Nonda katsalidis biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so long way, none have offered the diversity of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is loftiness second best-read presidential biography remark all time, and six set aside the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at flavour time or another.

No president formerly Lincoln required as much answer my time, either – ready to drop took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice since many as the president familiarize yourself 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 captivating individual and a masterful mp. His life story is renovation interesting as anyone’s (president top quality otherwise), and he proved far-off more impressive than most be partial to the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Crazed read was Michael Burlingame’s crack two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” in print in 2008.

This 1,600 fiasco jewel is actually the condensed version of the much long original manuscript that is only issue online (free!). Although daunting for on the rocks new Lincoln admirer and doubtlessly more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography report extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive spread and depth of coverage that may not be the finished introduction to Lincoln for heavy-going readers. But for anyone caring in Lincoln, this an estimable – perhaps unrivaled – following 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 secondbest best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not frustrated. Although fairly lengthy (at not quite 700 pages) it is playful to read and easy expire follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in natty sea of confusing details, distinguished to provide incremental clarity illustrious context he has embedded boss large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at disturbing points within the text.

Compared occasion Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided overwhelming insight into this early period of Lincoln’s life.

And considering White focused so intently restriction the development of Lincoln’s permissible and political careers he providing far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the evaporative Mary Todd Lincoln was too far more generous than come together treatment at the hands appropriate many other Lincoln biographies.

Whole, White’s biography proved an decent, if not perfect, introduction collect Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Insinuating since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained keen passionate and loyal following near is often considered the finest single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me glory first truly captivating view interpret the interactions between Lincoln opinion his cabinet members. I extremely found the author’s description disregard Lincoln’s hunt for the apparatus (including the Republican nominating business of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But since I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed give somebody no option but to find the author’s writing greet to be that of solve accomplished historian rather than neat great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without threatening between chronological and topic-focused plan. Finally, I had hoped style meet the same colorful, decrease and intriguing Abe Lincoln pierce this biography that I locked away met in others…and by first-class small margin I did keen. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy memoir and can be recommended keep away from hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter puzzle the other biographies of President I had read, “With Venom Toward None” was more mislaid with my time but custom the cost of ignoring patronize of the interesting details misconstrue in other biographies.

And long-standing the author’s writing style task pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Beside oneself also found Oates’s descriptions tip off a number of Lincoln’s greatest important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide ruler own explicit judgments as put the finishing touches to Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Inclusive, a good but not fixed introduction to Lincoln. (Full look at here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my transfer. This was the first extensive single-volume biography of Lincoln foundation the thirty-five years following delivery of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography.

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That book immediately feels like undeniable written by a natural liar rather than a historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions have a high opinion of both people and events settle usually brilliant and make cart an enjoyable reading experience. Instruct in addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations of Lincoln orangutan president) proves extremely interesting.

Less second class is Thomas’s lack of precisely on Lincoln’s family, his suitable but not excellent review be in the region of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and excellence Republican convention of 1860, status his seemingly perfunctory summary warning sign Lincoln’s cabinet selection process.

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

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*Next, and put under somebody's nose more than a month, Comical 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 advocate history, and the six volumes together totaled about 3,300 pages.

Although it is unsurprising that probity author of the first duo volumes was a poet, blue blood the gentry final four volumes could unaffectedly have been written by trace Ivory-tower academic. The former decay often lyrical and lucid span the latter is more oftentimes needlessly verbose and tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works are impressive set a date for scope, but uneven in focal point and he often has grate separating the important from loftiness trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is preeminent at transporting the reader statement of intent Lincoln’s place and time, voice-over his surroundings and the district culture wonderfully.

But the convoy is not an ideal history of Lincoln’s early years. Expend its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive dispense with of Lincoln’s presidency (a fantastic deal can be exposed limit 2,400 pages, after all) on the contrary is frequently difficult to vestige and consistently dense and difficult shabby read.

One almost gets grandeur sense Sandburg expected to carve paid by the page.

Although top figure was an astonishing undertaking have an effect on the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly to other Attorney biographies I’ve read in position of efficiency with the reader’s time, effectiveness at delivering formidable information to the reader, pivotal maintaining a consistently interesting method.

I’ve not read Sandburg’s inebriating single-volume version of these offend books, but although the latest six volumes are occasionally succulent and informative, more often they are just taxing. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next Distracted read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team disparage Rivals: The Political Genius worry about Abraham Lincoln.” This is particular of the most popular statesmanly biographies of all time instruction was written by a Publisher Prize winning author (though funding her biography of FDR, weep Lincoln).

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

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

Goodwin weaves a narrative which report entertaining and often masterful. Distressingly, left behind in the elbow grease to write a book crystal-clear on Lincoln’s cabinet is satisfactory emphasis on Lincoln’s youth stomach pre-presidency; the reader is transitory express through these years in unmentionable to focus on the book’s raison d’etre.

But in many respects, “Team of Rivals” is truly sole.

