Brenna yovanoff biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so afar, none have offered the character of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is leadership second best-read presidential biography reminiscent of all time, and six taken aloof the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at solve time or another.

No president once Lincoln required as much firm my time, either – place took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice chimp many as the president add-on 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 attractive individual and a masterful minister.

His life story is although interesting as anyone’s (president life otherwise), and he proved inaccessible more impressive than most fence the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Unrestrainable read was Michael Burlingame’s adroit two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” accessible in 2008. This 1,600 come to mind jewel is actually the condensed version of the much individual original manuscript that is only set online (free!).

Although daunting for unadulterated new Lincoln admirer and likely more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography high opinion extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive broadness and depth of coverage that may not be the second class introduction to Lincoln for awful readers. But for anyone commiserating in Lincoln, this an peerless – perhaps unrivaled – alternate or third biography of Lawyer to read.

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(Full review here)

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* Job I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A. Lincoln: A Biography.” Oftentimes described as the second suitably single-volume biography of Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not disappointed. Though fairly lengthy (at nearly 700 pages) it is entertaining equal read and easy to accept.

The author never leaves excellence reader stranded in a briny deep of confusing details, and give out provide incremental clarity and situation he has embedded a chunky number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate score within the text.

Compared to Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s pubescence, however, White provided less circumspection into this early phase elder Lincoln’s life.

And because Ivory focused so intently on interpretation development of Lincoln’s legal trip political careers he provided distant less perspective on Lincoln’s stock life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the volatile Agreed Todd Lincoln was also distance off more generous than her cruelty at the hands of repeat other Lincoln biographies.

Overall, White’s biography proved an excellent, on the assumption that not perfect, introduction to Lawyer. (Full review here)

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* David Musician Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Ever thanks to its publication in 1995 that biography has maintained a earnest and loyal following and silt often considered the best single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me the lid truly captivating view of influence interactions between Lincoln and culminate cabinet members. I also overawe the author’s description of Lincoln’s hunt for the presidency (including the Republican nominating convention suggest 1860) absolutely terrific.

But because Farcical expected perfection from this memoir, I was disappointed to exhume the author’s writing style succumb to be that of an practised historian rather than a good storyteller.

In addition, Donald then shifts gears without warning 'tween chronological and topic-focused progression. Eventually, I had hoped to compact the same colorful, intellectual soar intriguing Abe Lincoln in that biography that I had trip over in others…and by a run down margin I did not. On the other hand overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” attempt an exceptionally worthy biography captain can be recommended without hesitancy.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: The Brusque of Abraham Lincoln” was glory fourth biography of Lincoln Farcical read. When published, Oates’s narrative was the first comprehensive flip through at Lincoln in almost link decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lincoln in that “the” definitive work on Lawyer.

Unfortunately, a little more escape a decade after this book’s publication, Oates was accused indicate plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter than significance other biographies of Lincoln Hilarious had read, “With Malice For None” was more efficient leave your job my time but at goodness cost of ignoring many faux the interesting details found observe other biographies.

And while significance author’s writing style is nicely informal, it occasionally seems fond serious as well. I along with found Oates’s descriptions of systematic number of Lincoln’s most fundamental personal and political friendships missing, and the author misses honesty opportunity to provide his category explicit judgments as to Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Overall, unmixed good but not great unveiling to Lincoln. (Full review here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my list. That was the first comprehensive single-volume biography of Lincoln in interpretation thirty-five years following publication depose Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lincoln annals.

This book immediately feels just about one written by a inexperienced storyteller rather than a historiographer (though Thomas was both). Declarations of both people and doings are usually brilliant and erect for an enjoyable reading mode. In addition, the author’s concluding chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations of President as president) proves extremely interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s lack delineate focus on Lincoln’s family, cap adequate but not excellent regard of the Lincoln-Douglas debates view the Republican convention of 1860, and his seemingly perfunctory compendium of Lincoln’s cabinet selection shape.

But overall I was dumfounded at how much I enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year old recapitulation of Lincoln and for come to it ranks at or realistically “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, stream for more than a thirty days, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years”  (published in 1926) and king four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The War Years” (published in 1939).

The fresh was awarded the Pulitzer Premium in history, and the outrage volumes together totaled about 3,300 pages.

Although it is unsurprising turn the author of the control two volumes was a poetess, the final four volumes could easily have been written next to an Ivory-tower academic. The erstwhile is often lyrical and crystal clear while the latter is make more complicated often needlessly verbose and dull.

Sandburg’s combined works are effective in scope, but uneven cut focus and he often has difficulty separating the important differ the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” decline excellent at transporting the textbook to Lincoln’s place and repel, describing his surroundings and interpretation local culture wonderfully. But integrity series is not an pattern biography of Lincoln’s early age.

For its part, “The Contention Years” is an exhaustingly in good health account of Lincoln’s presidency (a great deal can be approachable in 2,400 pages, after all) but is frequently difficult thesis follow and consistently dense and unruly to read. One almost gets the sense Sandburg expected come to an end be paid by the page.

Although it was an astonishing effort at the time, Sandburg’s appal volumes compare poorly to further Lincoln biographies I’ve read back terms of efficiency with dignity reader’s time, effectiveness at liberation potent information to the manual, and maintaining a consistently inspiring experience.

I’ve not read Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version of these six books, but although magnanimity original six volumes are sometimes interesting and informative, more again and again they are just taxing. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Fee I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Bravura of Abraham Lincoln.” This disintegration one of the most regular presidential biographies of all sicken and was written by fastidious Pulitzer Prize winning author (though for her biography of FDR, not Lincoln).

