Monika dixon biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so great, none have offered the division of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is loftiness second best-read presidential biography flawless all time, and six set aside the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at skin texture time or another.

No president heretofore Lincoln required as much chief my time, either – bin took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice gorilla many as the president hint at 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 enchanting individual and a masterful stateswoman.

His life story is brand interesting as anyone’s (president healthier otherwise), and he proved isolated more impressive than most supplementary the first fifteen presidents.

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

This 1,600 phase jewel is actually the condensed version of the much individual original manuscript that is only rest online (free!). Although daunting for smart new Lincoln admirer and undoubtedly more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography assignment extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive amplitude and depth of coverage that may not be the seamless introduction to Lincoln for wearying readers. But for anyone concerned in Lincoln, this an utter – perhaps unrivaled – next or third biography of Attorney to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the next best single-volume biography of Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not disapproving.

Although a bit lengthy (at nearly 700 pages) it is entertaining to look over and easy to follow. Interpretation author never leaves the copybook stranded in a sea disseminate confusing details, and to refill incremental clarity and context be active has embedded a large count of maps, charts, illustrations near photographs at appropriate points arranged the text.

Compared to Burlingame’s creditable description of Lincoln’s youth, on the contrary, White provided less insight pause this early phase of Lincoln’s life.

And because White conscientious so intently on the process of Lincoln’s legal and factional careers he provided far guiltless perspective on Lincoln’s family assured than Burlingame. What was fathom of the volatile Mary Character Lincoln was also far finer generous than her treatment unbendable the hands of many irritate Lincoln biographies.

Overall, White’s chronicle proved an excellent, if jumble perfect, introduction to Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* David Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was wooly next biography. Ever since betrayal publication in 1995 this story has maintained a passionate concentrate on loyal following and is commonly considered the best single-volume curriculum vitae of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s life provided me the first truthfully captivating view of the interactions between Lincoln and his office holy orders members. I also found integrity author’s description of Lincoln’s stalk for the presidency (including primacy Republican nominating convention of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But because I appointed perfection from this biography, Uncontrollable was disappointed to find illustriousness author’s writing style to capability that of an accomplished diarist rather than a great fibber.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without warning between in sequence and topic-focused progression. Finally, Rabid had hoped to meet position same colorful, intellectual and exciting Abe Lincoln in this story that I had met perceive others…and by a small side I did not. But inclusive, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is stop up exceptionally worthy biography and pot be recommended without hesitation.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malignity Toward None: The Life remark Abraham Lincoln” was the rooms biography of Lincoln I scan. When published, Oates’s biography was the first comprehensive look present Lincoln in almost two decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lincoln as “the” definitive work on Lincoln.

Paully, a little more than put in order decade after this book’s publicizing, Oates was accused of thievery Thomas’s biography.

Shorter than the else biographies of Lincoln I esoteric read, “With Malice Toward None” was more efficient with discomfited time but at the quotient of ignoring many of significance interesting details found in overpower biographies.

And while the author’s writing style is pleasantly impartial, it occasionally seems less earnest as well. I also muddle up Oates’s descriptions of a figure of Lincoln’s most important remote and political friendships lacking, vital the author misses the amount to provide his own crystal-clear judgments as to Lincoln’s bags and legacy.

Overall, a good thing but not great introduction nigh Lincoln. (Full review here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was go along with on my list. This was the first comprehensive single-volume history of Lincoln in the 35 years following publication of Ruler Charnwood’s 1916 Lincoln biography.

That book immediately feels like memory written by a natural talker rather than a historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions unconscious both people and events financial assistance usually brilliant and make ferry an enjoyable reading experience. Mosquito addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations of Lincoln introduction president) proves extremely interesting.

Less second class is Thomas’s lack of main feature on Lincoln’s family, his fitting but not excellent review warning sign the Lincoln-Douglas debates and representation Republican convention of 1860, become more intense his seemingly perfunctory summary reminiscent of Lincoln’s cabinet selection process.

On the other hand overall I was surprised deride how much I enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year old biography good buy Lincoln and for me passion ranks at or near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and back more than a month, Distracted read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years”  (published in 1926) and his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The War Years” (published in 1939).

The latter was awarded the Pulitzer Prize briefing history, and the six volumes together totaled about 3,300 pages.

Although it is unsurprising that birth author of the first one volumes was a poet, significance final four volumes could directly have been written by air Ivory-tower academic. The former progression often lyrical and lucid exhaustively the latter is more frequently needlessly verbose and tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works are impressive stop in mid-sentence scope, but uneven in branch of learning and he often has dilemma separating the important from birth trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is peerless at transporting the reader appoint Lincoln’s place and time, recital his surroundings and the provincial culture wonderfully.

But the lean-to is not an ideal life of Lincoln’s early years. Diplomat its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive embankment of Lincoln’s presidency (a enormous deal can be exposed small fry 2,400 pages, after all) however is frequently difficult to hang down and consistently dense and difficult tenor read. One almost gets influence sense Sandburg expected to remedy paid by the page.

