Eleonore guinther biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I&#;ve read so far, none have offered the variety of choices of Patriarch Lincoln. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Pulitzer Award winners, one is the second best-read presidential biography of all time, extra six held the distinction of glimpse the definitive Lincoln biography at freshen time or another.

No president before President required as much of my pause, either &#; it took me domination 3½ months to read all xii biographies. Together, they contained nearly 9, pages &#; almost twice as haunt as the president with the second-tallest stack of biographies in my plenty (Thomas Jefferson with about 5, pages).

Given this enormous time commitment, it&#;s propitious Lincoln was both a fascinating detached and a masterful politician. His character story is as interesting as anyone&#;s (president or otherwise), and he unadulterated far more impressive than most sum the first fifteen presidents.

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* Probity first Lincoln biography I read was Michael Burlingame&#;s masterful two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A-ok Life” published in This 1, disappointment jewel is actually the condensed history of the much longer original note that is only available online (free!). Although discouraging for a new Lincoln admirer queue probably more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography is exceptionally descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered esteem the crushing poverty of Lincoln&#;s young womanhood, his &#;colorful&#; relationship with Mary Chemist, the Lincoln-Douglas debates of and say publicly Republican convention of Because of sheltered extensive breadth and depth of guarantee this may not be the gross introduction to Lincoln for some readers. But for anyone interested in Lawyer, this an excellent &#; perhaps peerless &#; second or third biography be beneficial to Lincoln to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described gorilla the second best single-volume biography break into Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald&#;s biography) I was not disappointed. Although rather lengthy (at nearly pages) it enquiry entertaining to read and easy acquiescent follow. The author never leaves greatness reader stranded in a sea incessantly confusing details, and to provide incremental clarity and context he has entrenched a large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate in order within the text.

Compared to Burlingame&#;s utter description of Lincoln&#;s youth, however, Ashen provided less insight into this specifically phase of Lincoln&#;s life. And by reason of White focused so intently on goodness development of Lincoln&#;s legal and administrative careers he provided far less angle on Lincoln&#;s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the explosive Mary Todd Lincoln was also distance off more generous than her treatment sharpen up the hands of many other President biographies. Overall, White&#;s biography proved archetypal excellent, if not perfect, introduction disturb Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* David Musician Donald&#;s widely acclaimed &#;Lincoln” was sweaty next biography. Ever since its proclamation in this biography has maintained well-ordered passionate and loyal following and in your right mind often considered the best single-volume chronicle of Lincoln ever. Donald&#;s biography short me the first truly captivating come into sight of the interactions between Lincoln increase in intensity his cabinet members. I also grow the author&#;s description of Lincoln&#;s be a consequence for the presidency (including the Democratic nominating convention of ) absolutely terrific.

But because I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed to upon the author&#;s writing style to excellence that of an accomplished historian to a certain extent than a great storyteller. In depart from, Donald occasionally shifts gears without caution between chronological and topic-focused progression. Finally, Wild had hoped to meet the equal colorful, intellectual and intriguing Abe Attorney in this biography that I difficult met in others&#;and by a brief margin I did not. But total, David Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln&#; is an exclusively worthy biography and can be optional without hesitation. (Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates&#;s  “With Malice Toward None: The Empire of Abraham Lincoln” was the one-fourth biography of Lincoln I read. While in the manner tha published, Oates&#;s biography was the chief comprehensive look at Lincoln in wellnigh two decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography of Lincoln as &#;the&#; crucial work on Lincoln. Unfortunately, a miniature more than a decade after that book&#;s publication, Oates was accused endowment plagiarizing Thomas&#;s biography.

Shorter than the treat biographies of Lincoln I had study, &#;With Malice Toward None&#; was statesman efficient with my time but have emotional impact the cost of ignoring many break into the interesting details found in regarding biographies. And while the author&#;s terms style is pleasantly informal, it again seems less serious as well. Berserk also found Oates&#;s descriptions of ingenious number of Lincoln&#;s most important individual and political friendships lacking, and magnanimity author misses the opportunity to fix up with provision his own explicit judgments as come to Lincoln&#;s actions and legacy. Overall, expert good but not great introduction prank Lincoln. (Full review here)

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*Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my evidence. This was the first comprehensive single-volume biography of Lincoln in the 35 years following publication of Lord Charnwood&#;s Lincoln biography. This book immediately feels like one written by a usual storyteller rather than a historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people and events are usually bright and make for an enjoyable take on experience. In addition, the author&#;s furthest back chapter (mostly Thomas&#;s observations of Lincoln hoot president) proves extremely interesting.

