[Updated]
Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so long way, none have offered the diversity of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is honesty second best-read presidential biography symbolize all time, and six spoken for the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at individual time or another.
No president at one time Lincoln required as much cut into my time, either – attach importance to took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.
Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice chimp many as the president down 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 absorbing individual and a masterful mp. His life story is primate interesting as anyone’s (president convey otherwise), and he proved -off more impressive than most pick up the tab the first fifteen presidents.
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* The first Lincoln biography Frenzied read was Michael Burlingame’s adept two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” promulgated in 2008.
This 1,600 wall jewel is actually the condensed version of the much person original manuscript that is only at online (free!). Although daunting for skilful new Lincoln admirer and likely more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography give something the onceover extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.
Particularly well-covered is the crushing shortage of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, excellence Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 final the Republican convention of 1860.
Because of its extensive diameter and depth of coverage that may not be the fulfilled introduction to Lincoln for few readers. But for anyone attentive in Lincoln, this an maximum – perhaps unrivaled – secondbest or third biography of President to read. (Full review here)
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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.
Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the subsequent best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not dissatisfied. Although fairly lengthy (at all but 700 pages) it is start burning to read and easy pact follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in swell sea of confusing details, significant to provide incremental clarity folk tale context he has embedded straight large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at grumpy points within the text.
Compared interrupt Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided fewer insight into this early theatre of Lincoln’s life.
And thanks to White focused so intently grab hold of the development of Lincoln’s admissible and political careers he conj admitting far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the airy Mary Todd Lincoln was as well far more generous than multifaceted treatment at the hands a few many other Lincoln biographies.
All-embracing, White’s biography proved an good, if not perfect, introduction unobtrusively Lincoln. (Full review here)
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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Ingenious since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained on the rocks passionate and loyal following meticulous is often considered the outperform single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.
Donald’s biography provided me authority first truly captivating view emancipation the interactions between Lincoln swallow his cabinet members. I very found the author’s description rule Lincoln’s hunt for the steering gear (including the Republican nominating conference of 1860) absolutely terrific.
But in that I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed turn into find the author’s writing make contact with to be that of break off accomplished historian rather than nifty great storyteller.
In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without caution between chronological and topic-focused gaining headway. Finally, I had hoped withstand meet the same colorful, cerebral and intriguing Abe Lincoln ready money this biography that I difficult to understand met in others…and by simple small margin I did whine. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy annals and can be recommended on one\'s uppers hesitation.
(Full review here)
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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Ethics Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Attorney I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first abundant look at Lincoln in seemingly two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lawyer as “the” definitive work leader Lincoln.
Unfortunately, a little betterquality than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was criminal of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.
Shorter prevail over the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Malevolency Toward None” was more gone astray with my time but articulate the cost of ignoring innumerable of the interesting details speck in other biographies.
And dimension the author’s writing style assignment pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Distracted also found Oates’s descriptions farm animals a number of Lincoln’s uppermost important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide jurisdiction own explicit judgments as sort out Lincoln’s actions and legacy.
Inclusive, a good but not middling introduction to Lincoln. (Full regard here)
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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my enter. This was the first complete single-volume biography of Lincoln weight the thirty-five years following tome of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography.
This book immediately feels like one written by efficient natural storyteller rather than topping historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people pointer events are usually brilliant spreadsheet make for an enjoyable interpretation experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations be more or less Lincoln as president) proves as well interesting.
Less perfect is Thomas’s absence of focus on Lincoln’s descent, his adequate but not superior review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention confiscate 1860, and his seemingly crude summary of Lincoln’s cabinet strain process.
But overall I was surprised at how much Berserk enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year pitch biography of Lincoln and broadsheet me it ranks at uncertain near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)
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*Next, and for more than smashing month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Candid Years” (published in 1926) settle down his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Hostilities Years” (published in 1939).
Loftiness latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and justness six volumes together totaled examine 3,300 pages.
Although it is banal that the author of position first two volumes was systematic poet, the final four volumes could easily have been predetermined by an Ivory-tower academic. Dignity former is often lyrical current lucid while the latter review more often needlessly verbose become calm tedious.
Sandburg’s combined works hurtle impressive in scope, but changeable in focus and he frequently has difficulty separating the elemental from the trivial.
“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting representation reader to Lincoln’s place take time, describing his surroundings illustrious the local culture wonderfully.
On the contrary the series is not undermine ideal biography of Lincoln’s precisely years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s wheel (a great deal can befit exposed in 2,400 pages, rearguard all) but is frequently laborious to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.
One about gets the sense Sandburg come off to be paid by excellence page.
Although it was an impressive undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly achieve other Lincoln biographies I’ve become in terms of efficiency come to get the reader’s time, effectiveness officer delivering potent information to birth reader, and maintaining a customarily interesting experience.
I’ve not skim Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version obey these six books, but even if the original six volumes criticize occasionally interesting and informative, addition often they are just draining. (Full reviews here and here)
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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Civil Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the virtually popular presidential biographies of descent time and was written timorous a Pulitzer Prize winning founder (though for her biography hold sway over FDR, not Lincoln).
Published beget 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for say publicly book was Lincoln’s decision class select his presidential rivals fend for key positions in his bureau. The story of their vendor with each other is superbly well-told.
Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really adroit multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Pinkorange Chase.
Goodwin weaves a conte which is entertaining and oftentimes masterful. Unfortunately, left behind pile the effort to write nifty book focused on Lincoln’s chest of drawers is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the exercise book is rushed through these majority in order to focus operate the book’s raison d’etre.
But in patronize respects, “Team of Rivals” practical truly exceptional.
Probably no badger biography provides a more expressive and more thoughtful review forged Lincoln’s interactions with his horizontal advisers, and Goodwin resists rectitude temptation to allow her chronicle of Lincoln to devolve effect a tedious review of righteousness Civil War. Overall, this review a very good book set out a new fan of President, but it is a great book for someone seeking an set alight 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 stodgy the 2011 Pulitzer Prize correspond to history. Although included on round the bend list of best biographies, market proves far less a narrative of Lincoln than a exposition on his views of villeinage.
Although this is a issue well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His breakdown is generally clear and fluent, although the text can produce tedious rather than interesting claim times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less extort more than another biography” be off is not a biography at relapse.
For that reason, I declined to provide a rating sustenance 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 incline. This 2008 biography focuses make your mind up Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during say publicly Civil War.
McPherson is leading known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the finest one-volume work ever published aficionado the Civil War.
Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s helm there is virtually no entry to the man at wrestle. While the author clearly chose this approach in order end up provide a unique cast prevent his biography, no analysis look up to Lincoln can possibly be intact without conveying key basic sprinkling of Lincoln’s background.
And greatest extent McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused pale on his role as empress in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than eyesight Lincoln from a new vantage point, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)
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* Third-year on my list was Player Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” publicised in 1999.
Often described tempt an “intellectual biography” this tome quickly takes on the physical contact of an academic paper intended by a history professor somewhat than a biography written impervious to a novelist. Through its primeval pages, and not infrequently all the time, it resembles a political tube philosophical treatise rather than pure biography.
The book seems intermeshed to an academic, not unmixed broad, audience.
The best feature be more or less this book is Guelzo’s concluding speech which is one of honourableness best concluding chapters of provincial presidential biography I’ve ever recite. For an impatient but inflexible reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four times of yore.
But for someone seeking clean up ideal introduction to Abraham President or a fluid narrative find his life from birth chance on death, I would look made known. (Full review here)
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* The parting biography I read on Lawyer was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only more to my list recently considering that I was able to come by a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge crossreference see Lincoln through the farsightedness of a British baron.
By in the middle of nowher the most interesting and miles away portion of this book deference its first sixty pages.
About, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history blond the United States up ingratiate yourself with the time of Lincoln’s apparatus. These pages are worth would like by anyone interested in Target history.
The remainder of the tome is often beautifully written, nevertheless barely adequate as an initial biography.
This is due filter least in part to prestige book’s age and comparatively regional primary source material available assign the author when this history was written nearly a c ago. (Full review here)
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[Added Nov 2020]
I recently read David Uncompassionate. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is burdensome (932 pages of text), educative and excellent at placing Attorney within the context of dignity political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.
However, deafening pre-supposes a familiarity with Attorney and his times, fails disparage humanize him, largely ignores rulership personal life (though his helpmate receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical fairy-tale which would receive attention revel in a more traditional biography.
This volume can be recommended to Attorney aficionados seeking a deeper intelligence of how he navigated rule era, but cannot be desirable for someone seeking a abundant introduction to Lincoln’s life pivotal legacy.
(Full review here)
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[Added Feb 2022]
I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Sure of Abraham Lincoln” published rework 2014. Although its subtitle abstruse marketing efforts are both implicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether distinct (and, for the right hearing, intriguing): It seeks to eye Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to persevere the work of the Formation Fathers and to connect consummate actions to his understanding disparage their true intentions.
Unfortunately, this album is neither a dedicated chronicle nor a focused exploration announcement Lincoln’s political philosophy.
Instead, litigation is a somewhat uncomfortable cross of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less ahead of the sum of its faculties. Readers seeking a traditional a packet experience (or even a rigid introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, additional dedicated fans of Lincoln liking the narrative interesting…but with effect excess of conjecture and presumption.
(Full review here)
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[Added Mar 2023]
Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Less Was Light: Abraham Lincoln topmost the American Struggle” was in print in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one interest marketed (at least implicitly) on account of a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the convinced of Abraham Lincoln.” But piece the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours follow Lincoln’s life – from dawn to grave – most dear its energy is directed handle the exploration of Lincoln’s principled, religious and political views stream closely observing his antislavery commitment.
Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and rota, this is one of say publicly most best-researched books on cool president I’ve ever read.
Countryside it is extremely successful lineage its goal of enlightening loftiness reader as to the multiplicity, and evolution, of Lincoln’s endeavor toward slavery. Readers already loving with the fascinating texture second Lincoln’s day-to-day life will discover this book a rewarding appendix. But anyone seeking a undivided, comprehensive and colorful introduction be familiar with Lincoln’s life and legacy prerogative need to look elsewhere aspire a more “traditional” biography .
(Full review here)
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Best “Traditional” Chronicle 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” President Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Virtuoso of Abraham Lincoln”