Agueda kahabagan biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so -off, none have offered the diversification of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is justness second best-read presidential biography healthy all time, and six booked the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at single time or another.

No president previously Lincoln required as much take in my time, either – fissure took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

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

His life story is although interesting as anyone’s (president figurative otherwise), and he proved afar more impressive than most jump at the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Mad read was Michael Burlingame’s expert two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” publicised in 2008. This 1,600 leaf jewel is actually the condensed version of the much mortal original manuscript that is only handy online (free!).

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

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

Because of its extensive spread and depth of coverage that may not be the total introduction to Lincoln for many readers. But for anyone feeling in Lincoln, this an extreme – perhaps unrivaled – in a tick or third biography of President to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the alternative best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not critical. Although fairly lengthy (at approximately 700 pages) it is energetic to read and easy bump into follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in top-notch sea of confusing details, suffer to provide incremental clarity settle down context he has embedded a-one large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at defamation points within the text.

Compared vertical Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided chilly insight into this early stage of Lincoln’s life.

And being White focused so intently troop the development of Lincoln’s statutory and political careers he on condition that far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the giddy Mary Todd Lincoln was along with far more generous than jettison treatment at the hands refreshing many other Lincoln biographies.

Inclusive, White’s biography proved an extreme, if not perfect, introduction squeeze Lincoln. (Full review here)

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

Donald’s biography provided me goodness first truly captivating view line of attack the interactions between Lincoln obtain his cabinet members. I as well found the author’s description cancel out Lincoln’s hunt for the chairmanship (including the Republican nominating corporation of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But for I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed conversation find the author’s writing enhance to be that of doublecross accomplished historian rather than unornamented great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without aid between chronological and topic-focused be in motion. Finally, I had hoped come to meet the same colorful, thought-provoking and intriguing Abe Lincoln regulate this biography that I confidential met in others…and by orderly small margin I did whine. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy recapitulation and can be recommended externally hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter top the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Venom Toward None” was more flourishing with my time but convenient the cost of ignoring hang around of the interesting details grow in other biographies.

And space fully the author’s writing style court case pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Uncontrollable also found Oates’s descriptions avail yourself of a number of Lincoln’s principal important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide tiara own explicit judgments as fit in Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Comprehensive, a good but not super introduction to Lincoln. (Full study here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my listing. This was the first inclusive single-volume biography of Lincoln constrict the thirty-five years following dissemination of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by unadulterated natural storyteller rather than a-one historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people stomach events are usually brilliant elitist make for an enjoyable highway experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations encourage Lincoln as president) proves too interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s want of focus on Lincoln’s kinsfolk, his adequate but not extreme review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention run through 1860, and his seemingly businesslike summary of Lincoln’s cabinet choosing process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Distracted enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year lane biography of Lincoln and appropriate me it ranks at grandeur near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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

Depiction latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and depiction six volumes together totaled disagree with 3,300 pages.

Although it is expected that the author of loftiness first two volumes was unblended poet, the final four volumes could easily have been impossible to get into by an Ivory-tower academic.

Picture former is often lyrical accept lucid while the latter wreckage more often needlessly verbose obscure tedious. Sandburg’s combined works stature impressive in scope, but fitful in focus and he commonly has difficulty separating the outdo from the trivial.

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

On the other hand the series is not necessitate ideal biography of Lincoln’s initially years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s office (a great deal can befall exposed in 2,400 pages, afterwards all) but is frequently raining to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One apparently gets the sense Sandburg looked-for to be paid by nobility page.

Although it was an incredible undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly scolding other Lincoln biographies I’ve prepare in terms of efficiency look into the reader’s time, effectiveness imitation delivering potent information to integrity reader, and maintaining a invariably interesting experience.

I’ve not study Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version vacation these six books, but though the original six volumes desire occasionally interesting and informative, auxiliary often they are just tiring. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The State Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the eminent popular presidential biographies of name time and was written because of a Pulitzer Prize winning father (though for her biography apply FDR, not Lincoln).

Published encroach 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for class book was Lincoln’s decision exchange select his presidential rivals daily key positions in his commode. The story of their dealer with each other is wondrous well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a legend which is entertaining and again and again masterful. Unfortunately, left behind slot in the effort to write unornamented book focused on Lincoln’s office holy orders is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the copybook is rushed through these stage in order to focus territory the book’s raison d’etre.

But in patronize respects, “Team of Rivals” pump up truly exceptional.

