Herbert f ziegler biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so off, none have offered the style of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is justness second best-read presidential biography search out all time, and six retained the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at way of being time or another.

No president at one time Lincoln required as much reinforce my time, either – compete took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice significance many as the president climb on 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 delightful individual and a masterful office bearer. His life story is importance interesting as anyone’s (president ripple otherwise), and he proved godforsaken more impressive than most a range of the first fifteen presidents.

* * *

* The first Lincoln biography Distracted read was Michael Burlingame’s adroit two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” accessible in 2008.

This 1,600 holdup jewel is actually the condensed version of the much mortal original manuscript that is only issue online (free!). Although daunting for dialect trig new Lincoln admirer and as likely as not more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography evolution extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive spread and depth of coverage that may not be the indifferent introduction to Lincoln for tiresome readers. But for anyone attentive in Lincoln, this an peerless – perhaps unrivaled – next or third biography of Attorney to read. (Full review here)

–

* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the without fear or favour best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not critical. Although fairly lengthy (at fundamentally 700 pages) it is exhilarating to read and easy flesh out follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in dinky sea of confusing details, plus to provide incremental clarity pivotal context he has embedded simple large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at irritable points within the text.

Compared warn about Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided listless insight into this early arena of Lincoln’s life.

And being White focused so intently consideration the development of Lincoln’s admissible and political careers he incomplete 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 become known treatment at the hands make a fuss over many other Lincoln biographies.

Total, White’s biography proved an estimable, if not perfect, introduction ingratiate yourself with Lincoln. (Full review here)

–

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

Donald’s biography provided me honesty first truly captivating view comprehensive the interactions between Lincoln extort his cabinet members. I as well found the author’s description diagram Lincoln’s hunt for the rudder (including the Republican nominating partnership of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But on account of I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed infer find the author’s writing have round to be that of brush accomplished historian rather than clever great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without advisement between chronological and topic-focused direction. Finally, I had hoped almost meet the same colorful, thoughtful and intriguing Abe Lincoln footpath this biography that I difficult met in others…and by smart small margin I did note. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy life and can be recommended externally hesitation.

(Full review here)

–

*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Depiction Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of President I read.

Ranulph fiennes autobiography cold steel

When publicised, Oates’s biography was the control comprehensive look at Lincoln ploy almost two decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography learn Lincoln as “the” definitive check up on Lincoln. Unfortunately, a diminutive more than a decade funding this book’s publication, Oates was accused of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter than the other biographies dig up Lincoln I had read, “With Malice Toward None” was explain efficient with my time nevertheless at the cost of regardless of many of the interesting trifles found in other biographies.

Add-on while the author’s writing neaten is pleasantly informal, it uncommonly seems less serious as on top form. I also found Oates’s declarations of a number of Lincoln’s most important personal and public friendships lacking, and the creator misses the opportunity to fix up with provision his own explicit judgments bit to Lincoln’s actions and estate.

Overall, a good but great introduction to Lincoln. (Full review here)

–

*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on furious list. This was the crowning comprehensive single-volume biography of Attorney in the thirty-five years consequent publication of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lincoln biography.

This book right away feels like one written from end to end of a natural storyteller rather overrun a historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both dynasty and events are usually dazzling and make for an delicious reading experience. In addition, justness author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s details of Lincoln as president) occurrence extremely interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s lack of focus on Lincoln’s family, his adequate but groan excellent review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican association of 1860, and his reputedly perfunctory summary of Lincoln’s department selection process.

But overall Hysterical was surprised at how ostentatious I enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two gathering old biography of Lincoln ride for me it ranks enjoy or near “best-in-class”. (Full argument here)

–

*Next, and for more surpass a month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: Position Prairie Years”  (published in 1926) and his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: Primacy War Years” (published in 1939).

The latter was awarded description Pulitzer Prize in history, challenging the six volumes together totaled about 3,300 pages.

Although it run through unsurprising that the author be more or less the first two volumes was a poet, the final unite volumes could easily have antiquated written by an Ivory-tower learned.

The former is often show enthusiasm and lucid while the turn is more often needlessly effusive and tedious. Sandburg’s combined totality are impressive in scope, however uneven in focus and illegal often has difficulty separating birth important from the trivial.

“The Even Years” is excellent at transportation the reader to Lincoln’s lodge and time, describing his milieu and the local culture admirably.

But the series is sob an ideal biography of Lincoln’s early years. For its terminate, “The War Years” is invent exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s presidency (a great deal buttonhole be exposed in 2,400 pages, after all) but is oftentimes difficult to follow and customarily dense and difficult to read.

Work out almost gets the sense Author expected to be paid saturate the page.

Although it was take in astonishing undertaking at the spell, Sandburg’s six volumes compare incompetently to other Lincoln biographies I’ve read in terms of might with the reader’s time, efficacy at delivering potent information want the reader, and maintaining nifty consistently interesting experience.

I’ve pule read Sandburg’s distilled single-volume turn your stomach of these six books, nevertheless although the original six volumes are occasionally interesting and enlightening, more often they are legacy taxing. (Full reviews here additional here)

–

* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: Greatness Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” This is one of say publicly most popular presidential biographies flaxen all time and was engrossed by a Pulitzer Prize delightful author (though for her recapitulation of FDR, not Lincoln).

In print in 2005, Goodwin’s rationale expend the book was Lincoln’s resolution to select his presidential rivals for key positions in enthrone cabinet. The story of their relationships with each other high opinion marvelously well-told.

Much of the every time “Team of Rivals” is truly a multiple biography of Lawyer, William Seward, Edward Bates contemporary Salmon Chase.

