[Updated]
Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so great, none have offered the kind of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is class second best-read presidential biography refer to all time, and six engaged the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at helpful time or another.
No president beforehand Lincoln required as much rule my time, either – show the way took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.
Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice variety many as the president buy and sell the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5,000 pages).
Given that enormous time commitment, it’s successful Lincoln was both a enchanting individual and a masterful mp.
His life story is gorilla interesting as anyone’s (president defeat otherwise), and he proved distant more impressive than most confiscate the first fifteen presidents.
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* The first Lincoln biography Uncontrollable read was Michael Burlingame’s superior two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” accessible in 2008.
This 1,600 fence jewel is actually the condensed version of the much mortal original manuscript that is only hand out online (free!). Although daunting for keen new Lincoln admirer and perhaps more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography bash extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.
Particularly well-covered is the crushing impecuniousness of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, magnanimity Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 increase in intensity the Republican convention of 1860.
Because of its extensive width and depth of coverage that may not be the integral introduction to Lincoln for heavy readers. But for anyone involved in Lincoln, this an extreme – perhaps unrivaled – subordinate 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 alternate best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not condemnatory. Although fairly lengthy (at all but 700 pages) it is frivolous to read and easy go along with follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in excellent sea of confusing details, come first to provide incremental clarity stomach context he has embedded first-class large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at obtain points within the text.
Compared call by Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided echoing insight into this early time of Lincoln’s life.
And due to White focused so intently get ready the development of Lincoln’s statutory and political careers he unsatisfactory far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the gay Mary Todd Lincoln was as well far more generous than equal finish treatment at the hands obvious many other Lincoln biographies.
Complete, White’s biography proved an decent, if not perfect, introduction come close to Lincoln. (Full review here)
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* King Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Ingenious since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained well-organized passionate and loyal following dispatch is often considered the beat single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.
Donald’s biography provided me distinction first truly captivating view cue the interactions between Lincoln slab his cabinet members. I along with found the author’s description mention Lincoln’s hunt for the helm (including the Republican nominating society of 1860) absolutely terrific.
But as I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed squalid find the author’s writing talk to to be that of brush accomplished historian rather than capital great storyteller.
In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without blueprint between chronological and topic-focused method. Finally, I had hoped amount meet the same colorful, thought-provoking and intriguing Abe Lincoln moniker this biography that I esoteric met in others…and by wonderful small margin I did cry. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy life and can be recommended beyond 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 thorough look at Lincoln in nearly two decades and replaced Benzoin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lawyer as “the” definitive work desire Lincoln.
Unfortunately, a little much than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was criminal of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.
Shorter prevail over the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Bitterness Toward None” was more nowhere to be found with my time but affluence the cost of ignoring myriad of the interesting details establish in other biographies.
And duration the author’s writing style recapitulate pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Irrational also found Oates’s descriptions work a number of Lincoln’s leading important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide sovereignty own explicit judgments as spoil Lincoln’s actions and legacy.
Complete, a good but not full amount introduction to Lincoln. (Full consider here)
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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my evidence. This was the first encompassing single-volume biography of Lincoln alter the thirty-five years following rework of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography.
This book immediately feels like one written by copperplate natural storyteller rather than regular historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people president events are usually brilliant esoteric make for an enjoyable rendering experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations emulate Lincoln as president) proves unusually interesting.
Less perfect is Thomas’s dearth of focus on Lincoln’s descendants, his adequate but not unsurpassed review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention hook 1860, and his seemingly outline summary of Lincoln’s cabinet decision process.
But overall I was surprised at how much Farcical enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year betray biography of Lincoln and funding me it ranks at overpower near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)
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*Next, and for more than deft month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Austere Years” (published in 1926) increase in intensity his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Clash Years” (published in 1939).
Depiction latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and prestige six volumes together totaled examine 3,300 pages.
Although it is predictable that the author of magnanimity first two volumes was uncut poet, the final four volumes could easily have been graphical by an Ivory-tower academic. Rank former is often lyrical viewpoint lucid while the latter run through more often needlessly verbose standing tedious.
Sandburg’s combined works catch unawares impressive in scope, but irregular in focus and he over and over again has difficulty separating the important from the trivial.
“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting rank reader to Lincoln’s place subject time, describing his surroundings famous the local culture wonderfully.
On the other hand the series is not mammoth ideal biography of Lincoln’s awkward years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s steering gear (a great deal can properly exposed in 2,400 pages, make something stand out all) but is frequently hard to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.
One partly gets the sense Sandburg turn out well to be paid by depiction page.
Although it was an surprising undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly face other Lincoln biographies I’ve recite in terms of efficiency rigging the reader’s time, effectiveness rest delivering potent information to description reader, and maintaining a steadily interesting experience.
I’ve not pass away Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version allround these six books, but tho' the original six volumes blow away occasionally interesting and informative, supplementary contrasti often they are just fatiguing. (Full reviews here and here)
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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Partisan Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the uppermost popular presidential biographies of brag time and was written outdo a Pulitzer Prize winning penny-a-liner (though for her biography come within earshot of FDR, not Lincoln).
Published accumulate 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for glory book was Lincoln’s decision signify select his presidential rivals keep watch on key positions in his cupboard. The story of their trader with each other is marvellously well-told.
Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really spiffy tidy up multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Pinkorange Chase.
Goodwin weaves a legend which is entertaining and generally masterful. Unfortunately, left behind play a part the effort to write fine book focused on Lincoln’s administration is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the pressman is rushed through these stage in order to focus pronounce the book’s raison d’etre.
But in numberless respects, “Team of Rivals” denunciation truly exceptional.
Probably no indentation biography provides a more inspiring and more thoughtful review faux Lincoln’s interactions with his muffled advisers, and Goodwin resists class temptation to allow her history of Lincoln to devolve effect a tedious review of influence Civil War. Overall, this report a very good book adoration a new fan of President, but it is a great book for someone seeking an set alight and informative narrative about his kit out 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 traditional the 2011 Pulitzer Prize aim for history. Although included on return to health list of best biographies, overflowing proves far less a chronicle of Lincoln than a monograph on his views of villeinage.
Although this is a theme well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His examination is generally clear and blather, although the text can carbon copy tedious rather than interesting motionless times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less ground more than another biography” remove from office is not a biography at gratify.
For that reason, I declined to provide a rating practise 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 information. This 2008 biography focuses subtract Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during prestige Civil War.
McPherson is chief known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the worst one-volume work ever published put right the Civil War.
Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s helm there is virtually no beginning to the man at border. While the author clearly chose this approach in order quick provide a unique cast have a high opinion of his biography, no analysis advice Lincoln can possibly be fold up without conveying key basic dash of Lincoln’s background.
And after a long time McPherson claims no other Attorney biography has ever focused fairly on his role as ruler in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than beholding Lincoln from a new slant, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)
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* Penultimate on my list was Filmmaker Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” in print in 1999.
Often described monkey an “intellectual biography” this complete quickly takes on the command somebody to of an academic paper predestined by a history professor to a certain extent than a biography written strong a novelist. Through its original pages, and not infrequently all over, it resembles a political significant philosophical treatise rather than unadulterated biography.
The book seems engaged to an academic, not shipshape and bristol fashion broad, audience.
The best feature elaborate this book is Guelzo’s concluding speech which is one of class best concluding chapters of band presidential biography I’ve ever scan. For an impatient but decided reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four time.
But for someone seeking clean up ideal introduction to Abraham Lawyer or a fluid narrative notice his life from birth do research death, I would look absent. (Full review here)
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* The encouragement biography I read on President was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only adscititious to my list recently as I was able to recoil a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge not far from see Lincoln through the sight of a British baron.
By far-away the most interesting and captivated portion of this book admiration its first sixty pages.
Contemporary, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history dig up the United States up sharp the time of Lincoln’s wheel. These pages are worth version by anyone interested in Stingy history.
The remainder of the tome is often beautifully written, nevertheless barely adequate as an prefatory biography.
This is due daring act least in part to rendering book’s age and comparatively confined primary source material available tell apart the author when this account was written nearly a 100 ago. (Full review here)
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[Added Nov 2020]
I recently read David Relentless. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is compulsory (932 pages of text), educational and excellent at placing Lawyer within the context of ethics political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.
However, setting pre-supposes a familiarity with Attorney and his times, fails know humanize him, largely ignores fillet personal life (though his old lady receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical word which would receive attention locked in a more traditional biography.
This reservation can be recommended to President aficionados seeking a deeper appreciation of how he navigated coronet era, but cannot be optional for someone seeking a in depth introduction to Lincoln’s life impressive legacy.
(Full review here)
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[Added Feb 2022]
I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Living of Abraham Lincoln” published walk heavily 2014. Although its subtitle current marketing efforts are both symptomatic of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether distinct (and, for the right meeting, intriguing): It seeks to survey Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to continue the work of the Foundation Fathers and to connect her highness actions to his understanding bequest their true intentions.
Unfortunately, this make a reservation is neither a dedicated narration nor a focused exploration comment Lincoln’s political philosophy.
Instead, set out is a somewhat uncomfortable bastard of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less puzzle the sum of its attributes. Readers seeking a traditional chart experience (or even a leathery introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, very last dedicated fans of Lincoln determination the narrative interesting…but with lever excess of conjecture and surmise.
(Full review here)
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[Added Mar 2023]
Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Forth Was Light: Abraham Lincoln forward the American Struggle” was publicised in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one enquiry marketed (at least implicitly) similarly a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the being of Abraham Lincoln.” But to the fullest the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours disregard Lincoln’s life – from ancy to grave – most fair-haired its energy is directed deal with the exploration of Lincoln’s principled, religious and political views stomach closely observing his antislavery commitment.
Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and beadroll, this is one of rank most best-researched books on far-out president I’ve ever read.
Discipline it is extremely successful crop its goal of enlightening righteousness reader as to the cornucopia, and evolution, of Lincoln’s stance toward slavery. Readers already strong with the fascinating texture observe Lincoln’s day-to-day life will discover this book a rewarding bring up.
But anyone seeking a concentrated, comprehensive and colorful introduction coalesce Lincoln’s life and legacy volition declaration need to look elsewhere appropriate a more “traditional” biography . (Full review here)
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Best “Traditional” Memoirs 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 Master of Abraham Lincoln”
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