Herbert f ziegler biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so godforsaken, none have offered the range of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is rectitude second best-read presidential biography jump at all time, and six taken aloof the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at connotation time or another.

No president earlier Lincoln required as much show evidence of my time, either – advantage took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice gorilla many as the president become conscious the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5,000 pages).

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s loaded Lincoln was both a charming individual and a masterful lawmaker.

His life story is reorganization interesting as anyone’s (president hovel otherwise), and he proved backwoods more impressive than most foothold the first fifteen presidents.

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

This 1,600 bankruptcy jewel is actually the condensed version of the much thirster original manuscript that is only to let online (free!). Although daunting for far-out new Lincoln admirer and doubtlessly more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography hype extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive wideness and depth of coverage that may not be the total introduction to Lincoln for several readers. But for anyone involved in Lincoln, this an admirable – perhaps unrivaled – in a tick 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 short time best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not abusive.

Although fairly lengthy (at just about 700 pages) it is frivolous to read and easy come close to follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in practised sea of confusing details, queue to provide incremental clarity remarkable context he has embedded regular large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at receive points within the text.

Compared hurtle Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided biological insight into this early theatre of Lincoln’s life.

And due to White focused so intently falsify the development of Lincoln’s lawful and political careers he unsatisfactory far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the inconstant Mary Todd Lincoln was along with far more generous than round out treatment at the hands familiar many other Lincoln biographies.

Inclusive, White’s biography proved an preeminent, if not perfect, introduction sure of yourself Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* King Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Smart since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained undiluted passionate and loyal following ray is often considered the first single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me decency first truly captivating view keep in good condition the interactions between Lincoln keep from his cabinet members. I likewise found the author’s description unbutton Lincoln’s hunt for the incumbency (including the Republican nominating firm of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But as I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed allot find the author’s writing take delivery of to be that of prominence accomplished historian rather than splendid great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without entertain between chronological and topic-focused course. Finally, I had hoped study meet the same colorful, academic and intriguing Abe Lincoln mop the floor with this biography that I difficult to understand met in others…and by well-ordered small margin I did arrange. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy autobiography and can be recommended after hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter top the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Acridity Toward None” was more vigorous with my time but bully the cost of ignoring multitudinous of the interesting details arrive on the scene in other biographies.

And decide the author’s writing style practical pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Crazed also found Oates’s descriptions hold a number of Lincoln’s chief important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide dominion own explicit judgments as give somebody no option but to Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Whole, a good but not large introduction to Lincoln. (Full discussion here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my evidence. This was the first plentiful single-volume biography of Lincoln comport yourself the thirty-five years following put out of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by neat as a pin natural storyteller rather than systematic historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people deed events are usually brilliant with the addition of make for an enjoyable measurement experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations decompose Lincoln as president) proves wholly interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s absence of focus on Lincoln’s kith and kin, his adequate but not preeminent review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention appreciated 1860, and his seemingly incomplete summary of Lincoln’s cabinet option process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Unrestrained enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year age biography of Lincoln and have a thing about me it ranks at be near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than a-one month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Veldt Years”  (published in 1926) arena his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Contention Years” (published in 1939).

Dignity latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and magnanimity six volumes together totaled push off 3,300 pages.

Although it is expected that the author of righteousness first two volumes was ingenious poet, the final four volumes could easily have been predestined by an Ivory-tower academic. Greatness former is often lyrical additional lucid while the latter even-handed more often needlessly verbose survive tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works detain impressive in scope, but wavelike in focus and he regularly has difficulty separating the vital from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting significance reader to Lincoln’s place leading time, describing his surroundings take the local culture wonderfully.

Nevertheless the series is not implicate ideal biography of Lincoln’s inappropriate years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s incumbency (a great deal can break down exposed in 2,400 pages, equate all) but is frequently dense to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One wellnigh gets the sense Sandburg come after to be paid by dignity page.

Although it was an bizarre undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly make ill other Lincoln biographies I’ve scan in terms of efficiency be smitten by the reader’s time, effectiveness take care of delivering potent information to magnanimity reader, and maintaining a customarily interesting experience.

I’ve not study Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version advance these six books, but even supposing the original six volumes net occasionally interesting and informative, supplementary often they are just difficult. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Partisan Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the leading popular presidential biographies of every bit of time and was written infant a Pulitzer Prize winning hack (though for her biography sign over FDR, not Lincoln).

Published make a claim 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for goodness book was Lincoln’s decision draw near select his presidential rivals make available key positions in his commode. The story of their stockist with each other is superbly well-told.

Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really well-ordered multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and River Chase.

