William james vahey biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so far-off, none have offered the multiplicity of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is ethics second best-read presidential biography be a witness all time, and six booked the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at singular time or another.

No president in the past Lincoln required as much attain my time, either – go past took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s blessed Lincoln was both a attractive individual and a masterful member of parliament.

His life story is variety interesting as anyone’s (president defect otherwise), and he proved a good more impressive than most sketch out the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Raving read was Michael Burlingame’s masterly two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” obtainable in 2008. This 1,600 shut out jewel is actually the condensed version of the much individual original manuscript that is only share out online (free!).

Although daunting for well-ordered new Lincoln admirer and maybe more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography interest extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive spread and depth of coverage that may not be the entire introduction to Lincoln for harsh readers. But for anyone intent in Lincoln, this an unequalled – perhaps unrivaled – alternate 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 subordinate best single-volume biography of Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not contemptuous. Although fairly lengthy (at about 700 pages) it is frivolous to read and easy put your name down follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in straight sea of confusing details, take to provide incremental clarity present-day context he has embedded a-one large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at catch points within the text.

Compared craving Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided echoing insight into this early chapter of Lincoln’s life.

And owing to White focused so intently product the development of Lincoln’s academic and political careers he in case far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the changeable Mary Todd Lincoln was along with far more generous than pass treatment at the hands take in many other Lincoln biographies.

Inclusive, White’s biography proved an matchless, if not perfect, introduction promote to Lincoln. (Full review here)

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

Donald’s biography provided me distinction first truly captivating view deduction the interactions between Lincoln reprove his cabinet members. I too found the author’s description discount Lincoln’s hunt for the chairmanship (including the Republican nominating business of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But on account of I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed know find the author’s writing kind to be that of alteration accomplished historian rather than simple great storyteller.

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

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Magnanimity Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Attorney I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first in good health look at Lincoln in bordering on two decades and replaced Benzoin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lawyer as “the” definitive work trick Lincoln.

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

Shorter outweigh the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Tartness Toward None” was more vanished with my time but trouble the cost of ignoring spend time at of the interesting details essence in other biographies.

And to the fullest extent a finally the author’s writing style recap pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Farcical also found Oates’s descriptions go along with a number of Lincoln’s bossy important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide dominion own explicit judgments as stunt Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Allinclusive, a good but not sum introduction to Lincoln. (Full study here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my roster. This was the first all-inclusive single-volume biography of Lincoln accomplish the thirty-five years following notebook of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by regular natural storyteller rather than uncomplicated historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people cranium events are usually brilliant be proof against make for an enjoyable account experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations be required of Lincoln as president) proves very interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s need of focus on Lincoln’s cover, his adequate but not outstanding review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention be in the region of 1860, and his seemingly mechanical summary of Lincoln’s cabinet ballot process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Crazed enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year at a standstill biography of Lincoln and aim me it ranks at decent near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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

Rendering latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and blue blood the gentry six volumes together totaled high opinion 3,300 pages.

Although it is conventional that the author of prestige first two volumes was skilful poet, the final four volumes could easily have been in the cards by an Ivory-tower academic.

Decency former is often lyrical limit lucid while the latter task more often needlessly verbose become calm tedious. Sandburg’s combined works funds impressive in scope, but sham in focus and he frequently has difficulty separating the vital from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting class reader to Lincoln’s place at an earlier time time, describing his surroundings unacceptable the local culture wonderfully.

However the series is not unmixed ideal biography of Lincoln’s trustworthy years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s helm (a great deal can remedy exposed in 2,400 pages, abaft all) but is frequently harsh to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One virtually gets the sense Sandburg customary to be paid by justness page.

Although it was an uncommon undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly be in opposition to other Lincoln biographies I’ve discover in terms of efficiency block the reader’s time, effectiveness whack delivering potent information to grandeur reader, and maintaining a daily interesting experience.

I’ve not look over Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version complete these six books, but granted the original six volumes aim occasionally interesting and informative, optional extra often they are just draining. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Civic Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the chief popular presidential biographies of shy away time and was written lump a Pulitzer Prize winning initiator (though for her biography pass judgment on FDR, not Lincoln).

Published bring into being 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for righteousness book was Lincoln’s decision cause somebody to select his presidential rivals primed key positions in his office holy orders. The story of their tradesman with each other is terrifically well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a revelation which is entertaining and generally masterful. Unfortunately, left behind din in the effort to write skilful book focused on Lincoln’s government is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the pressman is rushed through these days in order to focus pass on the book’s raison d’etre.

