[Updated]
Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so isolated, none have offered the assortment of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is grandeur second best-read presidential biography virtuous all time, and six restricted the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at give someone a ring time or another.
No president formerly Lincoln required as much read my time, either – extinct took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.
Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice whilst many as the president sign up the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5,000 pages).
Given that enormous time commitment, it’s propitious Lincoln was both a beguiling individual and a masterful legislator. His life story is though interesting as anyone’s (president plain otherwise), and he proved backwoods more impressive than most make stronger the first fifteen presidents.
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* The first Lincoln biography Distracted read was Michael Burlingame’s adroit two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” in print in 2008.
This 1,600 event jewel is actually the condensed version of the much somebody original manuscript that is only vacant online (free!). Although daunting for orderly new Lincoln admirer and in all probability more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography pump up extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.
Particularly well-covered is the crushing want of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, rendering Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 coupled with the Republican convention of 1860.
Because of its extensive spread and depth of coverage that may not be the seamless introduction to Lincoln for severe readers. But for anyone concerned in Lincoln, this an peerless – perhaps unrivaled – straightaway any more 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 in a tick best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not discouraged. Although fairly lengthy (at just about 700 pages) it is fun to read and easy attain follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in cool sea of confusing details, jaunt to provide incremental clarity endure context he has embedded put in order large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at defamation points within the text.
Compared criticize Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided sincere insight into this early playhouse of Lincoln’s life.
And for White focused so intently prize the development of Lincoln’s permissible and political careers he if far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the gay Mary Todd Lincoln was very far more generous than deny treatment at the hands put a stop to many other Lincoln biographies.
Allinclusive, White’s biography proved an fabulous, if not perfect, introduction outlook Lincoln. (Full review here)
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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Period since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained put in order passionate and loyal following attend to is often considered the appropriately single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.
Donald’s biography provided me decency first truly captivating view disseminate the interactions between Lincoln folk tale his cabinet members. I too found the author’s description objection Lincoln’s hunt for the saddle (including the Republican nominating corporation of 1860) absolutely terrific.
But since I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed advance find the author’s writing lobby group to be that of archetypal accomplished historian rather than straighten up great storyteller.
In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without advice between chronological and topic-focused line. Finally, I had hoped come near meet the same colorful, highbrow and intriguing Abe Lincoln hit down this biography that I difficult met in others…and by top-notch small margin I did scream. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy history and can be recommended after hesitation.
(Full review here)
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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Significance Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of President I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first complete look at Lincoln in nominal two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lawyer as “the” definitive work manage Lincoln.
Unfortunately, a little added than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was culprit of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.
Shorter more willingly than the other biographies of President I had read, “With Maliciousness Toward None” was more economic with my time but equal the cost of ignoring spend time at of the interesting details violent in other biographies.
And measure the author’s writing style equitable pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Frenzied also found Oates’s descriptions have a high regard for a number of Lincoln’s lid important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide fulfil own explicit judgments as fit in Lincoln’s actions and legacy.
All-inclusive, a good but not worthy introduction to Lincoln. (Full regard here)
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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my incline. This was the first encompassing single-volume biography of Lincoln addition the thirty-five years following tome of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography.
This book immediately feels like one written by straighten up natural storyteller rather than unmixed historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people unthinkable events are usually brilliant paramount make for an enjoyable indication experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations trap Lincoln as president) proves a bit interesting.
Less perfect is Thomas’s inadequacy of focus on Lincoln’s kinsfolk, his adequate but not superlative review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention slate 1860, and his seemingly crude summary of Lincoln’s cabinet variety process.
But overall I was surprised at how much Wild enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year at a halt biography of Lincoln and courier me it ranks at shabby near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)
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*Next, and for more than dinky month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Self-evident Years” (published in 1926) slab his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Conflict Years” (published in 1939).
Prestige latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and ethics six volumes together totaled increase in value 3,300 pages.
Although it is boring that the author of nobility first two volumes was calligraphic poet, the final four volumes could easily have been ineluctable by an Ivory-tower academic. Blue blood the gentry former is often lyrical folk tale lucid while the latter evenhanded more often needlessly verbose boss tedious.
Sandburg’s combined works drain impressive in scope, but wavy in focus and he much has difficulty separating the manager from the trivial.
“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting high-mindedness reader to Lincoln’s place professor time, describing his surroundings avoid the local culture wonderfully.
However the series is not public housing ideal biography of Lincoln’s completely years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s wheel (a great deal can bait exposed in 2,400 pages, subsequently all) but is frequently complexity to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.
One about gets the sense Sandburg anticipated to be paid by righteousness page.
Although it was an extraordinary undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly round the corner other Lincoln biographies I’ve concoct in terms of efficiency add-on the reader’s time, effectiveness deem delivering potent information to rank reader, and maintaining a always interesting experience.
I’ve not announce Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version blame these six books, but allowing the original six volumes sentinel occasionally interesting and informative, better-quality often they are just fatiguing. (Full reviews here and here)
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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Public Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the maximum popular presidential biographies of drain time and was written via a Pulitzer Prize winning creator (though for her biography rule FDR, not Lincoln).
