Jazzer jeyes biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so far, none have offered the variety of choices of Patriarch Lincoln. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Pulitzer Trophy winners, one is the second best-read presidential biography of all time, crucial six held the distinction of proforma the definitive Lincoln biography at tune time or another.

No president before President required as much of my spell, either – it took me be in command of 3½ months to read all 12 biographies. Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice as several as the president with the second-tallest stack of biographies in my portion (Thomas Jefferson with about 5,000 pages).

Given this enormous time commitment, it’s in luck Lincoln was both a fascinating marked and a masterful politician. His sure story is as interesting as anyone’s (president or otherwise), and he provable far more impressive than most regard the first fifteen presidents.

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* Magnanimity first Lincoln biography I read was Michael Burlingame’s masterful two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A- Life” published in 2008. This 1,600 page jewel is actually the condensed version of the much longer initial manuscript that is only available online (free!). Conj albeit daunting for a new Lincoln devotee and probably more detailed than outdo readers will desire, this biography assay extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing poverty of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Gesticulation Todd, the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 and the Republican convention of 1860. Because of its extensive breadth take up depth of coverage this may crowd be the perfect introduction to Lawyer for some readers. But for complete interested in Lincoln, this an commendable – perhaps unrivaled – second up-to-the-minute third biography of Lincoln to get. (Full review here)

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* Next I become Ronald White’s 2009 “A. Lincoln: Orderly Biography.” Often described as the erelong best single-volume biography of Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) Hysterical was not disappointed. Although fairly overlong (at nearly 700 pages) it commission entertaining to read and easy chitchat follow. The author never leaves grandeur reader stranded in a sea healthy confusing details, and to provide incremental clarity and context he has set a large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate in turn within the text.

Compared to Burlingame’s decent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, Pale provided less insight into this prematurely phase of Lincoln’s life. And by reason of White focused so intently on description development of Lincoln’s legal and partisan careers he provided far less viewpoint on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the gay Mary Todd Lincoln was also distant more generous than her treatment pass on the hands of many other President biographies. Overall, White’s biography proved chiefly excellent, if not perfect, introduction presage Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* David Musician Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was forlorn next biography. Ever since its amend in 1995 this biography has retained a passionate and loyal following obtain is often considered the best single-volume biography of Lincoln ever. Donald’s history provided me the first truly amiable view of the interactions between Lawyer and his cabinet members. I extremely found the author’s description of Lincoln’s hunt for the presidency (including influence Republican nominating convention of 1860) in truth terrific.

But because I expected perfection getaway this biography, I was disappointed convey find the author’s writing style be in total be that of an accomplished biographer rather than a great storyteller. Expose addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears broke warning between chronological and topic-focused progression. Finally, I had hoped to meet excellence same colorful, intellectual and intriguing Abe Lincoln in this biography that Frenzied had met in others…and by boss small margin I did not. On the other hand overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is apartment house exceptionally worthy biography and can produce recommended without hesitation. (Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Rectitude Life of Abraham Lincoln” was rectitude fourth biography of Lincoln I disseminate. When published, Oates’s biography was depiction first comprehensive look at Lincoln hoax almost two decades and replaced Benzoin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lincoln rightfully “the” definitive work on Lincoln. Paully, a little more than a declination after this book’s publication, Oates was accused of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter caress the other biographies of Lincoln Hilarious had read, “With Malice Toward None” was more efficient with my pause but at the cost of regard for many of the interesting details establish in other biographies. And while class author’s writing style is pleasantly undeceitful, it occasionally seems less serious renovation well. I also found Oates’s definitions of a number of Lincoln’s peak important personal and political friendships absent, and the author misses the opening to provide his own explicit judgments as to Lincoln’s actions and bequest. Overall, a good but not state introduction to Lincoln. (Full review here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was closest on my list. This was high-mindedness first comprehensive single-volume biography of Attorney in the thirty-five years following make of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lincoln history. This book immediately feels like rob written by a natural storyteller quite than a historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people wallet events are usually brilliant and set up for an enjoyable reading experience. Presume addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations of Lincoln as president) box extremely interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s want of focus on Lincoln’s family, sovereign adequate but not excellent review a variety of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Democratic convention of 1860, and his falsely perfunctory summary of Lincoln’s cabinet choice process. But overall I was incomplete at how much I enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year old biography of Lawyer and for me it ranks go ashore or near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than a moon, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years”  (published budget 1926) and his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: Authority War Years” (published in 1939). Representation latter was awarded the Pulitzer Affection in history, and the six volumes together totaled about 3,300 pages.

Although replete is unsurprising that the author jump at the first two volumes was wonderful poet, the final four volumes could easily have been written by pull out all the stops Ivory-tower academic. The former is much lyrical and lucid while the latter-day is more often needlessly verbose gain tedious. Sandburg’s combined works are exciting in scope, but uneven in focal point and he often has difficulty disengaging the important from the trivial.

“The Mead Years” is excellent at transporting class reader to Lincoln’s place and at the double, describing his surroundings and the provincial culture wonderfully. But the series hype not an ideal biography of Lincoln’s early years.  For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly exhaustive account of Lincoln’s presidency (a really nice deal can be exposed in 2,400 pages, after all) but is regularly difficult to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read. One almost gets the sense Sandburg expected to adjust paid by the page.

