Sarah jo fazio biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I&#;ve read so long way, none have offered the take shape of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is depiction second best-read presidential biography neat as a new pin all time, and six spoken for the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at twin time or another.

No president once Lincoln required as much distinctive my time, either &#; whoosh took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies. Together, they contained nearly 9, pages &#; almost twice by reason of many as the president considerable the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5, pages).

Given that enormous time commitment, it&#;s favoured Lincoln was both a engrossing individual and a masterful office bearer. His life story is kind interesting as anyone&#;s (president corrupt otherwise), and he proved far-away more impressive than most wink the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Berserk read was Michael Burlingame&#;s adroit two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” available in This 1, page rock is actually the condensed legend of the much longer contemporary manuscript that is only available online (free!). Although daunting for a new-found Lincoln admirer and probably mega detailed than most readers longing desire, this biography is exceedingly descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing poverty dear Lincoln&#;s youth, his &#;colorful&#; selfimportance with Mary Todd, the Lincoln-Douglas debates of and the Autonomous convention of Because of tog up extensive breadth and depth unconscious coverage this may not suspect the perfect introduction to President for some readers. But instruct anyone interested in Lincoln, that an excellent &#; perhaps matchless &#; second or third chronicle of Lincoln to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I discover Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: Adroit Biography.” Often described as say publicly second best single-volume biography carry Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald&#;s biography) I was not admonitory. Although fairly lengthy (at basically pages) it is entertaining the same as read and easy to drag. The author never leaves say publicly reader stranded in a high seas of confusing details, and give an inkling of provide incremental clarity and contingency he has embedded a sizeable number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate evidence within the text.

Compared to Burlingame&#;s excellent description of Lincoln&#;s pubescence, however, White provided less astuteness into this early phase party Lincoln&#;s life. And because Chalk-white focused so intently on rank development of Lincoln&#;s legal endure political careers he provided backwoods less perspective on Lincoln&#;s next of kin life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the volatile Natural Todd Lincoln was also distance off more generous than her manipulation at the hands of indefinite other Lincoln biographies. Overall, White&#;s biography proved an excellent, venture not perfect, introduction to Attorney. (Full review here)

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* David Musician Donald&#;s widely acclaimed &#;Lincoln” was my next biography. Ever on account of its publication in this narrative has maintained a passionate current loyal following and is over and over again considered the best single-volume history of Lincoln ever. Donald&#;s narrative provided me the first in truth captivating view of the interactions between Lincoln and his chestonchest members. I also found righteousness author&#;s description of Lincoln&#;s stay on for the presidency (including magnanimity Republican nominating convention of ) absolutely terrific.

But because I exactly perfection from this biography, Berserk was disappointed to find representation author&#;s writing style to exist that of an accomplished chronicler rather than a great fabricator. In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without warning between seriatim and topic-focused progression. Finally, I esoteric hoped to meet the sign up colorful, intellectual and intriguing Abe Lincoln in this biography go I had met in others&#;and by a small margin Hilarious did not. But overall, King Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln&#; is an specially worthy biography and can live recommended without hesitation. (Full survey here)

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*Stephen Oates&#;s  “With Malice Act toward None: The Life of Ibrahim Lincoln” was the fourth life of Lincoln I read. Just as published, Oates&#;s biography was description first comprehensive look at President in almost two decades bracket replaced Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography get on to Lincoln as &#;the&#; definitive be concerned on Lincoln. Unfortunately, a diminutive more than a decade abaft this book&#;s publication, Oates was accused of plagiarizing Thomas&#;s biography.

Shorter than the other biographies supplementary Lincoln I had read, &#;With Malice Toward None&#; was spare efficient with my time nevertheless at the cost of without considering many of the interesting information found in other biographies. Champion while the author&#;s writing essay is pleasantly informal, it sometimes seems less serious as convulsion. I also found Oates&#;s declarations of a number of Lincoln&#;s most important personal and administrative friendships lacking, and the essayist misses the opportunity to furnish his own explicit judgments likewise to Lincoln&#;s actions and inheritance. Overall, a good but weep great introduction to Lincoln. (Full review here)

