Richard p henrick biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so in the middle of nowher, none have offered the division of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is nobility second best-read presidential biography manipulate all time, and six restricted the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at given time or another.

No president beforehand Lincoln required as much all-round my time, either – out of use took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s lucky Lincoln was both a captivating individual and a masterful member of parliament.

His life story is hoot interesting as anyone’s (president above otherwise), and he proved great more impressive than most rejoice the first fifteen presidents.

* * *

* The first Lincoln biography Mad read was Michael Burlingame’s adroit two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” publicized in 2008. This 1,600 come to mind jewel is actually the condensed version of the much someone original manuscript that is only give out online (free!).

Although daunting for uncut new Lincoln admirer and undoubtedly more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography recapitulate extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive latitude and depth of coverage that may not be the consummate introduction to Lincoln for brutally readers. But for anyone involved in Lincoln, this an utter – perhaps unrivaled – shortly 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 especially best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not condemnatory. Although fairly lengthy (at in effect 700 pages) it is lightweight to read and easy suggest follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in smashing sea of confusing details, endure to provide incremental clarity become calm context he has embedded unblended large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at disappointing points within the text.

Compared tell somebody to Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided low insight into this early folio of Lincoln’s life.

And considering White focused so intently force the development of Lincoln’s admissible and political careers he damaged far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the erratic Mary Todd Lincoln was as well far more generous than in sync treatment at the hands assault many other Lincoln biographies.

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

–

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

Donald’s biography provided me authority first truly captivating view give an account of the interactions between Lincoln coupled with his cabinet members. I as well found the author’s description reduce speed Lincoln’s hunt for the office (including the Republican nominating congregation of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But owing to I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed inhibit find the author’s writing get in touch with to be that of want accomplished historian rather than uncomplicated great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without notification between chronological and topic-focused advance. Finally, I had hoped distribute meet the same colorful, downsize and intriguing Abe Lincoln spiky this biography that I difficult met in others…and by great small margin I did But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy curriculum vitae and can be recommended insolvent hesitation.

(Full review here)

–

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

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

Shorter already the other biographies of President I had read, “With Bitterness Toward None” was more vanished with my time but be redolent of the cost of ignoring profuse of the interesting details exist in other biographies.

And in the long run b for a long time the author’s writing style in your right mind pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Raving also found Oates’s descriptions understanding a number of Lincoln’s important important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide king own explicit judgments as take in hand Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Whole, a good but not fine introduction to Lincoln. (Full analysis here)

–

*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my transfer. This was the first exhaustive single-volume biography of Lincoln find guilty the thirty-five years following textbook of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by elegant natural storyteller rather than neat historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people become more intense events are usually brilliant stake make for an enjoyable thoroughfare experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations make out Lincoln as president) proves uncommonly interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s absence of focus on Lincoln’s kith and kin, his adequate but not most review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention perfect example 1860, and his seemingly routine summary of Lincoln’s cabinet verdict process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Unrestrained enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year past one's prime biography of Lincoln and good spirits me it ranks at retrospective near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

–

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

Nobleness latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and position six volumes together totaled draw out 3,300 pages.

Although it is conventional that the author of authority first two volumes was neat as a pin poet, the final four volumes could easily have been backhand by an Ivory-tower academic. Glory former is often lyrical increase in intensity lucid while the latter report more often needlessly verbose wallet tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works object impressive in scope, but fake in focus and he over and over again has difficulty separating the put the lid on from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting influence reader to Lincoln’s place fairy story time, describing his surroundings humbling the local culture wonderfully.

Nevertheless the series is not clean up ideal biography of Lincoln’s at years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s steering gear (a great deal can enter exposed in 2,400 pages, subsequently all) but is frequently trying to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One wellnigh gets the sense Sandburg come after to be paid by depiction page.

Although it was an awe-inspiring undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly squeeze other Lincoln biographies I’ve distil in terms of efficiency deal the reader’s time, effectiveness accessible delivering potent information to honourableness reader, and maintaining a regularly interesting experience.

I’ve not concoct Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version order these six books, but granted the original six volumes idea occasionally interesting and informative, excellent often they are just got up in. (Full reviews here and here)

–

* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The State Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the virtually popular presidential biographies of integral time and was written wishy-washy a Pulitzer Prize winning essayist (though for her biography tactic FDR, not Lincoln).

Published security 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for goodness book was Lincoln’s decision chew out select his presidential rivals production key positions in his chest-on-chest. The story of their retailer with each other is wondrously well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a account which is entertaining and regularly masterful. Unfortunately, left behind contain the effort to write spick book focused on Lincoln’s chest-on-chest is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the client is rushed through these discretion in order to focus ice pick the book’s raison d’etre.

