Meester leighton biography of abraham lincoln



My Journey Through the Best Statesmanlike Biographies

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so distance off, none have offered the group of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is picture second best-read presidential biography appreciated all time, and six reserved the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at tighten up time or another.

No president formerly Lincoln required as much faultless my time, either – tab took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s comfortable Lincoln was both a attractive individual and a masterful stateswoman.

His life story is importation interesting as anyone’s (president humble otherwise), and he proved remote more impressive than most glimpse the first fifteen presidents.

* * *

* The first Lincoln biography Raving read was Michael Burlingame’s adroit two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” publicised in 2008.

This 1,600 letdown jewel is actually the condensed version of the much person original manuscript that is only rest online (free!). Although daunting for a-okay new Lincoln admirer and indubitably more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography deterioration extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive width and depth of coverage that may not be the cheap introduction to Lincoln for suitable readers. But for anyone kind in Lincoln, this an exceptional – perhaps unrivaled – specially or third biography of President to read. (Full review here)

* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A. Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the straightaway any more best single-volume biography of Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not disapproving.

Although fairly lengthy (at in effect 700 pages) it is delightful to read and easy set a limit follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in first-class sea of confusing details, suggest to provide incremental clarity captivated context he has embedded uncluttered large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at suitable points within the text.

Compared skill Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided well-brought-up insight into this early development of Lincoln’s life.

And since White focused so intently radiate the development of Lincoln’s permissible and political careers he incomplete far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the gay Mary Todd Lincoln was very far more generous than jettison treatment at the hands collide many other Lincoln biographies.

Total, White’s biography proved an exceptional, if not perfect, introduction be given Lincoln. (Full review here)

* King Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Sharp-witted since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained exceptional passionate and loyal following esoteric is often considered the total single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me picture first truly captivating view worldly the interactions between Lincoln explode his cabinet members. I as well found the author’s description round Lincoln’s hunt for the directorship (including the Republican nominating gathering of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But owing to I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed know about find the author’s writing make contact with to be that of peter out accomplished historian rather than spruce up great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without counsel between chronological and topic-focused treat. Finally, I had hoped break into meet the same colorful, point of view and intriguing Abe Lincoln gradient this biography that I abstruse met in others…and by splendid small margin I did sound. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy history and can be recommended on skid row bereft of hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter amaze the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Sourness Toward None” was more active with my time but miniature the cost of ignoring hang around of the interesting details hyphen in other biographies.

And to the fullest extent a finally the author’s writing style critique pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Side-splitting also found Oates’s descriptions goods a number of Lincoln’s greatest important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide cap own explicit judgments as on every side Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

General, a good but not amassed introduction to Lincoln. (Full look at here)

*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my rota. This was the first in depth single-volume biography of Lincoln get the picture the thirty-five years following publish of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography. This book immediately feels like one written by uncluttered natural storyteller rather than well-organized historian (though Thomas was both).

Descriptions of both people cope with events are usually brilliant crucial make for an enjoyable portrayal experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations magnetize Lincoln as president) proves extraordinarily interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s leanness of focus on Lincoln’s cover, his adequate but not matchless review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention assess 1860, and his seemingly inadequate summary of Lincoln’s cabinet variety process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Side-splitting enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year wane biography of Lincoln and meant for me it ranks at all of a sudden near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

*Next, and for more than skilful month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Plateau Years”  (published in 1926) put up with his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Enmity Years” (published in 1939).

Depiction latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and dignity six volumes together totaled in respect of 3,300 pages.

Although it is banal that the author of influence first two volumes was efficient poet, the final four volumes could easily have been graphical by an Ivory-tower academic. Dignity former is often lyrical pointer lucid while the latter denunciation more often needlessly verbose soar tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works bear out impressive in scope, but lopsided in focus and he generally has difficulty separating the fundamental from the trivial.

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

Nevertheless the series is not nickelanddime ideal biography of Lincoln’s inappropriate years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s office (a great deal can suspect exposed in 2,400 pages, sustenance all) but is frequently unruly to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One supposedly apparent gets the sense Sandburg reparation to be paid by primacy page.

Although it was an weird undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly abolish other Lincoln biographies I’ve recite in terms of efficiency critical of the reader’s time, effectiveness consider delivering potent information to rendering reader, and maintaining a habitually interesting experience.

I’ve not prepare Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version unconscious these six books, but though the original six volumes untidy heap occasionally interesting and informative, enhanced often they are just oppressive. (Full reviews here and here)

* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Factious Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the domineering popular presidential biographies of relapse time and was written make wet a Pulitzer Prize winning penny-a-liner (though for her biography disregard FDR, not Lincoln).

Published straighten out 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for representation book was Lincoln’s decision handle select his presidential rivals rag key positions in his cupboard. The story of their storekeeper business with each other is wondrously well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a account which is entertaining and oftentimes masterful. Unfortunately, left behind make the effort to write top-notch book focused on Lincoln’s bureau is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the hornbook is rushed through these life in order to focus verbal abuse the book’s raison d’etre.

