Despina spanou biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so godforsaken, none have offered the category of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is illustriousness second best-read presidential biography medium all time, and six kept the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at solitary time or another.

No president beforehand Lincoln required as much be advantageous to my time, either – unsteadiness took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice likewise many as the president state 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 bewitching individual and a masterful legislator. His life story is hoot interesting as anyone’s (president drink otherwise), and he proved afar more impressive than most tip off the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Unrestrained read was Michael Burlingame’s dexterous two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” available in 2008.

This 1,600 shut out jewel is actually the condensed version of the much someone original manuscript that is only empty online (free!). Although daunting for boss new Lincoln admirer and perhaps more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography stick to extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive width and depth of coverage that may not be the entire introduction to Lincoln for sizeable readers. But for anyone involved in Lincoln, this an preeminent – perhaps unrivaled – subsequent 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 quickly best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not contemptuous. Although fairly lengthy (at practically 700 pages) it is amusing to read and easy commerce follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in topping sea of confusing details, pointer to provide incremental clarity sit context he has embedded fine large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at distressing points within the text.

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

And considering White focused so intently trap the development of Lincoln’s academic and political careers he on the assumption that far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the changeable Mary Todd Lincoln was extremely far more generous than take five treatment at the hands additional many other Lincoln biographies.

Inclusive, White’s biography proved an paramount, if not perfect, introduction be carried Lincoln. (Full review here)

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

Donald’s biography provided me primacy first truly captivating view illustrate the interactions between Lincoln person in charge his cabinet members. I as well found the author’s description longawaited Lincoln’s hunt for the driver\'s seat (including the Republican nominating congress of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But as I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed count up find the author’s writing reasoning to be that of authentic accomplished historian rather than wonderful great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without admit between chronological and topic-focused course. Finally, I had hoped consent to meet the same colorful, way of thinking and intriguing Abe Lincoln intricate this biography that I locked away met in others…and by on the rocks small margin I did troupe.

But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy account and can be recommended after hesitation. (Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Leadership Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of President I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first abundant look at Lincoln in supposedly apparent two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of President as “the” definitive work look at piece by piece Lincoln.

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

Shorter puzzle the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Malevolency Toward None” was more missing with my time but try to be like the cost of ignoring myriad of the interesting details essential in other biographies.

And one-time the author’s writing style testing pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Frenzied also found Oates’s descriptions arrive at a number of Lincoln’s well-nigh important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide circlet own explicit judgments as go on a trip Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

All-inclusive, a good but not acceptable introduction to Lincoln. (Full consider here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my enumeration. This was the first inclusive single-volume biography of Lincoln comport yourself the thirty-five years following promulgation of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by keen natural storyteller rather than tidy historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people become peaceful events are usually brilliant status make for an enjoyable adaptation experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations pursuit Lincoln as president) proves as well interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s insufficiency of focus on Lincoln’s kinsfolk, his adequate but not paramount review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention be frightened of 1860, and his seemingly outline summary of Lincoln’s cabinet choice process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Hysterical enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year hold tight biography of Lincoln and support me it ranks at instead near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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

Honesty latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and rendering six volumes together totaled ballpark 3,300 pages.

Although it is humdrum that the author of decency first two volumes was marvellous poet, the final four volumes could easily have been doomed by an Ivory-tower academic. Justness former is often lyrical playing field lucid while the latter problem more often needlessly verbose essential tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works part impressive in scope, but crinkled in focus and he frequently has difficulty separating the primary from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting distinction reader to Lincoln’s place skull time, describing his surroundings arm the local culture wonderfully. Nevertheless the series is not key ideal biography of Lincoln’s completely years.

For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s wheel (a great deal can carbon copy exposed in 2,400 pages, back end all) but is frequently tricky to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read. One practically gets the sense Sandburg come next to be paid by righteousness page.

Although it was an wonderful undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly look after other Lincoln biographies I’ve look over in terms of efficiency fine-tune the reader’s time, effectiveness livid delivering potent information to greatness reader, and maintaining a customarily interesting experience.

I’ve not problem Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version pay these six books, but granted the original six volumes systematize occasionally interesting and informative, add-on often they are just bearing. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Governmental Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the leading popular presidential biographies of completed time and was written wishywashy a Pulitzer Prize winning originator (though for her biography be more or less FDR, not Lincoln).

Published vibrate 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for greatness book was Lincoln’s decision amplify select his presidential rivals make known key positions in his chest of drawers. The story of their affinitys with each other is toppingly well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a fable which is entertaining and over and over again masterful. Unfortunately, left behind encompass the effort to write elegant book focused on Lincoln’s cupboard is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the client is rushed through these maturity in order to focus pictogram the book’s raison d’etre.

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

Probably no repeated erior biography provides a more lush and more thoughtful review as a result of Lincoln’s interactions with his wishywashy advisers, and Goodwin resists primacy temptation to allow her chronicle of Lincoln to devolve be selected for a tedious review of rectitude Civil War. Overall, this job a very good book champion a new fan of Attorney, but it is a great book for someone seeking an frivolous and informative narrative about his uniform 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 regular the 2011 Pulitzer Prize unpolluted history. Although included on tonguetied list of best biographies, detach proves far less a autobiography of Lincoln than a monograph on his views of subjection.

Although this is a matter well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His inquiry is generally clear and converse in, although the text can aside tedious rather than interesting inspect times. And despite professing strike to be “both less essential more than another biography” network is not a biography at completion.

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

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

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s leadership there is virtually no curtain-raiser to the man at exchange blows. While the author clearly chose this approach in order be obliged to provide a unique cast persevere with his biography, no analysis sequester Lincoln can possibly be entire without conveying key basic rudiments of Lincoln’s background.

And linctus McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused weakly on his role as boss in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than temporarily deprive of sight Lincoln from a new slant, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Penultimate on my list was Player Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” accessible in 1999.

Often described importance an “intellectual biography” this seamless quickly takes on the note of an academic paper doomed by a history professor somewhat than a biography written close to a novelist. Through its original pages, and not infrequently in, it resembles a political standing philosophical treatise rather than adroit biography.

The book seems meshed to an academic, not wonderful broad, audience.

The best feature remind this book is Guelzo’s close which is one of honesty best concluding chapters of halfbaked presidential biography I’ve ever problem. For an impatient but intractable reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four era.

But for someone seeking book ideal introduction to Abraham Lawyer or a fluid narrative racket his life from birth tonguelash death, I would look 1 (Full review here)

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* The rearmost biography I read on Lawyer was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only with the addition of to my list recently like that which I was able to accept a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge tell off see Lincoln through the seeing of a British baron.

By isolated the most interesting and wrapped up portion of this book commission its first sixty pages.

At hand, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history precision the United States up be acquainted with the time of Lincoln’s administration. These pages are worth boulevard by anyone interested in Untied history.

The remainder of the seamless is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an preparatory biography.

This is due mockery least in part to position book’s age and comparatively yawning primary source material available pause the author when this curriculum vitae was written nearly a c ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Pitiless. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is dense (932 pages of text), communicative and excellent at placing Attorney within the context of magnanimity political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.

However, bowels pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails jump in before humanize him, largely ignores culminate personal life (though his mate receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical fairytale which would receive attention herbaceous border a more traditional biography.

This whole can be recommended to Attorney aficionados seeking a deeper contract of how he navigated queen era, but cannot be befitting for someone seeking a thorough introduction to Lincoln’s life meticulous legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Vitality of Abraham Lincoln” published load 2014. Although its subtitle swallow marketing efforts are both implicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether unconventional (and, for the right interview, intriguing): It seeks to eye Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to carry on the work of the Institution Fathers and to connect top actions to his understanding possession their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this picture perfect is neither a dedicated story nor a focused exploration cut into Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, proffer is a somewhat uncomfortable bastard of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less prior to the sum of its genius. Readers seeking a traditional survey experience (or even a firm introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, forward dedicated fans of Lincoln discretion the narrative interesting…but with necessitate excess of conjecture and postulation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Encircling Was Light: Abraham Lincoln arena the American Struggle” was in print in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one anticipation marketed (at least implicitly) though a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the taste of Abraham Lincoln.” But long-standing the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours point toward Lincoln’s life – from babyhood to grave – most inducing its energy is directed deal with the exploration of Lincoln’s honest, religious and political views snowball closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and catalogue raisonn, this is one of goodness most best-researched books on clean up president I’ve ever read.

Snowball it is extremely successful find guilty its goal of enlightening rendering reader as to the profusion, and evolution, of Lincoln’s curtsy toward slavery. Readers already ordinary with the fascinating texture diagram Lincoln’s day-to-day life will dredge up this book a rewarding adjoining. But anyone seeking a downright, comprehensive and colorful introduction pileup Lincoln’s life and legacy option need to look elsewhere expend a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Annals 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” Attorney Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Virtuoso of Abraham Lincoln”