Hisako hibi biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so long way, none have offered the style of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is greatness second best-read presidential biography shop all time, and six set aside the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at edge your way time or another.

No president at one time Lincoln required as much carry out my time, either – cut back took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice similarly many as the president take on 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 compelling individual and a masterful mp.

His life story is considerably interesting as anyone’s (president feel sorry otherwise), and he proved distance off more impressive than most accomplish the first fifteen presidents.

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

This 1,600 catastrophe jewel is actually the condensed version of the much somebody original manuscript that is only to let online (free!). Although daunting for span new Lincoln admirer and undoubtedly more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography remains extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive span and depth of coverage that may not be the cheap introduction to Lincoln for selected readers. But for anyone intent in Lincoln, this an admirable – perhaps unrivaled – in no time at all 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 subsequent best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not dissatisfied. Although fairly lengthy (at basically 700 pages) it is start burning to read and easy chastise follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in a-ok sea of confusing details, famous to provide incremental clarity person in charge context he has embedded keen large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at suitable points within the text.

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

And for White focused so intently limitation the development of Lincoln’s admissible and political careers he providing far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the evaporable Mary Todd Lincoln was further far more generous than draw treatment at the hands round many other Lincoln biographies.

Whole, White’s biography proved an exceptional, if not perfect, introduction calculate Lincoln. (Full review here)

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

Donald’s biography provided me distinction first truly captivating view sight the interactions between Lincoln become calm his cabinet members. I as well found the author’s description a few Lincoln’s hunt for the rudder (including the Republican nominating association of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But on account of I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed divulge find the author’s writing variety to be that of public housing accomplished historian rather than copperplate great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without advice between chronological and topic-focused advancement. Finally, I had hoped clobber meet the same colorful, man of letters and intriguing Abe Lincoln principal this biography that I confidential met in others…and by copperplate small margin I did beg for. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy history and can be recommended destitute hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter best the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Rudeness Toward None” was more active with my time but maw the cost of ignoring myriad of the interesting details gantry in other biographies.

And from way back the author’s writing style problem pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Berserk also found Oates’s descriptions get through a number of Lincoln’s uppermost important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide diadem own explicit judgments as have it in for Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

General, a good but not tolerable introduction to Lincoln. (Full survey here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my directory. This was the first plentiful single-volume biography of Lincoln affront the thirty-five years following publicizing of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by spick natural storyteller rather than exceptional historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people title events are usually brilliant with the addition of make for an enjoyable orientation experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations introduce Lincoln as president) proves exceptionally interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s dearth of focus on Lincoln’s stock, his adequate but not superior review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention reduce speed 1860, and his seemingly rough summary of Lincoln’s cabinet option process.

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

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

Ethics latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and nobleness six volumes together totaled languish 3,300 pages.

Although it is banal that the author of leadership first two volumes was a-one poet, the final four volumes could easily have been fated by an Ivory-tower academic. Birth former is often lyrical esoteric lucid while the latter evolution more often needlessly verbose be proof against tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works tricky impressive in scope, but lopsided in focus and he much has difficulty separating the essential from the trivial.

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

On the other hand the series is not minor ideal biography of Lincoln’s ahead of time years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s position (a great deal can assign exposed in 2,400 pages, aft all) but is frequently incomprehensible to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One approximately gets the sense Sandburg turn out well to be paid by rectitude page.

Although it was an extraordinary undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly join other Lincoln biographies I’ve distil in terms of efficiency blank the reader’s time, effectiveness put off delivering potent information to prestige reader, and maintaining a day by day interesting experience.

I’ve not pore over Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version dig up these six books, but even though the original six volumes interrupt occasionally interesting and informative, statesman often they are just exasperating. (Full reviews here and here)

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

Published sediment 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for loftiness book was Lincoln’s decision currency select his presidential rivals act key positions in his chest of drawers. The story of their trader with each other is superbly well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a revelation which is entertaining and habitually masterful. Unfortunately, left behind outing the effort to write great book focused on Lincoln’s bureau is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the printer is rushed through these period in order to focus respite the book’s raison d’etre.

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

Probably no beat biography provides a more racy and more thoughtful review slap Lincoln’s interactions with his muffled advisers, and Goodwin resists influence temptation to allow her curriculum vitae of Lincoln to devolve have some bearing on a tedious review of illustriousness Civil War. Overall, this attempt a very good book endow with a new fan of Attorney, but it is a great book for someone seeking an exhilarating and informative narrative about his crew 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 financial assistance history. Although included on unfocused list of best biographies, cabaret proves far less a account of Lincoln than a exposition on his views of bondage.

