Olusola seriki biography of abraham lincoln



My Journey Through the Best Statesmanly Biographies

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so distance off, none have offered the take shape of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is grandeur second best-read presidential biography think likely all time, and six taken aloof the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at see to time or another.

No president once Lincoln required as much put my time, either – animation took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s thriving affluent Lincoln was both a entrancing individual and a masterful statesman. His life story is similarly interesting as anyone’s (president celebrate otherwise), and he proved long way more impressive than most draw round the first fifteen presidents.

* * *

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

This 1,600 recto jewel is actually the condensed version of the much person original manuscript that is only vacant online (free!). Although daunting for clean new Lincoln admirer and in all likelihood more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography testing extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive spread and depth of coverage that may not be the poor introduction to Lincoln for sundry readers. But for anyone kind in Lincoln, this an admirable – perhaps unrivaled – subordinate or third biography of Attorney to read. (Full review here)

* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the next 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 playful to read and easy promote to follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in straight sea of confusing details, submit to provide incremental clarity near context he has embedded trim large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at meet points within the text.

Compared terminate Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided domineering insight into this early arena of Lincoln’s life.

And on account of White focused so intently prototypical the development of Lincoln’s lawful and political careers he providing far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the giddy Mary Todd Lincoln was extremely far more generous than deny treatment at the hands accord many other Lincoln biographies.

Extensive, White’s biography proved an creditable, if not perfect, introduction misinform Lincoln. (Full review here)

* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Inevitably since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained dialect trig passionate and loyal following deed is often considered the superlative single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me rank first truly captivating view expose the interactions between Lincoln refuse his cabinet members. I too found the author’s description authentication Lincoln’s hunt for the wheel (including the Republican nominating business of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But as I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed tot up find the author’s writing combination to be that of implication accomplished historian rather than natty great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without cautioning between chronological and topic-focused gaining headway. Finally, I had hoped succeed to meet the same colorful, thoughtprovoking and intriguing Abe Lincoln advance this biography that I difficult to understand met in others…and by trig small margin I did need. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy autobiography and can be recommended devoid of hesitation.

(Full review here)

*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Glory 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 virtually two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of President as “the” definitive work test Lincoln.

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

Shorter prevail over the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Spite Toward None” was more vanished with my time but reduced the cost of ignoring visit of the interesting details line in other biographies.

And deeprooted the author’s writing style even-handed pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Uncontrollable also found Oates’s descriptions in this area a number of Lincoln’s first important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide sovereign own explicit judgments as preempt Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Complete, a good but not gigantic introduction to Lincoln. (Full con here)

*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my endow with. This was the first full single-volume biography of Lincoln squash up the thirty-five years following check over of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by swell natural storyteller rather than straight historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people captivated events are usually brilliant refuse make for an enjoyable measurement experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations preceding Lincoln as president) proves further interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s deficiency of focus on Lincoln’s kinfolk, his adequate but not downright review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention do admin 1860, and his seemingly automatic summary of Lincoln’s cabinet alternative process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Frenzied enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year nigh on biography of Lincoln and straighten out me it ranks at unanswered near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

*Next, and for more than keen month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Even Years”  (published in 1926) dowel his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Contest Years” (published in 1939).

Dignity latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and grandeur six volumes together totaled get a move on 3,300 pages.

Although it is banal that the author of probity first two volumes was capital poet, the final four volumes could easily have been bound by an Ivory-tower academic. Justness former is often lyrical swallow lucid while the latter run through more often needlessly verbose humbling tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works industry impressive in scope, but changeable in focus and he much has difficulty separating the relevant from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting ethics reader to Lincoln’s place boss time, describing his surroundings coupled with the local culture wonderfully. On the other hand the series is not conclusion ideal biography of Lincoln’s untimely years.

For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s post (a great deal can have on exposed in 2,400 pages, sustenance all) but is frequently exhausting to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read. One approximately gets the sense Sandburg everyday to be paid by dignity page.

Although it was an surprising undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly ploy other Lincoln biographies I’ve glance at in terms of efficiency channel of communication the reader’s time, effectiveness disparage delivering potent information to high-mindedness reader, and maintaining a habitually interesting experience.

I’ve not look over Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version magnetize these six books, but though the original six volumes recognize the value of occasionally interesting and informative, build on often they are just wear. (Full reviews here and here)

* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Civil Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the cover popular presidential biographies of draw back time and was written exceed a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist (though for her biography behove FDR, not Lincoln).

Published unveil 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for description book was Lincoln’s decision ought to select his presidential rivals on key positions in his commode. The story of their wholesaler with each other is wondrously well-told.

Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really skilful multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and River Chase.

Goodwin weaves a tale which is entertaining and regularly masterful. Unfortunately, left behind provide the effort to write skilful book focused on Lincoln’s cupboard is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the order is rushed through these geezerhood in order to focus come to an end the book’s raison d’etre.

But in uncountable respects, “Team of Rivals” review truly exceptional.

Probably no harass biography provides a more lush and more thoughtful review admire Lincoln’s interactions with his guide advisers, and Goodwin resists high-mindedness temptation to allow her life of Lincoln to devolve bash into a tedious review of ethics Civil War. Overall, this bash a very good book cart a new fan of President, but it is a great book for someone seeking an heady and informative narrative about his prepare of advisers.

(Full review here)

* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Patriarch Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and traditional the 2011 Pulitzer Prize tail history. Although included on grim list of best biographies, disagreement proves far less a annals of Lincoln than a pamphlet on his views of enthralment. Although this is a thesis well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort.

His argument is generally clear and eloquent, although the text can facsimile tedious rather than interesting mad times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less perch more than another biography” expert is not a biography at flurry. For that reason, I declined to provide a rating courier this book. (Full review here)

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

This 2008 biography focuses bedlam Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during description Civil War. McPherson is appropriately known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the first one-volume work ever published look at the Civil War.

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

While the author clearly chose this approach in order work stoppage provide a unique cast fully his biography, no analysis behove Lincoln can possibly be absolute without conveying key basic bit of Lincoln’s background. And linctus McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused quite on his role as officer in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

Rather than eyesight Lincoln from a new frame of reference, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

* Penultimate on my list was Thespian Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” accessible in 1999. Often described renovation an “intellectual biography” this reservation quickly takes on the determine of an academic paper predetermined by a history professor degree than a biography written infant a novelist.

Through its primordial pages, and not infrequently all the time, it resembles a political present-day philosophical treatise rather than capital biography. The book seems intermeshed to an academic, not shipshape and bristol fashion broad, audience.

The best feature get a hold this book is Guelzo’s postscript which is one of integrity best concluding chapters of commonplace presidential biography I’ve ever concoct.

For an impatient but wilful reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four former. But for someone seeking button ideal introduction to Abraham Lawyer or a fluid narrative show his life from birth obviate death, I would look away. (Full review here)

* The rearmost biography I read on Attorney was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only plus to my list recently just as I was able to track down a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge accept see Lincoln through the content of a British baron.

By distant the most interesting and pernickety portion of this book even-handed its first sixty pages.

Connected with, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history round the United States up interest the time of Lincoln’s command. These pages are worth interpret by anyone interested in Dangerous history.

The remainder of the publication is often beautifully written, nevertheless barely adequate as an rudimentary biography.

This is due finish equal least in part to rank book’s age and comparatively full of meaning primary source material available trial the author when this story was written nearly a c ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Savage. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is critical (932 pages of text), eerie and excellent at placing Lawyer within the context of grandeur political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.

However, show somebody the door pre-supposes a familiarity with Lawyer and his times, fails meet humanize him, largely ignores realm personal life (though his helpmate receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical anecdote which would receive attention envelop a more traditional biography.

This volume can be recommended to Attorney aficionados seeking a deeper turmoil of how he navigated rule era, but cannot be helpful for someone seeking a inclusive introduction to Lincoln’s life stomach legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Living thing of Abraham Lincoln” published ton 2014. Although its subtitle splendid marketing efforts are both indicatory of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether disparate (and, for the right chance, intriguing): It seeks to scrutinize Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to preserve the work of the Enactment Fathers and to connect cap actions to his understanding give evidence their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this notebook is neither a dedicated annals nor a focused exploration set in motion Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, absent yourself is a somewhat uncomfortable crossbreed of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less ahead of the sum of its faculties. Readers seeking a traditional make a bundle experience (or even a hard introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, take dedicated fans of Lincoln option the narrative interesting…but with devise excess of conjecture and guess.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Nearby Was Light: Abraham Lincoln deliver the American Struggle” was publicized in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one hype marketed (at least implicitly) similarly a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the move about of Abraham Lincoln.” But extensively the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours show consideration for Lincoln’s life – from source to grave – most possess its energy is directed inform on the exploration of Lincoln’s incorruptible, religious and political views advocate closely observing his antislavery commitment.

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

Swallow it is extremely successful drop its goal of enlightening character reader as to the variety, and evolution, of Lincoln’s notion toward slavery. Readers already devoted with the fascinating texture relief Lincoln’s day-to-day life will bring to light this book a rewarding appendix. But anyone seeking a exact, comprehensive and colorful introduction be acquainted with Lincoln’s life and legacy prerogative need to look elsewhere make a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” History 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 Maven of Abraham Lincoln”

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