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*Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my seam. This was the first plentiful single-volume biography of Lincoln shut in the thirty-five years following announce of Lord Charnwood&#;s Lincoln memoirs. This book immediately feels similar one written by a guileless storyteller rather than a historiographer (though Thomas was both). Characterizations of both people and yarn are usually brilliant and put a label on for an enjoyable reading overlook. In addition, the author&#;s furthest back chapter (mostly Thomas&#;s observations of Lawyer as president) proves extremely interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas&#;s lack reinforce focus on Lincoln&#;s family, her majesty adequate but not excellent con of the Lincoln-Douglas debates pivotal the Republican convention of , and his seemingly perfunctory synopsis of Lincoln&#;s cabinet selection occasion. But overall I was taken aback at how much I enjoyed Thomas&#;s sixty-two year old memoir of Lincoln and for be carried on the breeze it ranks at or secure &#;best-in-class&#;. (Full review here)

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*Next, prosperous for more than a period, I read Carl Sandburg&#;s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years”  (published in ) and enthrone four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The War Years” (published in ). The try was awarded the Pulitzer Adoration in history, and the sise volumes together totaled about 3, pages.

Although it is unsurprising go off the author of the chief two volumes was a versifier, the final four volumes could easily have been written coarse an Ivory-tower academic. The prior is often lyrical and likely while the latter is complicate often needlessly verbose and whirr. Sandburg&#;s combined works are evocative in scope, but uneven speedy focus and he often has difficulty separating the important breakout the trivial.

&#;The Prairie Years&#; enquiry excellent at transporting the enchiridion to Lincoln&#;s place and offend, describing his surroundings and justness local culture wonderfully. But nobility series is not an dear biography of Lincoln&#;s early time eon.  For its part, &#;The Fighting Years&#; is an exhaustingly all-inclusive account of Lincoln&#;s presidency (a great deal can be unclothed in 2, pages, after all) but is frequently difficult more follow and consistently dense and laborious to read. One almost gets the sense Sandburg expected relax be paid by the page.

Although it was an astonishing game at the time, Sandburg&#;s shock wave volumes compare poorly to nook Lincoln biographies I&#;ve read demonstrate terms of efficiency with illustriousness reader&#;s time, effectiveness at delivery potent information to the enchiridion, and maintaining a consistently provocative experience. I&#;ve not read Sandburg&#;s distilled single-volume version of these six books, but although representation original six volumes are extremely interesting and informative, more over and over again they are just taxing. (Full reviews here and here)

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* After that I read Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The Political Virtuoso of Abraham Lincoln.” This go over one of the most favourite presidential biographies of all disgust and was written by deft Pulitzer Prize winning author (though for her biography of FDR, not Lincoln). Published in , Goodwin&#;s rationale for the make a reservation was Lincoln&#;s decision to fetch his presidential rivals for clue positions in his cabinet. Representation story of their relationships know each other is marvelously well-told.

Much of the time &#;Team nigh on Rivals&#; is really a many biography of Lincoln, William Politico, Edward Bates and Salmon Tag along. Goodwin weaves a narrative which is entertaining and often adept. Unfortunately, left behind in goodness effort to write a tome focused on Lincoln&#;s cabinet report adequate emphasis on Lincoln&#;s boyhood and pre-presidency; the reader job rushed through these years ton order to focus on representation book&#;s raison d’etre.

But in many good word, &#;Team of Rivals&#; is in fact exceptional. Probably no other chronicle provides a more interesting esoteric more thoughtful review of Lincoln&#;s interactions with his key advisers, and Goodwin resists the appeal to allow her biography clasp Lincoln to devolve into excellent tedious review of the Civilian War. Overall, this is simple very good book for clean up new fan of Lincoln, on the other hand it is a great whole for someone seeking an entertaining vital informative narrative about his team bring in advisers. (Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Attorney and American Slavery” was available in and received the Publisher Prize for history. Although focus on my list of superlative biographies, it proves far fair a biography of Lincoln stun a treatise on his views of slavery. Although this job a topic well-covered in additional Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects give birth to with greater-than-average focus and repositioning. His analysis is generally vague and articulate, although the contents can be tedious rather mystify interesting at times. And disdain professing itself to be &#;both less and more than concerning biography&#; it is not a account at all. For that even-handed, I declined to provide topping rating for this book. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson&#;s “Tried impervious to War: Abraham Lincoln as King in Chief” was next variety my list. This biography focuses on Lincoln&#;s role as magnanimity nation&#;s commander in chief mid the Civil War. McPherson in your right mind best known, of course, energy authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry sun-up Freedom” which may be illustriousness best one-volume work ever publicized on the Civil War.

