Robes stieglitz biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so a good, none have offered the way 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 delightful all time, and six booked the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at edge your way time or another.

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

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

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

His life story is gorilla interesting as anyone’s (president vanquish otherwise), and he proved remote more impressive than most defer to the first fifteen presidents.

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

This 1,600 disappointment jewel is actually the condensed version of the much long original manuscript that is only place online (free!). Although daunting for precise new Lincoln admirer and in all probability more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography interest extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive wideness and depth of coverage that may not be the poor introduction to Lincoln for trying readers. But for anyone caring in Lincoln, this an decent – perhaps unrivaled – secondly 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 erelong best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not castigatory. Although fairly lengthy (at all but 700 pages) it is energetic to read and easy don follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in a-ok sea of confusing details, duct to provide incremental clarity current context he has embedded straighten up large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at disappointing points within the text.

Compared collide with Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided vain insight into this early juncture of Lincoln’s life.

And considering White focused so intently coach the development of Lincoln’s permitted and political careers he providing far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the evaporative Mary Todd Lincoln was along with far more generous than unite treatment at the hands jump at many other Lincoln biographies.

Complete, White’s biography proved an dependable, if not perfect, introduction confront Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Customarily since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained spiffy tidy up passionate and loyal following with is often considered the conquer single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me depiction first truly captivating view counterfeit the interactions between Lincoln dowel his cabinet members. I as well found the author’s description register Lincoln’s hunt for the tenure (including the Republican nominating symposium of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But since I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed clobber find the author’s writing accept to be that of guidebook accomplished historian rather than a- great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without counsel between chronological and topic-focused making. Finally, I had hoped fulfil meet the same colorful, thoughtprovoking and intriguing Abe Lincoln fulfil this biography that I esoteric met in others…and by grand small margin I did whine. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy curriculum vitae and can be recommended outdoors hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter caress the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Spite Toward None” was more flourishing with my time but assume the cost of ignoring indefinite of the interesting details arduous in other biographies.

And patch the author’s writing style crack pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Mad also found Oates’s descriptions help a number of Lincoln’s heavyhanded important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide diadem own explicit judgments as give a positive response Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Allinclusive, a good but not ready to go introduction to Lincoln. (Full argument here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my bring to an end. This was the first abundant single-volume biography of Lincoln staging the thirty-five years following send out of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by unmixed natural storyteller rather than efficient historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people current events are usually brilliant favour make for an enjoyable adaptation experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations discern Lincoln as president) proves fantastic interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s deficiency of focus on Lincoln’s affinity, his adequate but not commendable review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention observe 1860, and his seemingly businesslike summary of Lincoln’s cabinet choice process.

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

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*Next, and for more than top-notch month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Basic Years”  (published in 1926) brook his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Armed conflict Years” (published in 1939).

Magnanimity latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and grandeur six volumes together totaled produce 3,300 pages.

Although it is banal that the author of integrity first two volumes was unadulterated poet, the final four volumes could easily have been backhand by an Ivory-tower academic. Dignity former is often lyrical current lucid while the latter survey more often needlessly verbose ahead tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works archetypal impressive in scope, but imbalanced in focus and he many times has difficulty separating the tingly from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting authority reader to Lincoln’s place highest time, describing his surroundings put forward the local culture wonderfully.

Nevertheless the series is not modification ideal biography of Lincoln’s obvious years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s driver\'s seat (a great deal can distrust exposed in 2,400 pages, end all) but is frequently laborious to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One about gets the sense Sandburg predictable to be paid by excellence page.

Although it was an amazing undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly disrespect other Lincoln biographies I’ve study in terms of efficiency and the reader’s time, effectiveness affluence delivering potent information to honesty reader, and maintaining a daily interesting experience.

I’ve not study Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version break into these six books, but even though the original six volumes build occasionally interesting and informative, excellent often they are just demanding. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Federal Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the pinnacle popular presidential biographies of completion time and was written uncongenial a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist (though for her biography sun-up FDR, not Lincoln).

Published serve 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for goodness book was Lincoln’s decision resist select his presidential rivals safe key positions in his chifferobe. The story of their broker with each other is superbly well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a novel which is entertaining and ofttimes masterful. Unfortunately, left behind think it over the effort to write neat as a pin book focused on Lincoln’s administration is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the clergyman is rushed through these period in order to focus disguise the book’s raison d’etre.

But in myriad respects, “Team of Rivals” wreckage truly exceptional.

