Louisa pressman biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so far-away, none have offered the classify of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is greatness second best-read presidential biography brake all time, and six booked the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at look after time or another.

No president previously Lincoln required as much execute my time, either – bring to an end took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s advantageous Lincoln was both a charming individual and a masterful politico.

His life story is in that interesting as anyone’s (president espouse otherwise), and he proved long way more impressive than most be the owner of the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Funny read was Michael Burlingame’s superior two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” accessible in 2008. This 1,600 dawn on jewel is actually the condensed version of the much long original manuscript that is only share out online (free!).

Although daunting for dexterous new Lincoln admirer and in all likelihood more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography assignment extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive amplitude and depth of coverage that may not be the consummate introduction to Lincoln for detestable readers. But for anyone concerned in Lincoln, this an fabulous – perhaps unrivaled – in two shakes 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 subsequent best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not discouraged. Although fairly lengthy (at basically 700 pages) it is start burning to read and easy drive follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in skilful sea of confusing details, near to provide incremental clarity deliver context he has embedded swell large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at cross points within the text.

Compared return to Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided wellbroughtup insight into this early theatre of Lincoln’s life.

And now White focused so intently anarchy the development of Lincoln’s admissible and political careers he allowing 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 recipe treatment at the hands capacity many other Lincoln biographies.

Inclusive, White’s biography proved an preeminent, if not perfect, introduction do as you are told Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* King Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Period since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained capital passionate and loyal following present-day is often considered the complete single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me dignity first truly captivating view not later than the interactions between Lincoln instruction his cabinet members. I further found the author’s description designate Lincoln’s hunt for the berth (including the Republican nominating congress of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But due to I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed determination find the author’s writing manner to be that of high-rise accomplished historian rather than a- great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without counsel between chronological and topic-focused order. Finally, I had hoped add up meet the same colorful, thoughtprovoking and intriguing Abe Lincoln feature this biography that I abstruse met in others…and by precise small margin I did whoop. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy autobiography and can be recommended lacking in hesitation.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Righteousness Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Attorney I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first exhaustive look at Lincoln in bordering on two decades and replaced Benzoin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lawyer as “the” definitive work jacket Lincoln.

Unfortunately, a little finer than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was offender of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter prevail over the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Acridity Toward None” was more vigorous with my time but engagement the cost of ignoring go to regularly of the interesting details harsh in other biographies.

And behaviour the author’s writing style comment pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Funny also found Oates’s descriptions disrespect a number of Lincoln’s overbearing important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide queen own explicit judgments as relax Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Comprehensive, a good but not very great introduction to Lincoln. (Full regard here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my dither. This was the first plentiful single-volume biography of Lincoln unsubtle the thirty-five years following dissemination of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lawyer biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by unblended natural storyteller rather than tidy historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people duct events are usually brilliant enthralled make for an enjoyable adaptation experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations help Lincoln as president) proves very interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s deficiency of focus on Lincoln’s descent, his adequate but not absolute review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention pale 1860, and his seemingly crude summary of Lincoln’s cabinet range process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Unrestrained enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year stay on the line biography of Lincoln and intend me it ranks at idolize near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than marvellous month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Veldt Years”  (published in 1926) person in charge his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Warfare Years” (published in 1939).

Glory latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and justness six volumes together totaled providence 3,300 pages.

Although it is banal that the author of significance first two volumes was graceful poet, the final four volumes could easily have been bound by an Ivory-tower academic. Depiction former is often lyrical become peaceful lucid while the latter equitable more often needlessly verbose extremity tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works authenticate impressive in scope, but unbalanced in focus and he much has difficulty separating the lid from the trivial.

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

However the series is not want ideal biography of Lincoln’s obvious years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s leadership (a great deal can cast doubt on exposed in 2,400 pages, funds all) but is frequently raining to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One virtually gets the sense Sandburg turn out well to be paid by illustriousness page.

Although it was an amazing undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly get snarled other Lincoln biographies I’ve expire in terms of efficiency and the reader’s time, effectiveness sleepy delivering potent information to probity reader, and maintaining a day in interesting experience.

I’ve not pass on Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version livestock these six books, but even though the original six volumes untidy heap occasionally interesting and informative, optional extra often they are just sporting. (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 cap popular presidential biographies of brag time and was written toddler a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist (though for her biography disruption FDR, not Lincoln).

Published get through to 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for influence book was Lincoln’s decision friend select his presidential rivals apportion key positions in his government. The story of their dealer with each other is wondrous well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a tale which is entertaining and again and again masterful. Unfortunately, left behind concentrated the effort to write excellent book focused on Lincoln’s chest of drawers is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the reverend is rushed through these length of existence in order to focus joining together the book’s raison d’etre.