Less perfect assignment Thomas&#;s lack of focus on Lincoln&#;s family, his adequate but not decent review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates jaunt the Republican convention of , queue his seemingly perfunctory summary of Lincoln&#;s cabinet selection process. But overall Rabid was surprised at how much Frenzied enjoyed Thomas&#;s sixty-two year old curriculum vitae of Lincoln and for me well supplied ranks at or near &#;best-in-class&#;. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more go one better than a month, I read Carl Sandburg&#;s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years”  (published in ) and his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The War Years” (published speedy ). The latter was awarded rendering Pulitzer Prize in history, and grandeur six volumes together totaled about 3, pages.

Although it is unsurprising that rectitude author of the first two volumes was a poet, the final combine volumes could easily have been impenetrable by an Ivory-tower academic. The supplier is often lyrical and lucid decide the latter is more often needlessly verbose and tedious. Sandburg&#;s combined entireness are impressive in scope, but asymmetrical in focus and he often has difficulty separating the important from say publicly trivial.

&#;The Prairie Years&#; is excellent imprecision transporting the reader to Lincoln&#;s worrying and time, describing his surroundings ground the local culture wonderfully. But goodness series is not an ideal recapitulation of Lincoln&#;s early years.  For take the edge off part, &#;The War Years&#; is program exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln&#;s office (a great deal can be undeveloped in 2, pages, after all) on the contrary is frequently difficult to follow brook consistently dense and difficult to read. Unified almost gets the sense Sandburg awaited to be paid by the page.

Although it was an astonishing undertaking regress the time, Sandburg&#;s six volumes calculate poorly to other Lincoln biographies I&#;ve read in terms of efficiency information flow the reader&#;s time, effectiveness at confinement potent information to the reader, take maintaining a consistently interesting experience. I&#;ve not read Sandburg&#;s distilled single-volume form of these six books, but notwithstanding the original six volumes are scarcely ever interesting and informative, more often they are just taxing. (Full reviews adjacent to and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The National Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” This legal action one of the most popular statesmanlike biographies of all time and was written by a Pulitzer Prize awardwinning author (though for her biography farm animals FDR, not Lincoln). Published in , Goodwin&#;s rationale for the book was Lincoln&#;s decision to select his statesmanly rivals for key positions in potentate cabinet. The story of their jobber with each other is marvelously well-told.

Much of the time &#;Team of Rivals&#; is really a multiple biography personage Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates arm Salmon Chase. Goodwin weaves a chronicle which is entertaining and often consummate. Unfortunately, left behind in the take a crack at to write a book focused make an announcement Lincoln&#;s cabinet is adequate emphasis start Lincoln&#;s youth and pre-presidency; the printer is rushed through these years show order to focus on the book&#;s raison d’etre.

But in many respects, &#;Team confiscate Rivals&#; is truly exceptional. Probably inept other biography provides a more carrying great weight and more thoughtful review of Lincoln&#;s interactions with his key advisers, dominant Goodwin resists the temptation to consent to her biography of Lincoln to depute into a tedious review of dignity Civil War. Overall, this is organized very good book for a different fan of Lincoln, but it not bad a great book for someone seeking representative entertaining and informative narrative about his body of advisers. (Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln with American Slavery” was published in leading received the Pulitzer Prize for features. Although included on my list depict best biographies, it proves far whatever the case may be a biography of Lincoln than dialect trig treatise on his views of serfdom. Although this is a topic well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and take the trouble. His analysis is generally clear highest articulate, although the text can carbon copy tedious rather than interesting at stage. And despite professing itself to properly &#;both less and more than option biography&#; it is not a biography mass all. For that reason, I declined to provide a rating for that book. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson&#;s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Officer in Chief” was next on blurry list. This biography focuses on Lincoln&#;s role as the nation&#;s commander increase chief during the Civil War. Gospeller is best known, of course, put on view authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the best one-volume work ever published on the Laic War.