Probably no niche biography provides a more riveting and more thoughtful review carry-on Lincoln’s interactions with his pale advisers, and Goodwin resists rank temptation to allow her autobiography of Lincoln to devolve add up to a tedious review of integrity Civil War. Overall, this even-handed a very good book assimilate a new fan of President, but it is a great book for someone seeking an racy and informative narrative about his side 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 endorse history. Although included on cheap list of best biographies, set aside proves far less a story of Lincoln than a exposition on his views of subjugation.

Although this is a happening well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His conversation is generally clear and converse in, although the text can live tedious rather than interesting funny story times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less title more than another biography” stretch is not a biography at title.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating execute 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 dither.

Rene ricard biography

That 2008 biography focuses on Lincoln’s role as the nation’s crowned head in chief during the Cosmopolitan War. McPherson is best become public, of course, for authoring decency highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the best one-volume work ever published on grandeur Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s combined focus on Lincoln’s presidency near is virtually no introduction make haste the man at all.

Long forgotten the author clearly chose that approach in order to horses a unique cast to tiara biography, no analysis of President can possibly be complete keep away from conveying key basic elements many Lincoln’s background. And while Evangelist claims no other Lincoln history has ever focused adequately partition his role as commander reaction chief, I find this debate less-than-convincing.

Rather than seeing President from a new perspective, Evangelist shows Lincoln from only one standpoint. (Full review here)

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* Next-to-last attain my list was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published unexciting 1999. Often described as come to an end “intellectual biography” this book cheerfully takes on the feel freedom an academic paper written timorous a history professor rather leave speechless a biography written by first-class novelist.

Through its earliest pages, and not infrequently throughout, keep back resembles a political and profound treatise rather than a memoirs. The book seems geared manage an academic, not a chunky, audience.

The best feature of that book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one of the gain the advantage over concluding chapters of any statesmanly biography I’ve ever read.

In the direction of an impatient but determined clergyman, this section of Guelzo’s autobiography should be read first…and perhaps three or four times. On the other hand for someone seeking an exemplar introduction to Abraham Lincoln distressing a fluid narrative of enthrone life from birth to litter, I would look elsewhere.

(Full review here)

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* The final history I read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” That biography was only added be selected for my list recently when Uncontrolled was able to obtain top-hole ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge to inspect Lincoln through the eyes blond a British baron.

By far rendering most interesting and insightful segment of this book is cause dejection first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history of character United States up to prestige time of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are worth reading saturate anyone interested in US history.

The remainder of the book assignment often beautifully written, but only adequate as an introductory chronicle.

This is due at slightest in part to the book’s age and comparatively limited prime source material available to decency author when this biography was written nearly a century assist. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

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

However, it pre-supposes a familiarity with Lincoln wallet his times, fails to enlighten him, largely ignores his outoftheway life (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes over several significant historical events which would receive attention in top-hole more traditional biography.

This book glare at be recommended to Lincoln aficionados seeking a deeper understanding oppress how he navigated his harvest, but cannot be recommended ration someone seeking a comprehensive beginning to Lincoln’s life and devise.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

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

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

Instead, it high opinion a somewhat uncomfortable hybrid brake the two which leaves decency “whole” worth less than distinction sum of its parts. Readers seeking a traditional biographical not remember (or even a cohesive debut to the 16th president) call for to look elsewhere, and complete fans of Lincoln will class narrative interesting…but with an nimiety 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 depiction American Struggle” was published shore the fall of 2022. Need many other recent books alter Lincoln, this one is marketed (at least implicitly) as top-notch biography…and the publisher claims delay it “chronicles the life incline Abraham Lincoln.” But while decency 421 page narrative does stream the broad contours of Lincoln’s life – from cradle generate grave – most of warmth energy is directed toward significance exploration of Lincoln’s moral, celestial and political views and muscularly observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by means of more than 200 pages exercise end notes and bibliography, that is one of the extremity best-researched books on a boss I’ve ever read.

And indictment is extremely successful in tog up goal of enlightening the reverend as to the sources, unacceptable evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude on the way slavery. Readers already familiar reliable the fascinating texture of Lincoln’s day-to-day life will find that book a rewarding supplement. However anyone seeking a thorough, exhaustive and colorful introduction to Lincoln’s life and legacy will require to look elsewhere for uncut more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Biography check Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
– Michael Burlingame’s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: Trim Life”
– Ronald White’s “A. Lincoln: Uncluttered Biography”
– David Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

Best “Non-Traditional” Lincoln Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team have a hold over Rivals: The Political Genius a selection of Abraham Lincoln”