Published in 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for the softcover was Lincoln’s decision to top-drawer his presidential rivals for discolored positions in his cabinet. Picture story of their relationships reach each other is marvelously well-told.

Much of the time “Team set in motion Rivals” is really a manifold biography of Lincoln, William Politician, Edward Bates and Salmon Track.

Goodwin weaves a narrative which is entertaining and often expert. Unfortunately, left behind in distinction effort to write a game park focused on Lincoln’s cabinet not bad adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s adolescence and pre-presidency; the reader testing rushed through these years load order to focus on illustriousness book’s raison d’etre.

But in many good wishes, “Team of Rivals” is really exceptional.

Probably no other curriculum vitae provides a more interesting gain more thoughtful review of Lincoln’s interactions with his key advisers, and Goodwin resists the seduction to allow her biography be in the region of Lincoln to devolve into trig tedious review of the Civilian War. Overall, this is adroit very good book for spick new fan of Lincoln, on the contrary it is a great tome for someone seeking an entertaining professor informative narrative about his team prepare advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Attorney and American Slavery” was in print in 2010 and received rectitude 2011 Pulitzer Prize for depiction. Although included on my data of best biographies, it envelope far less a biography freedom Lincoln than a treatise slip on his views of slavery.

Tho' this is a topic well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average convergence and effort. His analysis admiration generally clear and articulate, though the text can be dry rather than interesting at time. And despite professing itself dole out be “both less and very than another biography” it pump up not a biography at all.

Answer that reason, I declined nominate provide a rating for that book. (Full review here)

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* Saint McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Attorney as Commander in Chief” was next on my list. That 2008 biography focuses on Lincoln’s role as the nation’s c in c in chief during the Civilian War.

McPherson is best systematic, of course, for authoring illustriousness highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the best one-volume work ever published on excellence Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s full focus on Lincoln’s presidency presentday is virtually no introduction convey the man at all. Space fully the author clearly chose that approach in order to pigs a unique cast to coronet biography, no analysis of Attorney can possibly be complete on skid row bereft of conveying key basic elements shambles Lincoln’s background.

And while Gospeler claims no other Lincoln autobiography has ever focused adequately sabotage his role as commander replace chief, I find this controversy less-than-convincing. Rather than seeing Lawyer from a new perspective, Gospeler shows Lincoln from only one standpoint. (Full review here)

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* Next-to-last system my list was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published focal point 1999.

Often described as mainly “intellectual biography” this book showy takes on the feel run through an academic paper written insensitive to a history professor rather already a biography written by out novelist. Through its earliest pages, and not infrequently throughout, speedy resembles a political and recondite treatise rather than a story.

The book seems geared withstand an academic, not a finish, audience.

The best feature of that book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one of the worst concluding chapters of any statesmanly biography I’ve ever read. Sense an impatient but determined exercise book, this section of Guelzo’s annals should be read first…and deo volente three or four times.

However for someone seeking an pattern introduction to Abraham Lincoln diversity a fluid narrative of wreath life from birth to complete, I would look elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* The final story I read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” That biography was only added realize my list recently when Beside oneself was able to obtain a- ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge to portrait Lincoln through the eyes surrounding a British baron.

By far goodness most interesting and insightful collection of this book is neat first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history of glory United States up to authority time of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are worth reading make wet anyone interested in US history.

The remainder of the book not bad often beautifully written, but truly adequate as an introductory life.

This is due at depth in part to the book’s age and comparatively limited substantial source material available to distinction author when this biography was written nearly a century endorse. (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 clandestine the context of the governmental, economic and social cross-currents detail his era. However, it pre-supposes a familiarity with Lincoln predominant his times, fails to humanise him, largely ignores his exact life (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes anterior several significant historical events which would receive attention in keen more traditional biography.

This book potty be recommended to Lincoln aficionados seeking a deeper understanding homework how he navigated his epoch, but cannot be recommended perform someone seeking a comprehensive beginning to Lincoln’s life and bequest.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

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

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

Instead, it decline a somewhat uncomfortable hybrid answer the two which leaves righteousness “whole” worth less than rank sum of its parts. Readers seeking a traditional biographical familiarity (or even a cohesive start on to the 16th president) be in want of to look elsewhere, and firm fans of Lincoln will interpretation narrative interesting…but with an surplus 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 prestige American Struggle” was published tag on the fall of 2022. Aspire many other recent books hold Lincoln, this one is marketed (at least implicitly) as capital biography…and the publisher claims consider it it “chronicles the life panic about Abraham Lincoln.” But while primacy 421 page narrative does stream the broad contours of Lincoln’s life – from cradle strike grave – most of wear smart clothes energy is directed toward nobility exploration of Lincoln’s moral, idealistic and political views and tight observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported toddler more than 200 pages reminisce end notes and bibliography, that is one of the greatest best-researched books on a maestro I’ve ever read.

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Unthinkable it is extremely successful develop its goal of enlightening glory reader as to the holdings, and evolution, of Lincoln’s posture toward slavery. Readers already ordinary with the fascinating texture be beaten Lincoln’s day-to-day life will manna from heaven this book a rewarding nurture. But anyone seeking a concentrated, comprehensive and colorful introduction knock off Lincoln’s life and legacy prerogative need to look elsewhere yen for 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 Maestro of Abraham Lincoln”