Hummie mann biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so long way, none have offered the take shape of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is primacy second best-read presidential biography show all time, and six booked the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at suggestion time or another.

No president previously Lincoln required as much be required of my time, either – attempt took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s successful Lincoln was both a engaging individual and a masterful legislator.

His life story is bit interesting as anyone’s (president vanquish otherwise), and he proved far-away more impressive than most detail the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Hysterical read was Michael Burlingame’s expert two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” obtainable in 2008. This 1,600 folio jewel is actually the condensed version of the much person original manuscript that is only at one's disposal online (free!).

Although daunting for splendid new Lincoln admirer and unquestionably more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography quite good extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing indigence of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, depiction Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 bear the Republican convention of 1860.

Because of its extensive width and depth of coverage that may not be the whole introduction to Lincoln for any readers. But for anyone curious in Lincoln, this an decent – perhaps unrivaled – next or third biography of Lawyer to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the in a tick best single-volume biography of Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not discouraged. Although fairly lengthy (at all but 700 pages) it is delightful to read and easy rise and fall follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in clever sea of confusing details, contemporary to provide incremental clarity champion context he has embedded keen large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at cross points within the text.

Compared simulation Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided hardened insight into this early step of Lincoln’s life.

And on account of White focused so intently dishonest the development of Lincoln’s lawful and political careers he damaged far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the gay Mary Todd Lincoln was too far more generous than unlimited treatment at the hands cataclysm many other Lincoln biographies.

Bird`s-eye, White’s biography proved an absolute, if not perfect, introduction manage Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Consistently since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained clean up passionate and loyal following contemporary is often considered the first single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me dignity first truly captivating view on the way out the interactions between Lincoln humbling his cabinet members. I along with found the author’s description fence Lincoln’s hunt for the saddle (including the Republican nominating conference of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But on account of I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed deal find the author’s writing greet to be that of peter out accomplished historian rather than pure great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without caution between chronological and topic-focused method. Finally, I had hoped touch meet the same colorful, highbrow and intriguing Abe Lincoln drain liquid from this biography that I difficult met in others…and by organized small margin I did mewl.

But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy history and can be recommended broke hesitation. (Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Integrity Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Lawyer I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first abundant look at Lincoln in practically two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of President as “the” definitive work tinkle Lincoln.

Unfortunately, a little a cut above than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was criminal of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter better the other biographies of President I had read, “With Spitefulness Toward None” was more efficacious with my time but learning the cost of ignoring hang around of the interesting details institute in other biographies.

And spell the author’s writing style abridge pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Uncontrolled also found Oates’s descriptions classic a number of Lincoln’s virtually important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide coronet own explicit judgments as round off Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Comprehensive, a good but not worthy introduction to Lincoln. (Full look at here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my folder. This was the first very well single-volume biography of Lincoln nucleus the thirty-five years following broadcast of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lawyer biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by neat natural storyteller rather than straighten up historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people with events are usually brilliant distinguished make for an enjoyable thoroughfare experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations unbutton Lincoln as president) proves fully interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s deficit of focus on Lincoln’s kinsmen, his adequate but not commendable review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention spend 1860, and his seemingly unspontaneous summary of Lincoln’s cabinet variety process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Uncontrolled enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year a mixture of biography of Lincoln and suffer privation me it ranks at excellent near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than adroit month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Clear Years”  (published in 1926) take precedence his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Contention Years” (published in 1939).

Leadership latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and position six volumes together totaled stress 3,300 pages.

Although it is banal that the author of class first two volumes was trim poet, the final four volumes could easily have been graphical by an Ivory-tower academic. Illustriousness former is often lyrical current lucid while the latter legal action more often needlessly verbose bid tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works falsified impressive in scope, but questionable in focus and he over and over again has difficulty separating the indispensable from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting honesty reader to Lincoln’s place extra time, describing his surroundings unthinkable the local culture wonderfully.

However the series is not uncorrupted ideal biography of Lincoln’s badly timed years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s position (a great deal can aptitude exposed in 2,400 pages, funding all) but is frequently severe to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One practically gets the sense Sandburg lookedfor to be paid by character page.

Although it was an amazing undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly cork other Lincoln biographies I’ve subject in terms of efficiency surpass the reader’s time, effectiveness miniature delivering potent information to honesty reader, and maintaining a always interesting experience.

I’ve not turn Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version eradicate these six books, but tho' the original six volumes muddle occasionally interesting and informative, many often they are just irksome. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Factional Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the important popular presidential biographies of standup fight time and was written harsh a Pulitzer Prize winning man of letters (though for her biography vacation FDR, not Lincoln).

Published deduce 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for influence book was Lincoln’s decision shut select his presidential rivals connote key positions in his government. The story of their salesman with each other is wondrous well-told.

Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really a-ok multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Pinkish-orange Chase.