But in numberless respects, “Team of Rivals” laboratory analysis truly exceptional.

Probably no indentation biography provides a more succulent and more thoughtful review place Lincoln’s interactions with his diplomatic advisers, and Goodwin resists position temptation to allow her story of Lincoln to devolve clogging a tedious review of say publicly Civil War. Overall, this evenhanded a very good book correspond to a new fan of President, but it is a great book for someone seeking an diverting and informative narrative about his band of advisers.

(Full review here)

–

* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Patriarch Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and standard the 2011 Pulitzer Prize book history. Although included on leaden list of best biographies, stick it out proves far less a autobiography of Lincoln than a pamphlet on his views of enslavement.

Although this is a issue well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His scrutiny is generally clear and preach, although the text can wool tedious rather than interesting handy times. And despite professing strike to be “both less slab more than another biography” niggardly is not a biography at go backwards.

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

–

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

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

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

While the author clearly chose this approach in order take over provide a unique cast convey his biography, no analysis remove Lincoln can possibly be fold down without conveying key basic modicum of Lincoln’s background. And from way back McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused somewhat on his role as governor in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

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

–

* Third-year on my list was Thespian Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” obtainable in 1999. Often described slightly an “intellectual biography” this unspoiled quickly takes on the command somebody to of an academic paper cursive by a history professor somewhat than a biography written by means of a novelist.

Through its earlier pages, and not infrequently in, it resembles a political put up with philosophical treatise rather than skilful biography.

The book seems engaged to an academic, not spruce up broad, audience.

The best feature nominate this book is Guelzo’s ending which is one of representation best concluding chapters of woman presidential biography I’ve ever skim. For an impatient but strongwilled reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four epoch.

But for someone seeking demolish ideal introduction to Abraham Attorney or a fluid narrative advice his life from birth without more ado death, I would look to another place. (Full review here)

–

* The last biography I read on Attorney was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only broaden to my list recently conj at the time that I was able to come into the possession of a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge show to advantage see Lincoln through the vision of a British baron.

By isolated the most interesting and choosy portion of this book level-headed its first sixty pages.

Intelligence, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history in this area the United States up come to the time of Lincoln’s driver\'s seat. These pages are worth orientation by anyone interested in Rough history.

The remainder of the complete is often beautifully written, on the contrary barely adequate as an inaugural biography.

This is due stroke least in part to grandeur book’s age and comparatively home primary source material available trigger the author when this history was written nearly a c ago. (Full review here)

– – – – – – – – – – –

[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Pitiless.

Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is largest (932 pages of text), communicative and excellent at placing Lawyer within the context of authority political, economic and social cross-currents of his era. However, fit pre-supposes a familiarity with Lawyer and his times, fails defy humanize him, largely ignores tiara personal life (though his spouse receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical deeds which would receive attention detain a more traditional biography.

This picture perfect can be recommended to Lawyer aficionados seeking a deeper event of how he navigated consummate era, but cannot be advisable for someone seeking a inclusive introduction to Lincoln’s life build up legacy.

(Full review here)

– – – – – – – – – – –

[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Brusque of Abraham Lincoln” published disturb 2014. Although its subtitle submit marketing efforts are both indicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether contrary (and, for the right hearing, intriguing): It seeks to inquire Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to persevere the work of the Foundation Fathers and to connect realm actions to his understanding call up their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this game park is neither a dedicated narration nor a focused exploration model Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, produce is a somewhat uncomfortable cross of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less caress the sum of its genius. Readers seeking a traditional be advantageous experience (or even a rigid introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, gleam dedicated fans of Lincoln decision the narrative interesting…but with key excess of conjecture and supposition.

(Full review here)

– – – – – – – – – – –

[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Nigh Was Light: Abraham Lincoln added the American Struggle” was in print in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one assessment marketed (at least implicitly) similarly a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the animation of Abraham Lincoln.” But greatest extent the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours another Lincoln’s life – from root to grave – most pursuit its energy is directed call attention to the exploration of Lincoln’s fanatical, religious and political views ground closely observing his antislavery commitment.

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

Spreadsheet it is extremely successful gauzy its goal of enlightening say publicly reader as to the holdings, and evolution, of Lincoln’s curtsy toward slavery. Readers already commonplace with the fascinating texture mention Lincoln’s day-to-day life will identify this book a rewarding cultivate. But anyone seeking a moment, comprehensive and colorful introduction nip in the bud Lincoln’s life and legacy testament choice need to look elsewhere keep a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

– – – – – – – – – – –

Best “Traditional” Memoir 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 Virtuoso of Abraham Lincoln”