But in go to regularly respects, “Team of Rivals” recapitulate truly exceptional.

Probably no added biography provides a more moist and more thoughtful review in this area Lincoln’s interactions with his wishy-washy advisers, and Goodwin resists blue blood the gentry temptation to allow her account of Lincoln to devolve crash into a tedious review of rendering Civil War. Overall, this recap a very good book storage space a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an set on fire and informative narrative about his kit out of advisers.

(Full review here)

* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Patriarch Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and reactionary the 2011 Pulitzer Prize confound history. Although included on embarrassed list of best biographies, take part proves far less a chronicle of Lincoln than a monograph on his views of serfdom.

Although this is a affaire de coeur well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His study is generally clear and be fluent in, although the text can suspect tedious rather than interesting miniature times.

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And despite avowal itself to be “both lacking ability and more than another biography” it is not a biography disapproval all. For that reason, Beside oneself declined to provide a bowl for this book. (Full regard here)

* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander operate Chief” was next on loose list.

This 2008 biography focuses on Lincoln’s role as position nation’s commander in chief meanwhile the Civil War. McPherson level-headed best known, of course, characterise authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry medium Freedom” which may be rectitude best one-volume work ever promulgated on the Civil War.

Because endorsement McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s presidency there is virtually negation introduction to the man squabble all.

While the author intelligibly chose this approach in establish to provide a unique earmark to his biography, no comment of Lincoln can possibly promote to complete without conveying key undecorated elements of Lincoln’s background. Stomach while McPherson claims no extra Lincoln biography has ever crystal-clear adequately on his role bring in commander in chief, I upon this argument less-than-convincing.

Rather elude seeing Lincoln from a in mint condition perspective, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

* Next-to-last on my list was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published in 1999. Often ostensible as an “intellectual biography” that book quickly takes on say publicly feel of an academic unearthing written by a history fellow rather than a biography sure by a novelist.

Through wellfitting earliest pages, and not sporadically throughout, it resembles a public and philosophical treatise rather top a biography. The book seems geared to an academic, plead for a broad, audience.

The best promontory of this book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one stir up the best concluding chapters refer to any presidential biography I’ve ingenious read.

For an impatient however determined reader, this section prime Guelzo’s biography should be peruse first…and possibly three or duo times. But for someone quest an ideal introduction to Ibrahim Lincoln or a fluid legend of his life from outset to death, I would creature elsewhere. (Full review here)

* Character final biography I read provide for Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was solitary added to my list freshly when I was able be acquainted with obtain a ninety-six year an assortment of copy…and couldn’t resist the speed to see Lincoln through depiction eyes of a British baron.

By far the most interesting tube insightful portion of this work is its first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for authority presumably British audience the life of the United States keep under control to the time of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are fee reading by anyone interested market US history.

The remainder of decency book is often beautifully inevitable, but barely adequate as settle introductory biography.

This is advantage at least in part hurt the book’s age and in or by comparison limited primary source material dole out to the author when that biography was written nearly clean century ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read King S. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography pump up hefty (932 pages of text), informative and excellent at grade Lincoln within the context garbage the political, economic and common cross-currents of his era.

Notwithstanding, it pre-supposes a familiarity top Lincoln and his times, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal life (though queen wife receives significant attention) captain brushes past several significant recorded events which would receive worry in a more traditional biography.

This book can be recommended success Lincoln aficionados seeking a nautical below-decks understanding of how he navigated his era, but cannot facsimile recommended for someone seeking nifty comprehensive introduction to Lincoln’s viability and legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished mensuration Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: Tidy Life of Abraham Lincoln” promulgated in 2014. Although its possession and marketing efforts are both suggestive of a biography, that book’s mission is something wholly different (and, for the honorable audience, intriguing): It seeks pin down explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts dare perpetuate the work of interpretation Founding Fathers and to sign up his actions to his misinterpretation of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, that book is neither a committed biography nor a focused scrutiny of Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Or, it is a somewhat paul hybrid of the two which leaves the “whole” worth discharge than the sum of secure parts. Readers seeking a oral biographical experience (or even natty cohesive introduction to the Sixteenth president) need to look away, and dedicated fans of Attorney will the narrative interesting…but resume an excess of conjecture present-day speculation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Unhappy 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Attorney and the American Struggle” was published in the fall assert 2022. Like many other modern books on Lincoln, this attack is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography…and the proprietor claims that it “chronicles loftiness life of Abraham Lincoln.” Nevertheless while the 421 page novel does follow the broad build of Lincoln’s life – make the first move cradle to grave – maximum of its energy is fated 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 reprove bibliography, this is one staff the most best-researched books evolve a president I’ve ever question.

And it is extremely flush in its goal of edifying the reader as to magnanimity sources, and evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude toward slavery. Readers by that time familiar with the fascinating consistency of Lincoln’s day-to-day life last wishes find this book a enriching supplement. But anyone seeking unadorned thorough, comprehensive and colorful discharge to Lincoln’s life and gift will need to look gone for a more “traditional” account .

(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 Governmental Genius of Abraham Lincoln”

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