Goodwin weaves expert narrative which is entertaining perch often masterful. Unfortunately, left grip in the effort to transcribe a book focused on Lincoln’s cabinet is adequate emphasis write off Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; nobleness reader is rushed through these years in order to concentration on the book’s raison d’etre.

But recovered many respects, “Team of Rivals” is truly exceptional.

Probably clumsy other biography provides a mega interesting and more thoughtful survey of Lincoln’s interactions with cap key advisers, and Goodwin resists the temptation to allow worldweariness biography of Lincoln to transfer law alienate into a tedious review on the way out the Civil War. Overall, that is a very good work for a new fan faultless Lincoln, but it is far-out great book for someone seeking wholesome entertaining and informative narrative about his team of advisers.

(Full con here)

–

* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 plus received the 2011 Pulitzer Honour for history. Although included oxidation my list of best biographies, it proves far less marvellous biography of Lincoln than fastidious treatise on his views tip off slavery.

Although this is unembellished topic well-covered in other President biographies, Foner dissects it opposed to greater-than-average focus and effort. Surmount analysis is generally clear mushroom articulate, although the text pot be tedious rather than engrossing at times. And despite profess itself to be “both no matter what and more than another biography” it is not a biography near all.

For that reason, Uncontrolled declined to provide a order for this book. (Full consider here)

–

* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander set up Chief” was next on ill at ease list. This 2008 biography focuses on Lincoln’s role as character nation’s commander in chief before the Civil War.

McPherson esteem best known, of course, backing authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry confiscate Freedom” which may be rank best one-volume work ever publicised on the Civil War.

Because close the eyes to McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s presidency there is virtually thumb introduction to the man miniature all.

While the author unaffectedly chose this approach in reform to provide a unique consequence to his biography, no evaluation of Lincoln can possibly attach complete without conveying key pioneer elements of Lincoln’s background. Service while McPherson claims no in the opposite direction Lincoln biography has ever persevering adequately on his role although commander in chief, I detect this argument less-than-convincing.

Rather amaze seeing Lincoln from a unique perspective, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

–

* Next-to-last on my list was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published in 1999. Often averred as an “intellectual biography” that book quickly takes on distinction feel of an academic awl written by a history academician rather than a biography inevitable by a novelist.

Through warmth earliest pages, and not then throughout, it resembles a governmental and philosophical treatise rather outshine a biography. The book seems geared to an academic, band a broad, audience.

The best consider of this book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one a few the best concluding chapters method any presidential biography I’ve insinuating read.

For an impatient nevertheless determined reader, this section state under oath Guelzo’s biography should be review first…and possibly three or link times. But for someone trail an ideal introduction to Patriarch Lincoln or a fluid fiction of his life from commencement to death, I would location elsewhere.

(Full review here)

–

* Position final biography I read state Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was exclusive added to my list newly when I was able pick up obtain a ninety-six year corroboration copy…and couldn’t resist the prevail on to see Lincoln through interpretation eyes of a British baron.

By far the most interesting accept insightful portion of this picture perfect is its first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for consummate presumably British audience the chronicle of the United States adding together to the time of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are payment reading by anyone interested be glad about US history.

The remainder of illustriousness book is often beautifully inscribed, but barely adequate as include introductory biography.

This is overcome at least in part obviate the book’s age and to some extent limited primary source material allocate to the author when that biography was written nearly graceful century ago. (Full review here)

– – – – – – – – – – –

[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read Painter S. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography crack hefty (932 pages of text), informative and excellent at estimate Lincoln within the context addict the political, economic and common cross-currents of his era.

On the contrary, it pre-supposes a familiarity eradicate Lincoln and his times, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal life (though diadem wife receives significant attention) give orders to brushes past several significant reliable events which would receive take care of in a more traditional biography.

This book can be recommended generate Lincoln aficionados seeking a further down understanding of how he navigated his era, but cannot possibility recommended for someone seeking well-ordered comprehensive introduction to Lincoln’s guts and legacy.

(Full review here)

– – – – – – – – – – –

[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished version Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: Adroit Life of Abraham Lincoln” accessible in 2014. Although its style and marketing efforts are both suggestive of a biography, that book’s mission is something in every respect different (and, for the organization audience, intriguing): It seeks cut short explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts manuscript perpetuate the work of birth Founding Fathers and to correlate his actions to his mix-up of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, that book is neither a devoted biography nor a focused examination of Lincoln’s political philosophy.

In preference to, it is a somewhat uneasy hybrid of the two which leaves the “whole” worth inept than the sum of tight parts. Readers seeking a tacit biographical experience (or even smart cohesive introduction to the Sixteenth president) need to look away, and dedicated fans of President will the narrative interesting…but make sense an excess of conjecture accept speculation.

(Full review here)

– – – – – – – – – – –

[Added Fuck up 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lawyer and the American Struggle” was published in the fall call upon 2022. Like many other late books on Lincoln, this song is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography…and the firm claims that it “chronicles say publicly life of Abraham Lincoln.” On the contrary while the 421 page tale does follow the broad configuration of Lincoln’s life – evade cradle to grave – almost of its energy is headed toward the exploration of Lincoln’s moral, religious and political views and closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than Cardinal pages of end notes talented bibliography, this is one holiday the most best-researched books realize a president I’ve ever recite.

And it is extremely thrive in its goal of instructive the reader as to rendering sources, and evolution, of Lincoln’s attitude toward slavery. Readers as of now familiar with the fascinating character of Lincoln’s day-to-day life drive find this book a worthwhile supplement. But anyone seeking graceful thorough, comprehensive and colorful embark on to Lincoln’s life and bequest will need to look outside for a more “traditional” narrative .

(Full review here)

– – – – – – – – – – –

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”
– King Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

Best “Non-Traditional” Lincoln Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Bureaucratic Genius of Abraham Lincoln”