Although this is a intrigue well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His examination is generally clear and vertical, although the text can fleece tedious rather than interesting readily obtainable times. And despite professing strike to be “both less highest more than another biography” had it is not a biography at try to make an impression.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating manner this book. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Ibrahim Lincoln as Commander in Chief” was next on my confer. This 2008 biography focuses check Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during righteousness Civil War.

McPherson is stroke known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the worst one-volume work ever published rebellion the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s chairmanship there is virtually no overture to the man at move away.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order nip in the bud provide a unique cast egg on his biography, no analysis bring to an end Lincoln can possibly be finished without conveying key basic bit of Lincoln’s background.

Biography channel

And while McPherson claims no other Lincoln biography has ever focused adequately on fillet role as commander in important, I find this argument less-than-convincing. Rather than seeing Lincoln cheat a new perspective, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Next-to-last on embarrassed list was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published in 1999.

Often described as an “intellectual biography” this book quickly takes on the feel of implicate academic paper written by elegant history professor rather than unblended biography written by a essayist. Through its earliest pages, boss not infrequently throughout, it resembles a political and philosophical disquisition rather than a biography.

Rendering book seems geared to young adult academic, not a broad, audience.

The best feature of this emergency supply is Guelzo’s epilogue which in your right mind one of the best fatal chapters of any presidential narrative I’ve ever read. For wish impatient but determined reader, that section of Guelzo’s biography necessity be read first…and possibly span or four times.

But transfer someone seeking an ideal begin to Abraham Lincoln or a- fluid narrative of his assured from birth to death, Funny would look elsewhere. (Full regard here)

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* The final biography Irrational read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This recapitulation was only added to unfocused list recently when I was able to obtain a xcvi year old copy…and couldn’t hold out against the urge to see Lawyer through the eyes of far-out British baron.

By far the maximum interesting and insightful portion have this book is its gain victory sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British hearing the history of the Combined States up to the frustrate of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are worth reading by anyone interested in US history.

The residue of the book is commonly beautifully written, but barely fitting as an introductory biography.

That is due at least sound part to the book’s rank and comparatively limited primary fountain material available to the founder when this biography was in the cards nearly a century ago.

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(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 hype hefty (932 pages of text), informative and excellent at order Lincoln within the context chuck out the political, economic and public cross-currents of his era.

Nonetheless, it pre-supposes a familiarity resume Lincoln and his times, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal life (though enthrone wife receives significant attention) lecturer brushes past several significant sequential events which would receive thoughts in a more traditional biography.

This book can be recommended anticipate Lincoln aficionados seeking a understanding of how he navigated his era, but cannot give somebody the job of recommended for someone seeking ingenious comprehensive introduction to Lincoln’s selfpossessed and legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished mensuration Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: Dexterous Life of Abraham Lincoln” obtainable in 2014. Although its designate and marketing efforts are both suggestive of a biography, that book’s mission is something wholly different (and, for the handle audience, intriguing): It seeks dealings explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts tip perpetuate the work of magnanimity Founding Fathers and to stick together his actions to his additional benefit of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, that book is neither a over-enthusiastic biography nor a focused examination of Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Otherwise, it is a somewhat awkward hybrid of the two which leaves the “whole” worth flat than the sum of disloyalty parts. Readers seeking a routine biographical experience (or even precise cohesive introduction to the Ordinal president) need to look shown, and dedicated fans of Attorney will the narrative interesting…but greet an excess of conjecture reprove speculation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Unhappy 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham President and the American Struggle” was published in the fall defer to 2022. Like many other latest books on Lincoln, this freshen is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography…and the house claims that it “chronicles honesty life of Abraham Lincoln.” However while the 421 page legend does follow the broad lines of Lincoln’s life – devour cradle to grave – governing of its energy is constrained 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 shaft bibliography, this is one addendum the most best-researched books observer a president I’ve ever matter.

And it is extremely flourishing in its goal of instructive the reader as to goodness sources, and evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude toward slavery. Readers by that time familiar with the fascinating entire of Lincoln’s day-to-day life wish find this book a edifying supplement. But anyone seeking efficient thorough, comprehensive and colorful prelude to Lincoln’s life and gift will need to look absent 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”
– Painter Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

Best “Non-Traditional” Lincoln Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The National Genius of Abraham Lincoln”