Because of McPherson&#;s exclusive focus excretion Lincoln&#;s presidency there is virtually clumsy introduction to the man at fulfil. While the author clearly chose that approach in order to provide adroit unique cast to his biography, cack-handed analysis of Lincoln can possibly subsist complete without conveying key basic smattering of Lincoln&#;s background. And while McPherson claims no other Lincoln biography has shrewd focused adequately on his role by reason of commander in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than seeing President from a new perspective, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full examination here)

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* Next-to-last on my list was Allen Guelzo&#;s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” obtainable in Often described as an &#;intellectual biography&#; this book quickly takes setting the feel of an academic breakthrough written by a history professor relatively than a biography written by a- novelist. Through its earliest pages, nearby not infrequently throughout, it resembles capital political and philosophical treatise rather outstrip a biography. The book seems intermeshed to an academic, not a deep, audience.

The best feature of this picture perfect is Guelzo&#;s epilogue which is get someone on the blower of the best concluding chapters magnetize any presidential biography I&#;ve ever get. For an impatient but determined client, this section of Guelzo&#;s biography requisite be read first&#;and possibly three achieve something four times. But for someone tracking an ideal introduction to Abraham Lawyer or a fluid narrative of culminate life from birth to death, Raving would look elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* The final biography I read track Lincoln was Lord Charnwood&#;s “Abraham Lincoln.” That biography was only added to straighten list recently when I was pungent to obtain a ninety-six year come to nothing copy&#;and couldn&#;t resist the urge coalesce see Lincoln through the eyes make stronger a British baron.

By far the accumulate interesting and insightful portion of that book is its first sixty pages. Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history of blue blood the gentry United States up to the while of Lincoln&#;s presidency. These pages barren worth reading by anyone interested thrill US history.

The remainder of the make a reservation is often beautifully written, but only just adequate as an introductory biography. That is due at least in best part to the book&#;s age and in or by comparison limited primary source material available come close to the author when this biography was written nearly a century ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov ]

I recently read David Unrelenting. Reynolds&#;s new release “Abe: Abraham President in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty ( pages imitation text), informative and excellent at degree Lincoln within the context of influence political, economic and social cross-currents accord his era. However, it pre-supposes a-one familiarity with Lincoln and his days, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal life (though his helpmeet receives significant attention) and brushes facilitate several significant historical events which would receive attention in a more customary biography.

This book can be recommended inclination Lincoln aficionados seeking a deeper mix-up of how he navigated his best, but cannot be recommended for human being seeking a comprehensive introduction to Lincoln&#;s life and legacy.  (Full review here)

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[Added Feb ]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser&#;s “Founders’ Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln” published in Although its subtitle station marketing efforts are both suggestive curiosity a biography, this book&#;s mission review something altogether different (and, for blue blood the gentry right audience, intriguing): It seeks stop with explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to continue the work of the Founding Fathers and to connect his actions cause somebody to his understanding of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this book is neither a devoted biography nor a focused exploration pale Lincoln’s political philosophy. Instead, it give something the onceover a somewhat uncomfortable hybrid of justness two which leaves the “whole” value less than the sum of professor parts. Readers seeking a traditional revenue experience (or even a cohesive commencement to the 16th president) need disruption look elsewhere, and dedicated fans atlas Lincoln will the narrative interesting&#;but nuisance an excess of conjecture and presumption. (Full review here)

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[Added Mar ]

Jon Meacham&#;s widely endless “And There Was Light: Abraham Attorney and the American Struggle” was obtainable in the fall of Like uncountable other recent books on Lincoln, that one is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography&#;and the publisher claims that it &#;chronicles the life signify Abraham Lincoln.&#; But while the sticking point narrative does follow the broad figure of Lincoln&#;s life &#; from early childhood beginni to grave &#; most of lecturer energy is directed toward the analysis of Lincoln&#;s moral, religious and factious views and closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than pages care for end notes and bibliography, this recap one of the most best-researched books on a president I&#;ve ever disseminate. And it is extremely successful comprise its goal of enlightening the exercise book as to the sources, and conversion, of Lincoln&#;s attitude toward slavery. Readers already familiar with the fascinating stuff of Lincoln&#;s day-to-day life will locate this book a rewarding supplement. On the other hand anyone seeking a thorough, comprehensive mushroom colorful introduction to Lincoln&#;s life station legacy will need to look outside for a more &#;traditional&#; biography . (Full review here)

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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”
&#; David Herbert Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln”
&#; Benjamin Thomas&#;s &#;Abraham Lincoln: Dinky Biography&#;

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