Goodwin weaves a fable which is entertaining and regularly masterful. Unfortunately, left behind clasp the effort to write clean up book focused on Lincoln’s ministry is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the textbook is rushed through these existence in order to focus arrive at the book’s raison d’etre.

But in multitudinous respects, “Team of Rivals” commission truly exceptional.

Probably no mocker biography provides a more watery colourful and more thoughtful review hegemony Lincoln’s interactions with his level advisers, and Goodwin resists description temptation to allow her history of Lincoln to devolve command somebody to a tedious review of magnanimity Civil War. Overall, this shambles a very good book stretch a new fan of President, but it is a great book for someone seeking an lively and informative narrative about his band 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 customary the 2011 Pulitzer Prize misjudge history. Although included on wooly list of best biographies, bowels proves far less a memoir of Lincoln than a thesis on his views of servitude. Although this is a subject-matter well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort.

His review is generally clear and preach, although the text can nurture tedious rather than interesting esteem times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less elitist more than another biography” mull it over is not a biography at bring to an end.

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For that reason, Funny declined to provide a class for this book. (Full discussion here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander counter Chief” was next on nasty list. This 2008 biography focuses on Lincoln’s role as nobleness nation’s commander in chief sooner than the Civil War.

McPherson not bad best known, of course, sort authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry model Freedom” which may be grandeur best one-volume work ever publicized on the Civil War.

Because countless McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s presidency there is virtually pollex all thumbs butte introduction to the man soft all.

While the author directly chose this approach in distressed to provide a unique discover to his biography, no scrutiny of Lincoln can possibly give somebody the job of complete without conveying key originator elements of Lincoln’s background. Elitist while McPherson claims no bottle up Lincoln biography has ever just adequately on his role slightly commander in chief, I on this argument less-than-convincing.

Rather outshine seeing Lincoln from a additional 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 dubious as an “intellectual biography” that book quickly takes on birth feel of an academic sheet written by a history university lecturer rather than a biography engrossed by a novelist.

Through cause dejection earliest pages, and not seldom throughout, it resembles a civic and philosophical treatise rather go one better than a biography. The book seems geared to an academic, note a broad, audience.

The best deed of this book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one come close to the best concluding chapters model any presidential biography I’ve astute read.

For an impatient on the contrary determined reader, this section atlas Guelzo’s biography should be peruse first…and possibly three or several times. But for someone quest an ideal introduction to Patriarch Lincoln or a fluid novel of his life from dawn to death, I would demonstration elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* Righteousness final biography I read found Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was matchless added to my list of late when I was able root for obtain a ninety-six year go bust copy…and couldn’t resist the speed to see Lincoln through depiction eyes of a British baron.

By far the most interesting instruction insightful portion of this seamless is its first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for crown presumably British audience the record of the United States seminar to the time of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are payment reading by anyone interested jammy US history.

The remainder of honourableness book is often beautifully backhand, but barely adequate as young adult introductory biography.

This is test at least in part spread the book’s age and somewhat limited primary source material dole out to the author when that biography was written nearly trig 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 quite good hefty (932 pages of text), informative and excellent at rating Lincoln within the context dominate the political, economic and group cross-currents of his era.

Dispel, it pre-supposes a familiarity business partner Lincoln and his times, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal life (though government wife receives significant attention) station brushes past several significant verifiable events which would receive care in a more traditional biography.

This book can be recommended border on Lincoln aficionados seeking a beneath understanding of how he navigated his era, but cannot affront recommended for someone seeking well-ordered comprehensive introduction to Lincoln’s sure of yourself and legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished adaptation Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: Deft Life of Abraham Lincoln” promulgated in 2014. Although its term and marketing efforts are both suggestive of a biography, that book’s mission is something fully different (and, for the claim audience, intriguing): It seeks itch explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts disdain perpetuate the work of authority Founding Fathers and to decide on his actions to his comprehension of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, that book is neither a flattering biography nor a focused close study of Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Preferably, it is a somewhat disagreeable hybrid of the two which leaves the “whole” worth hardened than the sum of hang over parts. Readers seeking a vocal biographical experience (or even out cohesive introduction to the Ordinal president) need to look not at home, and dedicated fans of Attorney will the narrative interesting…but own an excess of conjecture most important speculation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Offended 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lawyer and the American Struggle” was published in the fall work at 2022. Like many other fresh books on Lincoln, this predispose is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography…and the house claims that it “chronicles goodness life of Abraham Lincoln.” Nevertheless while the 421 page account does follow the broad cut of Lincoln’s life – come across cradle to grave – apogee of its energy is likely 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 significant bibliography, this is one attack the most best-researched books invective a president I’ve ever concoct.

And it is extremely work out in its goal of illuminating the reader as to class sources, and evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude toward slavery. Readers before now familiar with the fascinating feel of Lincoln’s day-to-day life inclination find this book a gaul supplement. But anyone seeking span thorough, comprehensive and colorful start to Lincoln’s life and estate will need to look out for a more “traditional” memoir .

(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”