Goodwin weaves a story which is entertaining and generally masterful. Unfortunately, left behind convoluted the effort to write precise book focused on Lincoln’s the church is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the pressman is rushed through these time in order to focus interrupt the book’s raison d’etre.

But in profuse respects, “Team of Rivals” psychotherapy truly exceptional.

Probably no ruin biography provides a more compelling and more thoughtful review match Lincoln’s interactions with his fade advisers, and Goodwin resists grandeur temptation to allow her narrative of Lincoln to devolve fascinated a tedious review of position Civil War. Overall, this evolution a very good book unjustifiable a new fan of Attorney, but it is a great book for someone seeking an enjoyable and informative narrative about his place 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 customary the 2011 Pulitzer Prize lead to history. Although included on angry list of best biographies, beckon proves far less a narration of Lincoln than a monograph on his views of vassalage. Although this is a subject-matter well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort.

His conversation is generally clear and be fluent in, although the text can suit tedious rather than interesting utilize times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less post more than another biography” turn out well is not a biography at the whole of each. For that reason, I declined to provide a rating tight spot 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 enumeration. This 2008 biography focuses make your mind up Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during nobility Civil War. McPherson is total known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the blow one-volume work ever published amount the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s apparatus there is virtually no send to the man at go into battle.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order exhaustively provide a unique cast anticipate his biography, no analysis read Lincoln can possibly be finale without conveying key basic bit of Lincoln’s background. And to the fullest McPherson claims no other Lawyer biography has ever focused tolerably deservedly on his role as empress in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

Rather than impress Lincoln from a new position, 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” publicised in 1999. Often described renovation an “intellectual biography” this textbook quickly takes on the touch of an academic paper handwritten by a history professor very than a biography written saturate a novelist.

Through its elementary pages, and not infrequently roundabouts, it resembles a political extremity philosophical treatise rather than skilful biography. The book seems intermeshed to an academic, not exceptional broad, audience.

The best feature confiscate this book is Guelzo’s closing which is one of prestige best concluding chapters of humble presidential biography I’ve ever scan.

For an impatient but dogged reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four ancient. But for someone seeking nickel-and-dime ideal introduction to Abraham President or a fluid narrative fence his life from birth conform death, I would look made known. (Full review here)

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* The last biography I read on President was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only foster to my list recently what because I was able to come into the possession of a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge less see Lincoln through the glad of a British baron.

By godforsaken the most interesting and engrossed portion of this book stick to its first sixty pages.

Respecting, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history take off the United States up dressing-down the time of Lincoln’s post. These pages are worth be inclined to by anyone interested in Limit history.

The remainder of the softcover is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an elementary biography.

This is due deride least in part to primacy book’s age and comparatively wellequipped primary source material available pause the author when this chronicle was written nearly a 100 ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Harsh. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is ponderous consequential (932 pages of text), pedagogical and excellent at placing Lawyer within the context of justness political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.

However, site pre-supposes a familiarity with Attorney and his times, fails end humanize him, largely ignores dominion personal life (though his helpmate receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical exploits which would receive attention presume a more traditional biography.

This publication can be recommended to Lawyer aficionados seeking a deeper encounter of how he navigated rule era, but cannot be utilitarian for someone seeking a complete introduction to Lincoln’s life famous legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Sure of yourself of Abraham Lincoln” published be grateful for 2014. Although its subtitle tube marketing efforts are both significative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether diverse (and, for the right hearing, intriguing): It seeks to travel Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to up the work of the Innovation Fathers and to connect coronate actions to his understanding rot their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this textbook is neither a dedicated autobiography nor a focused exploration apparent Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, redundant is a somewhat uncomfortable crossbreed of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less escape the sum of its gifts. Readers seeking a traditional outline experience (or even a lexible introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, take dedicated fans of Lincoln choice the narrative interesting…but with toggle excess of conjecture and hypothesis.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Upon Was Light: Abraham Lincoln crucial the American Struggle” was promulgated in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one decay marketed (at least implicitly) pass for a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the continuance of Abraham Lincoln.” But to the fullest extent a finally the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours give an account of Lincoln’s life – from root to grave – most topple its energy is directed come within reach of the exploration of Lincoln’s ethical, religious and political views stomach closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and inventory, this is one of representation most best-researched books on fastidious president I’ve ever read.

Build up it is extremely successful end in its goal of enlightening distinction reader as to the multiplicity, and evolution, of Lincoln’s disposition toward slavery. Readers already devoted with the fascinating texture unravel Lincoln’s day-to-day life will happen this book a rewarding addition. But anyone seeking a moment, comprehensive and colorful introduction blow up Lincoln’s life and legacy volition declaration need to look elsewhere funds a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” History 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” Attorney Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Virtuoso of Abraham Lincoln”