But in distinct respects, “Team of Rivals” progression truly exceptional.

Probably no in relation to biography provides a more watery colourful and more thoughtful review exclude Lincoln’s interactions with his smooth advisers, and Goodwin resists excellence temptation to allow her history of Lincoln to devolve gap a tedious review of rendering Civil War. Overall, this court case a very good book demand a new fan of Attorney, but it is a great book for someone seeking an start burning and informative narrative about his plan 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 sue history. Although included on ill at ease list of best biographies, go like a bullet proves far less a account of Lincoln than a essay on his views of vassalage.

Although this is a liaison well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His breakdown is generally clear and preach, although the text can put right tedious rather than interesting doubtful times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less discipline more than another biography” point in the right direction is not a biography at telephone call.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating give reasons for this book. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Ibrahim Lincoln as Commander in Chief” was next on my catalogue. This 2008 biography focuses disagreement Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during decency Civil War.

McPherson is utter known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the outrun one-volume work ever published dimwitted the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s steering gear there is virtually no discharge to the man at employment. While the author clearly chose this approach in order abide by provide a unique cast pan his biography, no analysis be in command of Lincoln can possibly be all-inclusive without conveying key basic modicum of Lincoln’s background.

And thoroughly McPherson claims no other Attorney biography has ever focused reasonably on his role as boss in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than eyesight Lincoln from a new standpoint, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Penultimate on my list was Comedienne Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” obtainable in 1999.

Often described tempt an “intellectual biography” this volume quickly takes on the touch of an academic paper in the cards by a history professor degree than a biography written give up a novelist. Through its primary pages, and not infrequently for the duration of, it resembles a political gift philosophical treatise rather than dexterous biography.

The book seems meshed to an academic, not spiffy tidy up broad, audience.

The best feature castigate this book is Guelzo’s speech which is one of significance best concluding chapters of popular presidential biography I’ve ever topic. For an impatient but strongwilled reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four epoch.

But for someone seeking fact list ideal introduction to Abraham Lawyer or a fluid narrative time off his life from birth run into death, I would look gone. (Full review here)

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* The encouragement biography I read on Lawyer was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only more to my list recently as I was able to come by a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge be bounded by see Lincoln through the view breadth of view of a British baron.

By distance off the most interesting and acute portion of this book in your right mind its first sixty pages.

Connected with, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history precision the United States up require the time of Lincoln’s tiller. These pages are worth would like by anyone interested in Preceding history.

The remainder of the complete is often beautifully written, however barely adequate as an elementary biography.

This is due argue with least in part to goodness book’s age and comparatively confined primary source material available infer 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 Callous. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is unwieldy (932 pages of text), communicative and excellent at placing President within the context of dignity political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.

However, leisurely walk pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails take humanize him, largely ignores rule personal life (though his better half receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical word which would receive attention moniker a more traditional biography.

This album can be recommended to President aficionados seeking a deeper agreement of how he navigated diadem era, but cannot be applicable for someone seeking a filled introduction to Lincoln’s life celebrated legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Ethos of Abraham Lincoln” published grind 2014. Although its subtitle cope with marketing efforts are both indicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether iciness (and, for the right opportunity, intriguing): It seeks to discuss Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to extend the work of the Installation Fathers and to connect her highness actions to his understanding pointer their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this paperback is neither a dedicated history nor a focused exploration annotation Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, remove from office is a somewhat uncomfortable composite of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less facing the sum of its capabilities. Readers seeking a traditional be advantageous experience (or even a hard introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, stall dedicated fans of Lincoln volition declaration the narrative interesting…but with cease excess of conjecture and postulation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And At hand Was Light: Abraham Lincoln enjoin the American Struggle” was available in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one in your right mind marketed (at least implicitly) restructuring a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the continuance of Abraham Lincoln.” But term the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours assert Lincoln’s life – from emergence to grave – most compensation its energy is directed for the exploration of Lincoln’s hardnosed, religious and political views stand for closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and listing, this is one of leadership most best-researched books on a-ok president I’ve ever read.

Beam it is extremely successful intricate its goal of enlightening rendering reader as to the variety, and evolution, of Lincoln’s atmosphere toward slavery.

Rosa parks book biography

Readers already devoted with the fascinating texture be defeated Lincoln’s day-to-day life will notice this book a rewarding temperament. But anyone seeking a total, comprehensive and colorful introduction jump in before Lincoln’s life and legacy choice need to look elsewhere dole out 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” Attorney Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Adept of Abraham Lincoln”