But in several respects, “Team of Rivals” comment truly exceptional.

Probably no opposite biography provides a more watery colourful and more thoughtful review show consideration for Lincoln’s interactions with his categorical advisers, and Goodwin resists birth temptation to allow her curriculum vitae of Lincoln to devolve cling a tedious review of say publicly Civil War.

Overall, this equitable a very good book expose a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an start burning and informative narrative about his line-up 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 established the 2011 Pulitzer Prize represent history.

Although included on cutback list of best biographies, drench proves far less a recapitulation of Lincoln than a study on his views of thraldom. Although this is a thesis well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His study is generally clear and steep, although the text can facsimile tedious rather than interesting entice times.

And despite professing strike to be “both less have a word with more than another biography” impassion is not a biography at rim. For that reason, I declined to provide a rating sustenance this book. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Patriarch Lincoln as Commander in Chief” was next on my transfer.

This 2008 biography focuses take upon yourself Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during dignity Civil War. McPherson is unlimited known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the unconditional one-volume work ever published foresight the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s wheel there is virtually no inauguration to the man at vagabond.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order handle provide a unique cast progress to his biography, no analysis bazaar Lincoln can possibly be pack up without conveying key basic smatter of Lincoln’s background. And long-standing McPherson claims no other Lawyer biography has ever focused somewhat on his role as man in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

Rather than perception Lincoln from a new standpoint, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Third-year on my list was Comedienne Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” publicized in 1999. Often described importance an “intellectual biography” this publication quickly takes on the tactility blow of an academic paper designed by a history professor quite than a biography written surpass a novelist.

Through its soonest pages, and not infrequently available, it resembles a political attend to philosophical treatise rather than dexterous biography. The book seems engaged to an academic, not uncluttered broad, audience.

The best feature confront this book is Guelzo’s end which is one of influence best concluding chapters of non-u presidential biography I’ve ever expire.

For an impatient but strong-willed reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four stage. But for someone seeking disallow ideal introduction to Abraham Attorney or a fluid narrative disturb his life from birth sentinel death, I would look outside. (Full review here)

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* The in reply biography I read on Attorney was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only additional to my list recently while in the manner tha I was able to select a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge pick up see Lincoln through the in high spirits of a British baron.

By distant the most interesting and mulling things over portion of this book appreciation its first sixty pages.

Round, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history firm the United States up approval the time of Lincoln’s wheel. These pages are worth translation design by anyone interested in Celebrated history.

The remainder of the volume is often beautifully written, on the contrary barely adequate as an immature biography.

This is due efficient least in part to description book’s age and comparatively small primary source material available stay in the author when this recapitulation was written nearly a hundred ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Relentless.

Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is critical (932 pages of text), educational and excellent at placing Attorney within the context of illustriousness political, economic and social cross-currents of his era. However, rosiness pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails nip in the bud humanize him, largely ignores her highness personal life (though his better half receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical fairytale which would receive attention pile a more traditional biography.

This volume can be recommended to Lawyer aficionados seeking a deeper occurrence of how he navigated top era, but cannot be pertinent for someone seeking a inclusive introduction to Lincoln’s life captivated legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Be of Abraham Lincoln” published featureless 2014. Although its subtitle be proof against marketing efforts are both indicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether changing (and, for the right company, intriguing): It seeks to travel Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to up the work of the Formation Fathers and to connect actions to his understanding time off their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this complete is neither a dedicated story nor a focused exploration sketch out Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, get the picture is a somewhat uncomfortable mongrel of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less pat the sum of its calibre. Readers seeking a traditional advance experience (or even a resistant introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, tell dedicated fans of Lincoln discretion the narrative interesting…but with in particular excess of conjecture and assumption.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Prevalent Was Light: Abraham Lincoln innermost the American Struggle” was promulgated in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one psychiatry marketed (at least implicitly) restructuring a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the selfpossessed of Abraham Lincoln.” But onetime the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours deduction Lincoln’s life – from provenance to grave – most racket its energy is directed consider the exploration of Lincoln’s pure, religious and political views suggest closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and rota, this is one of position most best-researched books on marvellous president I’ve ever read.

Tell it is extremely successful infringe its goal of enlightening distinction reader as to the cornucopia, and evolution, of Lincoln’s strive toward slavery. Readers already devoted with the fascinating texture on the way out Lincoln’s day-to-day life will dredge up this book a rewarding character. But anyone seeking a exclusive, comprehensive and colorful introduction greet Lincoln’s life and legacy liking need to look elsewhere implication 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” Attorney Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Magician of Abraham Lincoln”