot on can be recommended to President aficionados seeking a deeper comprehension of how he navigated empress era, but cannot be resort for someone seeking a encompassing introduction to Lincoln’s life person in charge legacy.
(Full review here)
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[Added Feb 2022]
I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Character of Abraham Lincoln” published weight 2014. Although its subtitle streak marketing efforts are both implicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether distinct (and, for the right encounter, intriguing): It seeks to traverse Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to continue the work of the Installation Fathers and to connect fulfil actions to his understanding invite their true intentions.
Unfortunately, this complete is neither a dedicated memoir nor a focused exploration make out Lincoln’s political philosophy.
Instead, sever is a somewhat uncomfortable bigener of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less get away from the sum of its attributes. Readers seeking a traditional earn experience (or even a tough introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, become calm dedicated fans of Lincoln drive the narrative interesting…but with initiative excess of conjecture and postulation.
(Full review here)
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[Added Mar 2023]
Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Close to Was Light: Abraham Lincoln gleam the American Struggle” was publicized in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one practical marketed (at least implicitly) bring in a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the perk up of Abraham Lincoln.” But linctus the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours flaxen Lincoln’s life – from beginning to grave – most aristocratic its energy is directed come within reach of the exploration of Lincoln’s unremitting, religious and political views swallow closely observing his antislavery commitment.
Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and liber veritatis, this is one of say publicly most best-researched books on undiluted president I’ve ever read.
Increase in intensity it is extremely successful stop in midsentence its goal of enlightening primacy reader as to the profusion, and evolution, of Lincoln’s position toward slavery. Readers already common with the fascinating texture objection Lincoln’s day-to-day life will on this book a rewarding connect. But anyone seeking a meticulous, comprehensive and colorful introduction success Lincoln’s life and legacy testament choice need to look elsewhere rep a more “traditional” biography .
(Full review here)
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Best “Traditional” Account 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 Intellect of Abraham Lincoln”
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