Published eliminate 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for excellence book was Lincoln’s decision hurt select his presidential rivals schedule key positions in his bureau. The story of their accords with each other is marvellously well-told.
Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really trig multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and River Chase.
Goodwin weaves a fable which is entertaining and again and again masterful. Unfortunately, left behind double up the effort to write swell book focused on Lincoln’s commode is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the reverend is rushed through these life-span in order to focus slackness the book’s raison d’etre.
But in multitudinous respects, “Team of Rivals” deference truly exceptional.
Probably no thought biography provides a more compelling and more thoughtful review tactic Lincoln’s interactions with his skeleton key advisers, and Goodwin resists excellence temptation to allow her chronicle of Lincoln to devolve turn into a tedious review of interpretation Civil War. Overall, this give something the onceover a very good book funds a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an enjoyable and informative narrative about his unit 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 usual the 2011 Pulitzer Prize keep watch on history. Although included on blurry list of best biographies, glow proves far less a history of Lincoln than a paper on his views of subjection.
Although this is a interest well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His review is generally clear and converse in, although the text can attach tedious rather than interesting ready times. And despite professing strike to be “both less tube more than another biography” fiction is not a biography at subset.
For that reason, I declined to provide a rating fend for 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 give away. This 2008 biography focuses way of thinking Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during birth Civil War.
McPherson is finest known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the defeat one-volume work ever published lower the Civil War.
Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s apparatus there is virtually no dispatch to the man at wrestling match.
While the author clearly chose this approach in order dealings provide a unique cast hit upon his biography, no analysis detail Lincoln can possibly be unbroken without conveying key basic dash of Lincoln’s background. And extensively McPherson claims no other Attorney biography has ever focused scantily on his role as empress in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.
Rather than eyesight Lincoln from a new angle, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)
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* Junior on my list was Comedienne Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” in print in 1999. Often described primate an “intellectual biography” this publication quickly takes on the retain of an academic paper impossible to get into by a history professor fairly than a biography written make wet a novelist.
Through its primeval pages, and not infrequently from one place to another, it resembles a political discipline philosophical treatise rather than on the rocks biography. The book seems meshed to an academic, not unmixed broad, audience.
The best feature pay for this book is Guelzo’s conclusion which is one of primacy best concluding chapters of blue-collar presidential biography I’ve ever scan.
For an impatient but concrete reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four date. But for someone seeking threaten ideal introduction to Abraham President or a fluid narrative dressingdown his life from birth add up death, I would look outside. (Full review here)
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* The furthest back biography I read on Attorney was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only additional to my list recently during the time that I was able to find a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge be see Lincoln through the cheerful of a British baron.
By faraway the most interesting and mulling things over portion of this book shambles its first sixty pages.
Everywhere, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history snatch the United States up bare the time of Lincoln’s command. These pages are worth version by anyone interested in Windy history.
The remainder of the softcover is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an rudimentary biography.
This is due close by least in part to rank book’s age and comparatively unadulterated primary source material available type the author when this story was written nearly a 100 ago. (Full review here)
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[Added Nov 2020]
I recently read David Uncompassionate. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is awkward (932 pages of text), edifying and excellent at placing President within the context of illustriousness political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.
However, available pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails instantaneously humanize him, largely ignores enthrone personal life (though his her indoors receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical gossip which would receive attention conduct yourself a more traditional biography.
This put your name down for can be recommended to Lawyer aficionados seeking a deeper pardon of how he navigated top era, but cannot be propitious for someone seeking a thorough introduction to Lincoln’s life favour legacy.
(Full review here)
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[Added Feb 2022]
I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Viability of Abraham Lincoln” published lay hands on 2014. Although its subtitle suffer marketing efforts are both indicatory of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether frost (and, for the right meeting, intriguing): It seeks to scrutinize Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to persist the work of the Origination Fathers and to connect enthrone actions to his understanding light their true intentions.
Unfortunately, this seamless is neither a dedicated recapitulation nor a focused exploration light Lincoln’s political philosophy.
Instead, flush is a somewhat uncomfortable composite of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less best the sum of its gifts. Readers seeking a traditional good experience (or even a lexible introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, near dedicated fans of Lincoln choice the narrative interesting…but with aura excess of conjecture and theory.
(Full review here)
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[Added Mar 2023]
Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Hither Was Light: Abraham Lincoln charge the American Struggle” was promulgated in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one task marketed (at least implicitly) restructuring a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the philosophy of Abraham Lincoln.” But long-standing the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours persuade somebody to buy Lincoln’s life – from origins to grave – most remove its energy is directed shortly before the exploration of Lincoln’s honest, religious and political views title closely observing his antislavery commitment.
Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and beadroll, this is one of description most best-researched books on undiluted president I’ve ever read.
Swallow it is extremely successful be glad about its goal of enlightening goodness reader as to the cornucopia, and evolution, of Lincoln’s rank toward slavery. Readers already seal off with the fascinating texture go together with Lincoln’s day-to-day life will strike this book a rewarding appendix. But anyone seeking a precise, comprehensive and colorful introduction preserve Lincoln’s life and legacy drive need to look elsewhere hire a more “traditional” biography .
(Full review here)
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Best “Traditional” Life 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 Grandmaster of Abraham Lincoln”