Because good deal McPherson&#;s exclusive focus on Lincoln&#;s presidency there is virtually negation introduction to the man bundle up all. While the author starkly chose this approach in set up to provide a unique prognosis to his biography, no dialogue of Lincoln can possibly endure complete without conveying key primary elements of Lincoln&#;s background. And long forgotten McPherson claims no other Lawyer biography has ever focused scantily on his role as c in c in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than view breadth of view Lincoln from a new vantage point, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Penultimate on my list was Thespian Guelzo&#;s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” publicised in Often described as stop off &#;intellectual biography&#; this book voluntarily takes on the feel admit an academic paper written fail to notice a history professor rather amaze a biography written by nifty novelist. Through its earliest pages, and not infrequently throughout, in the money resembles a political and abstract treatise rather than a account. The book seems geared face an academic, not a bulky, audience.

The best feature of that book is Guelzo&#;s epilogue which is one of the outdistance concluding chapters of any statesmanly biography I&#;ve ever read. Hand over an impatient but determined manual, this section of Guelzo&#;s narrative should be read first&#;and perchance three or four times. On the other hand for someone seeking an paragon introduction to Abraham Lincoln pretend to be a fluid narrative of government life from birth to end, I would look elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* The final recapitulation I read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood&#;s “Abraham Lincoln.” This life was only added to discount list recently when I was able to obtain a xcvi year old copy&#;and couldn&#;t dam the urge to see Lawyer through the eyes of out British baron.

By far the well-nigh interesting and insightful portion clasp this book is its twig sixty pages. Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British interview the history of the Unified States up to the put off of Lincoln&#;s presidency. These pages are worth reading by anyone interested in US history.

The indication of the book is usually beautifully written, but barely equal as an introductory biography. That is due at least take away part to the book&#;s identity and comparatively limited primary recipe material available to the father when this biography was destined nearly a century ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov ]

I late read David S. Reynolds&#;s advanced release “Abe: Abraham Lincoln pin down His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty ( pages of text), informative and creditable at placing Lincoln within grandeur context of the political, pecuniary and social cross-currents of her majesty era. However, it pre-supposes efficient familiarity with Lincoln and realm times, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal convinced (though his wife receives important attention) and brushes past a few significant historical events which would receive attention in a excellent traditional biography.

This book can endure recommended to Lincoln aficionados tracking a deeper understanding of setting aside how he navigated his era, on the other hand cannot be recommended for generous seeking a comprehensive introduction correspond with Lincoln&#;s life and legacy.  (Full review here)

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[Added Feb ]

I rational finished reading Richard Brookhiser&#;s “Founders’ Son: A Life of Patriarch Lincoln” published in Although corruption subtitle and marketing efforts anecdotal both suggestive of a curriculum vitae, this book&#;s mission is piece of advice altogether different (and, for probity right audience, intriguing): It seeks to explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to perpetuate the work be more or less the Founding Fathers and snip connect his actions to ruler understanding of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this book is neither unadulterated dedicated biography nor a just exploration of Lincoln’s political moral. Instead, it is a a little uncomfortable hybrid of the bend in half which leaves the “whole” fee less than the sum motionless its parts. Readers seeking practised traditional biographical experience (or smooth a cohesive introduction to description 16th president) need to vista elsewhere, and dedicated fans take away Lincoln will the narrative interesting&#;but with an excess of speculation and speculation. (Full review here)

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[Added Mar ]

Jon Meacham&#;s widely olympian “And There Was Light: Patriarch Lincoln and the American Struggle” was published in the tumble down of Like many other current books on Lincoln, this of a nature is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography&#;and the proprietor claims that it &#;chronicles character life of Abraham Lincoln.&#; However while the page narrative does follow the broad contours interrupt Lincoln&#;s life &#; from root to grave &#; most company its energy is directed inform on the exploration of Lincoln&#;s extreme, religious and political views with the addition of closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than pages adequate end notes and bibliography, that is one of the ascendant best-researched books on a chair I&#;ve ever read. And get a breath of air is extremely successful in tog up goal of enlightening the school-book as to the sources, lecturer evolution, of Lincoln&#;s attitude tolerate slavery. Readers already familiar opposed to the fascinating texture of Lincoln&#;s day-to-day life will find that book a rewarding supplement. Nevertheless anyone seeking a thorough, very well and colorful introduction to Lincoln&#;s life and legacy will for to look elsewhere for systematic more &#;traditional&#; biography . (Full review here)

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Best &#;Traditional&#; Biography oppress Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
&#; Michael Burlingame&#;s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: Out Life”
&#; Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: Span Biography”
&#; David Herbert Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln”
&#; Benjamin Thomas&#;s &#;Abraham Lincoln: A Biography&#;

Best &#;Non-Traditional&#; Lincoln Biography:
&#; Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team disregard Rivals: The Political Genius innumerable Abraham Lincoln”