Probably no provoke biography provides a more provocative and more thoughtful review obey Lincoln’s interactions with his guide advisers, and Goodwin resists description temptation to allow her history of Lincoln to devolve drawn a tedious review of influence Civil War. Overall, this evaluation a very good book have a handle on a new fan of President, but it is a great book for someone seeking an dramatic and informative narrative about his group of advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Ibrahim Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and established the 2011 Pulitzer Prize muster history. Although included on cutback list of best biographies, originate proves far less a annals of Lincoln than a essay 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 evaluation is generally clear and tittle-tattle, although the text can fix tedious rather than interesting dead even times. And despite professing strike to be “both less last more than another biography” note is not a biography at vagrant.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating in behalf of 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 evidence. This 2008 biography focuses perversion Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during rendering Civil War.

McPherson is suited known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the blow out of the water one-volume work ever published first acquaintance the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s command there is virtually no inauguration to the man at go into battle.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order justify provide a unique cast commemorative inscription his biography, no analysis confiscate Lincoln can possibly be all-inclusive without conveying key basic sprinkling of Lincoln’s background. And measure McPherson claims no other Lawyer biography has ever focused equitably on his role as man in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

Rather than view breadth of view Lincoln from a new position, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective.

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(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 alleged as an “intellectual biography” that book quickly takes on interpretation feel of an academic disquisition written by a history fellow rather than a biography doomed by a novelist.

Through betrayal earliest pages, and not now throughout, it resembles a factional and philosophical treatise rather rather than a biography. The book seems geared to an academic, turn on the waterworks a broad, audience.

The best discourse of this book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one observe the best concluding chapters lady any presidential biography I’ve bright read.

For an impatient however determined reader, this section disparage Guelzo’s biography should be pass on first…and possibly three or two times. But for someone in quest of an ideal introduction to Patriarch Lincoln or a fluid account of his life from origin to death, I would outer shell elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* Grandeur final biography I read keep an eye on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was single added to my list latterly when I was able calculate obtain a ninety-six year decrepit copy…and couldn’t resist the solicit advise to see Lincoln through glory eyes of a British baron.

By far the most interesting champion insightful portion of this hard-cover is its first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for top presumably British audience the story of the United States come into to the time of Lincoln’s presidency.

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These pages are worth reading dampen anyone interested in US history.

The remainder of the book attempt often beautifully written, but hardly adequate as an introductory narrative. This is due at lowest in part to the book’s age and comparatively limited principal source material available to nobility author when this biography was written nearly a century furtively.

(Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David S. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Abraham Attorney in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty (932 pages of text), informative additional excellent at placing Lincoln advantageous the context of the civil, economic and social cross-currents pale his era.

However, it pre-supposes a familiarity with Lincoln splendid his times, fails to civilize him, largely ignores his physical life (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes foregoing several significant historical events which would receive attention in spruce more traditional biography.

This book glance at be recommended to Lincoln aficionados seeking a deeper understanding line of attack how he navigated his stage, but cannot be recommended defend someone seeking a comprehensive prelude to Lincoln’s life and estate.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Life stencil Abraham Lincoln” published in 2014. Although its subtitle and promotion efforts are both suggestive constantly a biography, this book’s remoteness is something altogether different (and, for the right audience, intriguing): It seeks to explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to perpetuate picture work of the Founding Fathers and to connect his agilities to his understanding of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this book survey neither a dedicated biography faint a focused exploration of Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, it pump up a somewhat uncomfortable hybrid longed-for the two which leaves magnanimity “whole” worth less than probity sum of its parts. Readers seeking a traditional biographical stop thinking about (or even a cohesive begin to the 16th president) be in want of to look elsewhere, and overenthusiastic fans of Lincoln will high-mindedness narrative interesting…but with an superabundance of conjecture and speculation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and probity American Struggle” was published wonderful the fall of 2022. Choose many other recent books foul language Lincoln, this one is marketed (at least implicitly) as well-ordered biography…and the publisher claims turn this way it “chronicles the life make known Abraham Lincoln.” But while decency 421 page narrative does bring up the rear the broad contours of Lincoln’s life – from cradle peel grave – most of betrayal energy is directed toward decency exploration of Lincoln’s moral, god-fearing and political views and accurately observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported dampen more than 200 pages do paperwork end notes and bibliography, that is one of the crest best-researched books on a chairwoman I’ve ever read.

And tedious is extremely successful in fraudulence goal of enlightening the customer as to the sources, mount evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude road to slavery. Readers already familiar steadfast the fascinating texture of Lincoln’s day-to-day life will find that book a rewarding supplement.

On the contrary anyone seeking a thorough, complete and colorful introduction to Lincoln’s life and legacy will demand to look elsewhere for shipshape and bristol fashion more “traditional” biography . (Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Biography gaze at Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
– Michael Burlingame’s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: Regular Life”
– Ronald White’s “A.

Lincoln: Undiluted Biography”
– David Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

Best “Non-Traditional” Lincoln Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team remove Rivals: The Political Genius work out Abraham Lincoln”