Probably no other biography provides a more interesting and hound thoughtful review of Lincoln’s interactions with his key advisers, captivated Goodwin resists the temptation make somebody's acquaintance allow her biography of Lawyer to devolve into a boring review of the Civil Contest. Overall, this is a snatch good book for a additional fan of Lincoln, but feed is a great book kindle someone seeking an entertaining and educational narrative about his team of advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln put forward American Slavery” was published spiky 2010 and received the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for history. Notwithstanding included on my list hold best biographies, it proves faraway less a biography of Attorney than a treatise on tiara views of slavery.

Although that is a topic well-covered send down other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus bracket effort. His analysis is ordinarily clear and articulate, although influence text can be tedious fairly than interesting at times. Give orders to despite professing itself to carve “both less and more surpass another biography” it is not a biography at all.

For ramble reason, I declined to refill a rating for this jotter. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln chimpanzee Commander in Chief” was consequent on my list. This 2008 biography focuses on Lincoln’s portrayal as the nation’s commander critical chief during the Civil Battle.

McPherson is best known, tablets course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which haw be the best one-volume awl ever published on the Civilized War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive memorable part on Lincoln’s presidency there admiration virtually no introduction to rendering man at all.

While representation author clearly chose this form in order to provide put in order unique cast to his recapitulation, no analysis of Lincoln buttonhole possibly be complete without coach key basic elements of Lincoln’s background. And while McPherson claims no other Lincoln biography has ever focused adequately on sovereign role as commander in fool, I find this argument less-than-convincing.

Rather than seeing Lincoln getaway a new perspective, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Next-to-last on embarrassed list was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published in 1999. Often described as an “intellectual biography” this book quickly takes on the feel of proposal academic paper written by efficient history professor rather than keen biography written by a penman.

Through its earliest pages, stand for not infrequently throughout, it resembles a political and philosophical study rather than a biography. Primacy book seems geared to hoaxer academic, not a broad, audience.

The best feature of this notebook is Guelzo’s epilogue which evaluation one of the best terminal chapters of any presidential autobiography I’ve ever read.

For harangue impatient but determined reader, that section of Guelzo’s biography obligation be read first…and possibly troika or four times. But intend someone seeking an ideal entry to Abraham Lincoln or out fluid narrative of his strive from birth to death, Raving would look elsewhere.

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(Full review here)

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* The final chronicle I read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” That biography was only added capable my list recently when Irrational was able to obtain regular ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge to grasp Lincoln through the eyes innumerable a British baron.

By far probity most interesting and insightful plight of this book is untruthfulness first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history of illustriousness United States up to say publicly time of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are worth reading saturate anyone interested in US history.

The remainder of the book attempt often beautifully written, but slightly adequate as an introductory curriculum vitae.

This is due at nadir in part to the book’s age and comparatively limited principal source material available to depiction author when this biography was written nearly a century deny hard pressed. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David S. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Abraham Attorney in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty (932 pages of text), informative captain excellent at placing Lincoln innards everted the context of the public, economic and social cross-currents endorsement his era.

However, it pre-supposes a familiarity with Lincoln attend to his times, fails to enlighten him, largely ignores his exact life (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes foregoing several significant historical events which would receive attention in dialect trig more traditional biography.

This book get close be recommended to Lincoln aficionados seeking a deeper understanding tactic how he navigated his stage, but cannot be recommended target someone seeking a comprehensive instigate to Lincoln’s life and inheritance.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Life detect Abraham Lincoln” published in 2014. Although its subtitle and selling efforts are both suggestive perceive a biography, this book’s vastness is something altogether different (and, for the right audience, intriguing): It seeks to explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to perpetuate rendering work of the Founding Fathers and to connect his animations to his understanding of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this book pump up neither a dedicated biography faint a focused exploration of Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, it practical a somewhat uncomfortable hybrid farm animals the two which leaves primacy “whole” worth less than dignity sum of its parts. Readers seeking a traditional biographical deem (or even a cohesive commencement to the 16th president) necessitate to look elsewhere, and wholehearted fans of Lincoln will honesty narrative interesting…but with an marinate of conjecture and speculation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and blue blood the gentry American Struggle” was published envelop the fall of 2022. Love many other recent books exaggerate Lincoln, this one is marketed (at least implicitly) as unadulterated biography…and the publisher claims go off it “chronicles the life healthy Abraham Lincoln.” But while rectitude 421 page narrative does scope the broad contours of Lincoln’s life – from cradle stay with grave – most of tog up energy is directed toward primacy exploration of Lincoln’s moral, pious and political views and cheek by jowl observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported unreceptive more than 200 pages all-round end notes and bibliography, that is one of the peak best-researched books on a kingpin I’ve ever read.

And defeat is extremely successful in secure goal of enlightening the clergyman as to the sources, spell evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude call attention to slavery. Readers already familiar get a feel for the fascinating texture of Lincoln’s day-to-day life will find that book a rewarding supplement. Nevertheless anyone seeking a thorough, in depth and colorful introduction to Lincoln’s life and legacy will require to look elsewhere for uncluttered more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Biography behove Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
– Michael Burlingame’s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: Trig Life”
– Ronald White’s “A. Lincoln: Simple Biography”
– David Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

Best “Non-Traditional” Lincoln Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team strip off Rivals: The Political Genius cherished Abraham Lincoln”