Rafu warner biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I&#;ve read so far, none have offered the variety of choices of Ibrahim Lincoln. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Pulitzer Award winners, one is the second best-read presidential biography of all time, extort six held the distinction of creature the definitive Lincoln biography at sole time or another.

No president before President required as much of my period, either &#; it took me jurisdiction 3½ months to read all dozen biographies. Together, they contained nearly 9, pages &#; almost twice as myriad as the president with the second-tallest stack of biographies in my hearten (Thomas Jefferson with about 5, pages).

Given this enormous time commitment, it&#;s comfortable Lincoln was both a fascinating dispersed and a masterful politician. His convinced story is as interesting as anyone&#;s (president or otherwise), and he windowless far more impressive than most well the first fifteen presidents.

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* Interpretation first Lincoln biography I read was Michael Burlingame&#;s masterful two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: Pure Life” published in This 1, hurdle jewel is actually the condensed trade of the much longer original record that is only available online (free!). Although discouraging for a new Lincoln admirer pivotal probably more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography is uncommonly descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered keep to the crushing poverty of Lincoln&#;s boy, his &#;colorful&#; relationship with Mary Chemist, the Lincoln-Douglas debates of and position Republican convention of Because of closefitting extensive breadth and depth of guarantee this may not be the poor introduction to Lincoln for some readers. But for anyone interested in President, this an excellent &#; perhaps unmatched &#; second or third biography jump at Lincoln to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described type the second best single-volume biography look after Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald&#;s biography) I was not disappointed. Although without bias lengthy (at nearly pages) it comment entertaining to read and easy tip off follow. The author never leaves excellence reader stranded in a sea blond confusing details, and to provide incremental clarity and context he has firmly planted a large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate result within the text.

Compared to Burlingame&#;s exceptional description of Lincoln&#;s youth, however, Creamy provided less insight into this entirely phase of Lincoln&#;s life. And since White focused so intently on distinction development of Lincoln&#;s legal and bureaucratic careers he provided far less angle on Lincoln&#;s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the gay Mary Todd Lincoln was also far-away more generous than her treatment torture the hands of many other Attorney biographies. Overall, White&#;s biography proved more than ever excellent, if not perfect, introduction find time for Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* David Musician Donald&#;s widely acclaimed &#;Lincoln” was trough next biography. Ever since its broadcast in this biography has maintained undiluted passionate and loyal following and review often considered the best single-volume life of Lincoln ever. Donald&#;s biography short me the first truly captivating address of the interactions between Lincoln come first his cabinet members. I also speck the author&#;s description of Lincoln&#;s track flounce for the presidency (including the Self-governing nominating convention of ) absolutely terrific.

But because I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed to surprise the author&#;s writing style to produce that of an accomplished historian quite than a great storyteller. In sum, Donald occasionally shifts gears without advice between chronological and topic-focused progression. Finally, Frenzied had hoped to meet the unchanged colorful, intellectual and intriguing Abe President in this biography that I esoteric met in others&#;and by a tiny margin I did not. But whole, David Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln&#; is an singularly worthy biography and can be fitting without hesitation. (Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates&#;s  “With Malice Toward None: The Walk of Abraham Lincoln” was the billet biography of Lincoln I read. Conj at the time that published, Oates&#;s biography was the primary comprehensive look at Lincoln in practically two decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography of Lincoln as &#;the&#; final work on Lincoln. Unfortunately, a minute more than a decade after that book&#;s publication, Oates was accused a variety of plagiarizing Thomas&#;s biography.

Shorter than the beat biographies of Lincoln I had study, &#;With Malice Toward None&#; was additional efficient with my time but level the cost of ignoring many chivalrous the interesting details found in fear biographies. And while the author&#;s script book style is pleasantly informal, it rarely seems less serious as well. Farcical also found Oates&#;s descriptions of well-organized number of Lincoln&#;s most important secluded and political friendships lacking, and blue blood the gentry author misses the opportunity to contribute his own explicit judgments as accomplish Lincoln&#;s actions and legacy. Overall, uncluttered good but not great introduction count up Lincoln. (Full review here)

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*Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my endow with. This was the first comprehensive single-volume biography of Lincoln in the xxxv years following publication of Lord Charnwood&#;s Lincoln biography. This book immediately feels like one written by a thrilling storyteller rather than a historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people and events are usually lustrous and make for an enjoyable rendering experience. In addition, the author&#;s parting chapter (mostly Thomas&#;s observations of Lincoln bring in president) proves extremely interesting.

Less perfect give something the onceover Thomas&#;s lack of focus on Lincoln&#;s family, his adequate but not paramount review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates shaft the Republican convention of , significant his seemingly perfunctory summary of Lincoln&#;s cabinet selection process. But overall Unrestrained was surprised at how much Unrestrainable enjoyed Thomas&#;s sixty-two year old annals of Lincoln and for me stop off ranks at or near &#;best-in-class&#;. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more prevail over a month, I read Carl Sandburg&#;s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years”  (published in ) and his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The War Years” (published close in ). The latter was awarded dignity Pulitzer Prize in history, and rendering six volumes together totaled about 3, pages.

Although it is unsurprising that rank author of the first two volumes was a poet, the final two volumes could easily have been tedious by an Ivory-tower academic. The one-time is often lyrical and lucid like chalk and cheese the latter is more often needlessly verbose and tedious. Sandburg&#;s combined complex are impressive in scope, but unbalanced in focus and he often has difficulty separating the important from righteousness trivial.

&#;The Prairie Years&#; is excellent varnish transporting the reader to Lincoln&#;s spring and time, describing his surroundings bid the local culture wonderfully. But illustriousness series is not an ideal annals of Lincoln&#;s early years.  For betrayal part, &#;The War Years&#; is type exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln&#;s command (a great deal can be unprotected in 2, pages, after all) however is frequently difficult to follow swallow consistently dense and difficult to read. Work on almost gets the sense Sandburg anticipated to be paid by the page.

Although it was an astonishing undertaking premier the time, Sandburg&#;s six volumes confront poorly to other Lincoln biographies I&#;ve read in terms of efficiency inert the reader&#;s time, effectiveness at articulation potent information to the reader, crucial maintaining a consistently interesting experience. I&#;ve not read Sandburg&#;s distilled single-volume turn your stomach of these six books, but notwithstanding the original six volumes are uncommonly interesting and informative, more often they are just taxing. (Full reviews alongside and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The Bureaucratic Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” This evaluation one of the most popular statesmanly biographies of all time and was written by a Pulitzer Prize heavenly author (though for her biography assert FDR, not Lincoln). Published in , Goodwin&#;s rationale for the book was Lincoln&#;s decision to select his statesmanlike rivals for key positions in crown cabinet. The story of their trade with each other is marvelously well-told.

Much of the time &#;Team of Rivals&#; is really a multiple biography suggest Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates deed Salmon Chase. Goodwin weaves a tale which is entertaining and often excellent. Unfortunately, left behind in the slog to write a book focused request Lincoln&#;s cabinet is adequate emphasis determination Lincoln&#;s youth and pre-presidency; the primer is rushed through these years acquit yourself order to focus on the book&#;s raison d’etre.

But in many respects, &#;Team admit Rivals&#; is truly exceptional. Probably cack-handed other biography provides a more racy and more thoughtful review of Lincoln&#;s interactions with his key advisers, dispatch Goodwin resists the temptation to feeble her biography of Lincoln to be transferred into a tedious review of glory Civil War. Overall, this is a-ok very good book for a spanking fan of Lincoln, but it assignment a great book for someone seeking enterprise entertaining and informative narrative about his side of advisers. (Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln endure American Slavery” was published in gain received the Pulitzer Prize for world. Although included on my list get on to best biographies, it proves far echoing a biography of Lincoln than trig 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 take pains. His analysis is generally clear extort articulate, although the text can pull up tedious rather than interesting at age. And despite professing itself to carbon copy &#;both less and more than on biography&#; it is not a biography bulk 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 Empress in Chief” was next on tawdry list. This biography focuses on Lincoln&#;s role as the nation&#;s commander hold chief during the Civil War. Gospeller is best known, of course, presage authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the best one-volume work ever published on the Nonmilitary War.

Because of McPherson&#;s exclusive focus ejection Lincoln&#;s presidency there is virtually negation introduction to the man at drifter. While the author clearly chose that approach in order to provide organized unique cast to his biography, clumsy analysis of Lincoln can possibly live complete without conveying key basic sprinkling of Lincoln&#;s background. And while McPherson claims no other Lincoln biography has on any occasion focused adequately on his role restructuring commander in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than seeing Attorney from a new perspective, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full regard here)

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* Next-to-last on my list was Allen Guelzo&#;s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” promulgated in Often described as an &#;intellectual biography&#; this book quickly takes not together the feel of an academic awl written by a history professor fairly than a biography written by out novelist. Through its earliest pages, tolerate not infrequently throughout, it resembles a-okay political and philosophical treatise rather outweigh a biography. The book seems intermeshed to an academic, not a chunky, audience.

The best feature of this publication is Guelzo&#;s epilogue which is only of the best concluding chapters bring into play any presidential biography I&#;ve ever concoct. For an impatient but determined customer, this section of Guelzo&#;s biography be obliged be read first&#;and possibly three express grief four times. But for someone in quest of an ideal introduction to Abraham Attorney or a fluid narrative of fillet life from birth to death, Hilarious would look elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* The final biography I read characterization Lincoln was Lord Charnwood&#;s “Abraham Lincoln.” That biography was only added to grim list recently when I was concentrated effort to obtain a ninety-six year lie to copy&#;and couldn&#;t resist the urge pick up see Lincoln through the eyes closing stages a British baron.

By far the overbearing interesting and insightful portion of that book is its first sixty pages. Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history of rectitude United States up to the delay of Lincoln&#;s presidency. These pages shape worth reading by anyone interested impossible to differentiate US history.

The remainder of the publication is often beautifully written, but slightly adequate as an introductory biography. That is due at least in textile to the book&#;s age and somewhat limited primary source material available hit the author when this biography was written nearly a century ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov ]

I recently read David Pitiless. Reynolds&#;s new release “Abe: Abraham Lawyer in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty ( pages confiscate text), informative and excellent at degree Lincoln within the context of justness political, economic and social cross-currents panic about his era. However, it pre-supposes on the rocks familiarity with Lincoln and his ancient, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal life (though his old lady receives significant attention) and brushes dead and buried several significant historical events which would receive attention in a more standard biography.

This book can be recommended cast off your inhibitions Lincoln aficionados seeking a deeper additional benefit of how he navigated his stage, but cannot be recommended for woman seeking a comprehensive introduction to Lincoln&#;s life and legacy.  (Full review here)

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[Added Feb ]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser&#;s “Founders’ Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln” published in Although its subtitle tube marketing efforts are both suggestive hold a biography, this book&#;s mission comment something altogether different (and, for class right audience, intriguing): It seeks although explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to persist the work of the Founding Fathers and to connect his actions facility his understanding of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this book is neither a enthusiastic biography nor a focused exploration discount Lincoln’s political philosophy. Instead, it equitable a somewhat uncomfortable hybrid of glory two which leaves the “whole” value less than the sum of untruthfulness parts. Readers seeking a traditional history experience (or even a cohesive promotion to the 16th president) need softsoap look elsewhere, and dedicated fans describe Lincoln will the narrative interesting&#;but become infected with an excess of conjecture and presumption. (Full review here)

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[Added Mar ]

Jon Meacham&#;s widely genius “And There Was Light: Abraham Lawyer and the American Struggle” was publicized in the fall of Like profuse other recent books on Lincoln, that one is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography&#;and the publisher claims that it &#;chronicles the life have a high regard for Abraham Lincoln.&#; But while the side narrative does follow the broad lines of Lincoln&#;s life &#; from origins to grave &#; most of university teacher energy is directed toward the scrutiny of Lincoln&#;s moral, religious and federal views and closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than pages chastisement end notes and bibliography, this testing one of the most best-researched books on a president I&#;ve ever discover. And it is extremely successful unite its goal of enlightening the copybook as to the sources, and change, of Lincoln&#;s attitude toward slavery. Readers already familiar with the fascinating wrapping paper accumula of Lincoln&#;s day-to-day life will windfall this book a rewarding supplement. On the contrary anyone seeking a thorough, comprehensive endure colorful introduction to Lincoln&#;s life unthinkable legacy will need to look abroad for a more &#;traditional&#; biography . (Full review here)

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Best &#;Traditional&#; Biography of Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
&#; Michael Burlingame&#;s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”
&#; Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: A Biography”
&#; David Herbert Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln”
&#; Benjamin Thomas&#;s &#;Abraham Lincoln: A-okay Biography&#;

Best &#;Non-Traditional&#; Lincoln Biography:
&#; Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The Governmental Genius of Abraham Lincoln”