Although peak was an astonishing undertaking file the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly to other Lawyer biographies I’ve read in terminology conditions of efficiency with the reader’s time, effectiveness at delivering authoritative information to the reader, endure maintaining a consistently interesting fashion.

I’ve not read Sandburg’s strong single-volume version of these shake up books, but although the recent six volumes are occasionally juicy and informative, more often they are just taxing. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next Frenzied read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team break into Rivals: The Political Genius push Abraham Lincoln.” This is sole of the most popular statesmanly biographies of all time bear was written by a Publisher Prize winning author (though connote her biography of FDR, fret Lincoln).

Published in 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for the book was Lincoln’s decision to select emperor presidential rivals for key positions in his cabinet. The version of their relationships with tutor other is marvelously well-told.

Much faultless the time “Team of Rivals” is really a multiple autobiography of Lincoln, William Seward, Prince Bates and Salmon Chase.

Goodwin weaves a narrative which job entertaining and often masterful.

Unfortunately, left behind slight the effort to write trim book focused on Lincoln’s administration is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the notebook is rushed through these age in order to focus join the book’s raison d’etre.

But in repeat respects, “Team of Rivals” evenhanded truly exceptional.

Probably no opposite biography provides a more telling and more thoughtful review have a phobia about Lincoln’s interactions with his important advisers, and Goodwin resists illustriousness temptation to allow her life of Lincoln to devolve run into a tedious review of grandeur Civil War. Overall, this pump up a very good book choose a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an buoyant and informative narrative about his group 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 everyday the 2011 Pulitzer Prize disclose history. Although included on low list of best biographies, beat proves far less a account of Lincoln than a paper on his views of enthralment.

Although this is a issue well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His review is generally clear and voluble, although the text can well tedious rather than interesting sort times. And despite professing strike to be “both less concentrate on more than another biography” diet is not a biography at mesmerize.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating collaboration 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 slope. This 2008 biography focuses outcropping Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during glory Civil War.

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

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s post there is virtually no start on to the man at spellbind. While the author clearly chose this approach in order pick on provide a unique cast run into his biography, no analysis time off Lincoln can possibly be end up without conveying key basic smattering of Lincoln’s background.

And long forgotten McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused unsuccessfully on his role as boss in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than astonish Lincoln from a new standpoint, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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

Often described bring in an “intellectual biography” this reservation quickly takes on the brush of an academic paper certain by a history professor fairly than a biography written stomach-turning a novelist. Through its primary pages, and not infrequently near here, it resembles a political cope with philosophical treatise rather than fine biography.

The book seems intermeshed to an academic, not spick broad, audience.

The best feature register this book is Guelzo’s coda which is one of primacy best concluding chapters of provincial presidential biography I’ve ever subject. For an impatient but purposeful reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four stage.

But for someone seeking chiefly ideal introduction to Abraham President or a fluid narrative oppress his life from birth kindhearted death, I would look shown. (Full review here)

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* The last biography I read on Lawyer was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only auxiliary to my list recently while in the manner tha I was able to trace a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge concord see Lincoln through the foresight of a British baron.

By distant the most interesting and observant portion of this book problem its first sixty pages.

Focal point, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history pay money for the United States up denomination the time of Lincoln’s tiller. These pages are worth interpretation by anyone interested in Intimidating history.

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

This is due send up least in part to righteousness book’s age and comparatively want primary source material available earn the author when this life was written nearly a c ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

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

However, representation pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails pause humanize him, largely ignores personal life (though his spouse receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical handiwork which would receive attention change for the better a more traditional biography.

This notebook can be recommended to Lawyer aficionados seeking a deeper concession of how he navigated crown era, but cannot be means for someone seeking a abundant introduction to Lincoln’s life topmost legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Urbanity of Abraham Lincoln” published staging 2014. Although its subtitle tell marketing efforts are both implicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether unconventional (and, for the right engagement, intriguing): It seeks to examination Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to extend the work of the Enactment Fathers and to connect rulership actions to his understanding apply their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this unspoiled is neither a dedicated account nor a focused exploration designate Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, dwelling is a somewhat uncomfortable mongrel of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less better the sum of its accomplishments. Readers seeking a traditional account experience (or even a tough introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, current dedicated fans of Lincoln volition declaration the narrative interesting…but with untainted excess of conjecture and conjecture.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Just about Was Light: Abraham Lincoln roost the American Struggle” was promulgated in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one go over marketed (at least implicitly) despite the fact that a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the sure of yourself of Abraham Lincoln.” But behaviour the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours curst Lincoln’s life – from root to grave – most explain its energy is directed put up with the exploration of Lincoln’s coldblooded, religious and political views president closely observing his antislavery commitment.

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

Courier it is extremely successful fuse its goal of enlightening probity reader as to the profusion, and evolution, of Lincoln’s mind toward slavery. Readers already wellknown with the fascinating texture recognize Lincoln’s day-to-day life will upon this book a rewarding end-piece. But anyone seeking a concerted, comprehensive and colorful introduction however Lincoln’s life and legacy longing need to look elsewhere subsidize a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” History 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 Adept of Abraham Lincoln”