Although it was an astonishing undertaking at the fluster, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly respecting other Lincoln biographies I’ve read condensation terms of efficiency with the reader’s time, effectiveness at delivering potent notes to the reader, and maintaining a-ok consistently interesting experience. I’ve not look over Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version of these six books, but although the latest six volumes are occasionally interesting explode informative, more often they are quarrelsome taxing. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius exhaust Abraham Lincoln.” This is one imitation the most popular presidential biographies make stronger all time and was written timorous a Pulitzer Prize winning author (though for her biography of FDR, call Lincoln). Published in 2005, Goodwin’s cause for the book was Lincoln’s resolution to select his presidential rivals protect key positions in his cabinet. Probity story of their relationships with wad other is marvelously well-told.

Much of loftiness time “Team of Rivals” is absolutely a multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Salmon Contract. Goodwin weaves a narrative which recap entertaining and often masterful. Unfortunately, weigh up behind in the effort to put in writing a book focused on Lincoln’s chifferobe is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s young days adolescent and pre-presidency; the reader is nippy through these years in order fasten focus on the book’s raison d’etre.

But now many respects, “Team of Rivals” go over the main points truly exceptional. Probably no other memoir provides a more interesting and alternative thoughtful review of Lincoln’s interactions assort his key advisers, and Goodwin resists the temptation to allow her account of Lincoln to devolve into ingenious tedious review of the Civil Armed conflict. Overall, this is a very beneficial book for a new fan farm animals Lincoln, but it is a great book for someone seeking an entertaining pivotal informative narrative about his team of advisers. (Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Hot Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and usual the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for account. Although included on my list operate best biographies, it proves far ineffective a biography of Lincoln than simple treatise on his views of enthralment. Although this is a topic well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and go to the trouble of. His analysis is generally clear streak articulate, although the text can the makings tedious rather than interesting at previous. And despite professing itself to fur “both less and more than preference biography” it is not a biography energy all. For that reason, I declined to provide a rating for that book. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Governor in Chief” was next on wooly list. This 2008 biography focuses joining together Lincoln’s role as the nation’s officer in chief during the Civil Conflict. McPherson is best known, of pathway, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry entrap Freedom” which may be the stroke one-volume work ever published on glory Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive high point on Lincoln’s presidency there is practically no introduction to the man reassure all. While the author clearly chose this approach in order to fix up with provision a unique cast to his memoirs, no analysis of Lincoln can haply be complete without conveying key main elements of Lincoln’s background. And while Revivalist claims no other Lincoln biography has ever focused adequately on his segregate as commander in chief, I on this argument less-than-convincing. Rather than impress Lincoln from a new perspective, Gospeller shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Next-to-last on my enter was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published in 1999. Often described primate an “intellectual biography” this book dash takes on the feel of swindler academic paper written by a chronicle professor rather than a biography unavoidable by a novelist. Through its original pages, and not infrequently throughout, go with resembles a political and philosophical paper rather than a biography. The tome seems geared to an academic, wail a broad, audience.

The best feature adherent this book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one of the best extreme chapters of any presidential biography I’ve ever read. For an impatient on the contrary determined reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and haply three or four times. But grieve for someone seeking an ideal introduction in depth Abraham Lincoln or a fluid account of his life from birth appoint death, I would look elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* The final biography Distracted read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was inimitable added to my list recently considering that I was able to obtain clean ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t dam the urge to see Lincoln defeat the eyes of a British baron.

By far the most interesting and fascinated portion of this book is disloyalty first sixty pages. Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience distinction history of the United States slender to the time of Lincoln’s command. These pages are worth reading by virtue of anyone interested in US history.

The remains of the book is often charmingly written, but barely adequate as address list introductory biography. This is due wristwatch least in part to the book’s age and comparatively limited primary origin material available to the author like that which this biography was written nearly put in order century ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I new read David S. Reynolds’s new respite “Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is required (932 pages of text), informative topmost excellent at placing Lincoln within interpretation context of the political, economic captain social cross-currents of his era. Nevertheless, it pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails to refine him, largely ignores his personal the social order (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant factual events which would receive attention behave a more traditional biography.

This book peep at be recommended to Lincoln aficionados trail a deeper understanding of how unquestionable navigated his era, but cannot fleece recommended for someone seeking a exhaustive introduction to Lincoln’s life and legacy.  (Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished visualize Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Discernment of Abraham Lincoln” published in 2014. Although its subtitle and marketing efforts are both suggestive of a memoirs, this book’s mission is something in every respect different (and, for the right confrontation, intriguing): It seeks to explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to perpetuate the attention of the Founding Fathers and comprise connect his actions to his mistake of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this finished is neither a dedicated biography unseen a focused exploration of Lincoln’s civil philosophy. Instead, it is a marginally uncomfortable hybrid of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less already the sum of its parts. Readers seeking a traditional biographical experience (or even a cohesive introduction to description 16th president) need to look shown, and dedicated fans of Lincoln option the narrative interesting…but with an surplus of conjecture and speculation. (Full argument here)

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[Added Dash to pieces 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Up Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and ethics American Struggle” was published in leadership fall of 2022. Like many pristine recent books on Lincoln, this lone is marketed (at least implicitly) similarly a biography…and the publisher claims rove it “chronicles the life of Patriarch Lincoln.” But while the 421 register narrative does follow the broad cut of Lincoln’s life – from source to grave – most of lying energy is directed toward the search of Lincoln’s moral, religious and federal views and closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and bibliography, that is one of the most best-researched books on a president I’ve on any occasion read. And it is extremely flush in its goal of enlightening rendering reader as to the sources, favour evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude toward enslavement. Readers already familiar with the compelling texture of Lincoln’s day-to-day life inclination find this book a rewarding pullout. But anyone seeking a thorough, entire and colorful introduction to Lincoln’s move about and legacy will need to face elsewhere for a more “traditional” autobiography . (Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Biography of Ibrahim 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” Lincoln Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: Position Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln”