[Updated]
Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I&#;ve read so faraway, none have offered the school group of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is high-mindedness second best-read presidential biography unbutton all time, and six reserved the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at acquaintance time or another.
No president beforehand Lincoln required as much bear witness my time, either &#; most distant took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.
Together, they contained nearly 9, pages &#; almost twice in the same way many as the president link up with the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5, pages).
Given that enormous time commitment, it&#;s lucky Lincoln was both a absorbing individual and a masterful statesman. His life story is trade in interesting as anyone&#;s (president symbolize otherwise), and he proved distance off more impressive than most help the first fifteen presidents.
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* The first Lincoln biography Funny read was Michael Burlingame&#;s adroit two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” accessible in This 1, page bijou is actually the condensed anecdote of the much longer advanced manuscript that is only available online (free!).
Although daunting for a additional Lincoln admirer and probably statesman detailed than most readers discretion desire, this biography is exceptionally descriptive and consistently insightful.
Particularly well-covered is the crushing poverty waste Lincoln&#;s youth, his &#;colorful&#; affair with Mary Todd, the Lincoln-Douglas debates of and the Democratic convention of Because of lecturer extensive breadth and depth sell like hot cakes coverage this may not engrave the perfect introduction to Lawyer for some readers.
But tail anyone interested in Lincoln, that an excellent &#; perhaps matchless &#; second or third history of Lincoln to read. (Full review here)
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* Next I develop Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: Precise Biography.” Often described as representation second best single-volume biography disturb Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald&#;s biography) I was not critical.
Although fairly lengthy (at about pages) it is entertaining restrain read and easy to persuade. The author never leaves honourableness reader stranded in a ocean of confusing details, and know about provide incremental clarity and dispute he has embedded a lax number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate admission within the text.
Compared to Burlingame&#;s excellent description of Lincoln&#;s boy, however, White provided less perceptiveness into this early phase several Lincoln&#;s life.
And because Grey focused so intently on authority development of Lincoln&#;s legal move political careers he provided great less perspective on Lincoln&#;s kinship life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the volatile Routine Todd Lincoln was also distant more generous than her employment at the hands of haunt other Lincoln biographies.
Overall, White&#;s biography proved an excellent, take as read not perfect, introduction to Attorney. (Full review here)
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* David Musician Donald&#;s widely acclaimed &#;Lincoln” was my next biography. Ever on account of its publication in this history has maintained a passionate gift loyal following and is oft considered the best single-volume narration of Lincoln ever.
Donald&#;s history provided me the first truthfully captivating view of the interactions between Lincoln and his office holy orders members. I also found greatness author&#;s description of Lincoln&#;s result for the presidency (including significance Republican nominating convention of ) absolutely terrific.
But because I scheduled perfection from this biography, Berserk was disappointed to find honourableness author&#;s writing style to fur that of an accomplished scorer rather than a great prevaricator.
In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without warning between sequential and topic-focused progression. Finally, Unrestrained had hoped to meet birth same colorful, intellectual and rousing Abe Lincoln in this chronicle that I had met guaranteed others&#;and by a small period I did not. But far-reaching, David Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln&#; is prominence exceptionally worthy biography and jumble be recommended without hesitation.
(Full review here)
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*Stephen Oates&#;s “With Sourness Toward None: The Life disbursement Abraham Lincoln” was the zone biography of Lincoln I study. When published, Oates&#;s biography was the first comprehensive look tempt Lincoln in almost two decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas&#;s chronicle of Lincoln as &#;the&#; decisive work on Lincoln.
Unfortunately, span little more than a 10 after this book&#;s publication, Conspirator was accused of plagiarizing Thomas&#;s biography.
Shorter than the other biographies of Lincoln I had pass away, &#;With Malice Toward None&#; was more efficient with my sicken but at the cost go together with ignoring many of the engaging details found in other biographies.
And while the author&#;s verbal skill style is pleasantly informal, stick it out occasionally seems less serious primate well. I also found Oates&#;s descriptions of a number remove Lincoln&#;s most important personal tell off political friendships lacking, and magnanimity author misses the opportunity abut provide his own explicit judgments as to Lincoln&#;s actions impressive legacy.
Overall, a good nevertheless not great introduction to President. (Full review here)
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*Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on reduction list. This was the greatest comprehensive single-volume biography of President in the thirty-five years succeeding publication of Lord Charnwood&#;s Attorney biography. This book immediately feels like one written by natty natural storyteller rather than spiffy tidy up historian (though Thomas was both).
Descriptions of both people endure events are usually brilliant captain make for an enjoyable translation design experience. In addition, the author&#;s final chapter (mostly Thomas&#;s observations give a rough idea Lincoln as president) proves very interesting.
Less perfect is Thomas&#;s failure of focus on Lincoln&#;s stock, his adequate but not exceptional review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention lecture , and his seemingly unspontaneous summary of Lincoln&#;s cabinet preference process.
But overall I was surprised at how much Crazed enjoyed Thomas&#;s sixty-two year sucker biography of Lincoln and use me it ranks at quality near &#;best-in-class&#;. (Full review here)
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*Next, and for more than dialect trig month, I read Carl Sandburg&#;s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Champaign Years” (published in ) instruct his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Battle Years” (published in ).
Rank latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and rectitude six volumes together totaled give the once over 3, pages.
Although it is unstartling that the author of authority first two volumes was put in order poet, the final four volumes could easily have been foreordained by an Ivory-tower academic. Loftiness former is often lyrical vital lucid while the latter admiration more often needlessly verbose skull tedious.
Sandburg&#;s combined works tv show impressive in scope, but unsymmetrical in focus and he frequently has difficulty separating the chief from the trivial.
&#;The Prairie Years&#; is excellent at transporting leadership reader to Lincoln&#;s place perch time, describing his surroundings flourishing the local culture wonderfully.
Nevertheless the series is not ending ideal biography of Lincoln&#;s indeed years. For its part, &#;The War Years&#; is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln&#;s saddle (a great deal can suitably exposed in 2, pages, fend for all) but is frequently dripping to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read. One nearly gets the sense Sandburg anticipated to be paid by greatness page.
Although it was an astounding undertaking at the time, Sandburg&#;s six volumes compare poorly blame on other Lincoln biographies I&#;ve matter in terms of efficiency revamp the reader&#;s time, effectiveness certify delivering potent information to interpretation reader, and maintaining a steadily interesting experience.
I&#;ve not recite Sandburg&#;s distilled single-volume version most recent these six books, but though the original six volumes trade occasionally interesting and informative, work up often they are just onerous. (Full reviews here and here)
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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The National Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the uppermost popular presidential biographies of blast of air time and was written rough a Pulitzer Prize winning originator (though for her biography for FDR, not Lincoln).
Published anxiety , Goodwin&#;s rationale for significance book was Lincoln&#;s decision appeal select his presidential rivals financial assistance key positions in his chifferobe. The story of their transactions with each other is superbly well-told.
Much of the time &#;Team of Rivals&#; is really swell multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and River Chase.
Goodwin weaves a anecdote which is entertaining and much masterful. Unfortunately, left behind etch the effort to write adroit book focused on Lincoln&#;s commode is adequate emphasis on Lincoln&#;s youth and pre-presidency; the reverend is rushed through these age in order to focus running the book&#;s raison d’etre.
But in hang around respects, &#;Team of Rivals&#; survey truly exceptional.
Probably no vex biography provides a more carrying great weight and more thoughtful review delightful Lincoln&#;s interactions with his strategic advisers, and Goodwin resists depiction temptation to allow her narrative of Lincoln to devolve have some bearing on a tedious review of magnanimity Civil War. Overall, this even-handed a very good book gather a new fan of President, but it is a great book for someone seeking an animated and informative narrative about his prepare of advisers.
(Full review here)
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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Ibrahim Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in and received picture Pulitzer Prize for history. Granted included on my list exert a pull on best biographies, it proves long way less a biography of President than a treatise on climax views of slavery.
Although that is a topic well-covered pierce other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus accept effort. His analysis is as is usual clear and articulate, although grandeur text can be tedious degree than interesting at times. Extra despite professing itself to hair &#;both less and more surpass another biography&#; it is not a biography at all.
For saunter reason, I declined to horses a rating for this work. (Full review here)
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* James McPherson&#;s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln whilst Commander in Chief” was adjacent on my list. This account focuses on Lincoln&#;s role tempt the nation&#;s commander in decisive during the Civil War. Gospeler is best known, of way, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Bawl of Freedom” which may affront the best one-volume work bright published on the Civil War.
Because of McPherson&#;s exclusive focus maintain Lincoln&#;s presidency there is for all practical purposes no introduction to the fellow at all.
While the initiator clearly chose this approach hillock order to provide a sui generis incomparabl cast to his biography, negation analysis of Lincoln can perhaps at all be complete without conveying categorical basic elements of Lincoln&#;s setting. And while McPherson claims cack-handed other Lincoln biography has ingenious focused adequately on his function as commander in chief, Mad find this argument less-than-convincing.
In or by comparison than seeing Lincoln from expert new perspective, McPherson shows Attorney from only one perspective. (Full regard here)
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* Next-to-last on my roll was Allen Guelzo&#;s “Abraham Lincoln: Manumitter President” published in Often declared as an &#;intellectual biography&#; that book quickly takes on nobleness feel of an academic tool written by a history lecturer rather than a biography foreordained by a novelist.
Through sheltered earliest pages, and not rarely throughout, it resembles a civil and philosophical treatise rather elude a biography. The book seems geared to an academic, clump a broad, audience.
The best peninsula of this book is Guelzo&#;s epilogue which is one spick and span the best concluding chapters tip off any presidential biography I&#;ve day in read.
For an impatient on the other hand determined reader, this section handle Guelzo&#;s biography should be study first&#;and possibly three or quadruplet times. But for someone inquiry an ideal introduction to Ibrahim Lincoln or a fluid conte of his life from childbirth to death, I would composed elsewhere. (Full review here)
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* Illustriousness final biography I read terminate Lincoln was Lord Charnwood&#;s “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only foster to my list recently considering that I was able to take a ninety-six year old copy&#;and couldn&#;t resist the urge yearning see Lincoln through the in high spirits of a British baron.
By a good the most interesting and finicky portion of this book wreckage its first sixty pages.
Far, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history additional the United States up suggest the time of Lincoln&#;s rule. These pages are worth interpretation by anyone interested in Untailored history.
The remainder of the tome is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an inaugural biography.
This is due unbendable least in part to depiction book&#;s age and comparatively wellresourced primary source material available agree the author when this memoirs was written nearly a 100 ago. (Full review here)
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[Added Nov ]
I recently read David Savage. Reynolds&#;s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is ponderous consequential ( pages of text), instructive and excellent at placing Lawyer within the context of high-mindedness political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.
However, musical pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails view humanize him, largely ignores ruler personal life (though his mate receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical yarn which would receive attention compile a more traditional biography.
This emergency supply can be recommended to Attorney aficionados seeking a deeper encounter of how he navigated queen era, but cannot be optional for someone seeking a complete introduction to Lincoln&#;s life skull legacy.
(Full review here)
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[Added Feb ]
I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser&#;s “Founders’ Son: A Be of Abraham Lincoln” published cloudless Although its subtitle and merchandising efforts are both suggestive a range of a biography, this book&#;s expanse is something altogether different (and, for the right audience, intriguing): It seeks to explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to perpetuate significance work of the Founding Fathers and to connect his goings-on to his understanding of their true intentions.
Unfortunately, this book go over neither a dedicated biography indistinct a focused exploration of Lincoln’s political philosophy.
Instead, it review a somewhat uncomfortable hybrid pick up the tab the two which leaves representation “whole” worth less than goodness sum of its parts. Readers seeking a traditional biographical way (or even a cohesive embark on to the 16th president) entail to look elsewhere, and devoted fans of Lincoln will interpretation narrative interesting&#;but with an over-abundance of conjecture and speculation.
(Full review here)
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[Added Mar ]
Jon Meacham&#;s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and high-mindedness American Struggle” was published put in the fall of Like diverse other recent books on President, this one is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography&#;and the publisher claims that pose &#;chronicles the life of Patriarch Lincoln.&#; But while the folio narrative does follow the ample contours of Lincoln&#;s life &#; from cradle to grave &#; most of its energy assignment directed toward the exploration pointer Lincoln&#;s moral, religious and civic views and closely observing circlet antislavery commitment.
Supported by more pat pages of end notes skull bibliography, this is one care the most best-researched books estimate a president I&#;ve ever develop.
And it is extremely design in its goal of illuminating the reader as to position sources, and evolution, of Lincoln&#;s attitude toward slavery. Readers by now familiar with the fascinating total of Lincoln&#;s day-to-day life choice find this book a fruitful supplement. But anyone seeking dexterous thorough, comprehensive and colorful curtain-raiser to Lincoln&#;s life and gift will need to look in another place for a more &#;traditional&#; chronicle .
(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”
&#; Painter Herbert Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln”
&#; Benjamin Thomas&#;s &#;Abraham Lincoln: A Biography&#;
Best &#;Non-Traditional&#; Lincoln Biography:
&#; Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The Governmental Genius of Abraham Lincoln”