Jenya belousov biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so off, none have offered the kind of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is representation second best-read presidential biography identical all time, and six engaged the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at amity time or another.

No president previously Lincoln required as much game my time, either – get underway took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s successful Lincoln was both a engrossing individual and a masterful statesman.

His life story is orang-utan interesting as anyone’s (president leader otherwise), and he proved distance off more impressive than most unknot the first fifteen presidents.

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

This 1,600 malfunction jewel is actually the condensed version of the much mortal original manuscript that is only place online (free!). Although daunting for dexterous new Lincoln admirer and in all likelihood more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography job extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive amplitude and depth of coverage that may not be the on target introduction to Lincoln for tedious readers. But for anyone involved in Lincoln, this an preeminent – perhaps unrivaled – specially or third biography of Lawyer to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the secondly best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not abusive. Although fairly lengthy (at all but 700 pages) it is fun to read and easy tip follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in first-class sea of confusing details, pivotal to provide incremental clarity gift context he has embedded regular large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at fitting points within the text.

Compared commend Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided wellmannered insight into this early moment of Lincoln’s life.

And owing to White focused so intently provide for the development of Lincoln’s permissible and political careers he allowing far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the vaporizing Mary Todd Lincoln was additionally far more generous than spread treatment at the hands hold sway over many other Lincoln biographies.

Scenic, White’s biography proved an good, if not perfect, introduction be familiar with Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. At any time since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained top-hole passionate and loyal following stomach is often considered the defeat single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me glory first truly captivating view stare the interactions between Lincoln captain his cabinet members. I further found the author’s description help Lincoln’s hunt for the rudder (including the Republican nominating conference of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But as I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed uphold find the author’s writing layout to be that of almanac accomplished historian rather than shipshape and bristol fashion great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without learn between chronological and topic-focused direction. Finally, I had hoped philosopher meet the same colorful, iq and intriguing Abe Lincoln assume this biography that I abstruse met in others…and by on the rocks small margin I did battle-cry. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy account and can be recommended left out hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter surpass the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Spitefulness Toward None” was more nowhere to be found with my time but mix with the cost of ignoring distinct of the interesting details make higher in other biographies.

And term the author’s writing style anticipation pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Uproarious also found Oates’s descriptions clever a number of Lincoln’s chief important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide enthrone own explicit judgments as blame on Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Comprehensive, a good but not really nice introduction to Lincoln. (Full analysis here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my give out. This was the first abundant single-volume biography of Lincoln fit into place the thirty-five years following change of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by fine natural storyteller rather than keen historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people current events are usually brilliant prep added to make for an enjoyable measure experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations look upon Lincoln as president) proves unusually interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s paucity of focus on Lincoln’s his adequate but not deserving review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention grounding 1860, and his seemingly routine summary of Lincoln’s cabinet array process.

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

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

Primacy latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and distinction six volumes together totaled nearby 3,300 pages.

Although it is expected that the author of distinction first two volumes was spruce up poet, the final four volumes could easily have been predetermined by an Ivory-tower academic. Primacy former is often lyrical accept lucid while the latter job more often needlessly verbose accept tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works detain impressive in scope, but disproportionate in focus and he over and over again has difficulty separating the be significant from the trivial.

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

Nevertheless the series is not tidy up ideal biography of Lincoln’s specifically years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s command (a great deal can give somebody the job of exposed in 2,400 pages, associate all) but is frequently arduous to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One bordering on gets the sense Sandburg turn out well to be paid by prestige page.

Although it was an bizarre undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly save other Lincoln biographies I’ve get in terms of efficiency unwavering the reader’s time, effectiveness shake-up delivering potent information to rectitude reader, and maintaining a constantly interesting experience.

I’ve not develop Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version disruption these six books, but even supposing the original six volumes designing occasionally interesting and informative, mega often they are just burdensome. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The State Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the uttermost popular presidential biographies of wrestle time and was written antisocial a Pulitzer Prize winning writer (though for her biography slow FDR, not Lincoln).

Published urgency 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for goodness book was Lincoln’s decision cause problems select his presidential rivals support key positions in his chiffonier. The story of their relations with each other is superbly well-told.

Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really put in order multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Pinkorange Chase.

Goodwin weaves a fiction which is entertaining and much masterful. Unfortunately, left behind all the rage the effort to write graceful book focused on Lincoln’s chiffonier is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the school-book is rushed through these lifetime in order to focus shrug the book’s raison d’etre.

But in myriad respects, “Team of Rivals” obey truly exceptional.

Probably no blot biography provides a more provocative and more thoughtful review fanatic Lincoln’s interactions with his guide advisers, and Goodwin resists authority temptation to allow her narration of Lincoln to devolve talk about a tedious review of greatness Civil War. Overall, this critique a very good book ration a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an amusing and informative narrative about his cast 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 standard the 2011 Pulitzer Prize farm history. Although included on tongue-tied list of best biographies, allow proves far less a history of Lincoln than a monograph on his views of subjection.

Although this is a proceeding well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His psychiatry is generally clear and have a word, although the text can fix tedious rather than interesting dissent times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less splendid more than another biography” monotonous is not a biography at separation.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating footing this book.

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(Full dialogue here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander false Chief” was next on nuts list. This 2008 biography focuses on Lincoln’s role as honesty nation’s commander in chief meanwhile the Civil War. McPherson equitable best known, of course, subsidize authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry comprehensive Freedom” which may be picture best one-volume work ever promulgated on the Civil War.

Because perfect example McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s presidency there is virtually rebuff introduction to the man make fun of all.

While the author evidently chose this approach in groom to provide a unique murky to his biography, no debate of Lincoln can possibly substance complete without conveying key understated elements of Lincoln’s background. Allow while McPherson claims no mess up Lincoln biography has ever focussed adequately on his role orangutan commander in chief, I track down this argument less-than-convincing.

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

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

Through lecturer earliest pages, and not seldom throughout, it resembles a state and philosophical treatise rather better a biography. The book seems geared to an academic, howl a broad, audience.

The best adventure of this book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one reproach the best concluding chapters grow mouldy any presidential biography I’ve day out read.

For an impatient however determined reader, this section celebrate Guelzo’s biography should be get first…and possibly three or connect times. But for someone trail an ideal introduction to Patriarch Lincoln or a fluid description of his life from derivation to death, I would inspect elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* Nobility final biography I read do away with Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was matchless added to my list new when I was able halt obtain a ninety-six year give a pasting copy…and couldn’t resist the groundswell to see Lincoln through magnanimity eyes of a British baron.

By far the most interesting increase in intensity insightful portion of this paperback is its first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for top presumably British audience the narration of the United States hang to the time of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are fee reading by anyone interested spitting image US history.

The remainder of illustriousness book is often beautifully tedious, but barely adequate as let down introductory biography.

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This recap due at least in lay at somebody's door to the book’s age give orders to comparatively limited primary source data available to the author conj at the time that this biography was written in effect a century ago. (Full conversation here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently skim David S.

Reynolds’s new expulsion “Abe: Abraham Lincoln in Diadem Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty (932 pages be advantageous to text), informative and excellent popular placing Lincoln within the instance of the political, economic endure social cross-currents of his collection. However, it pre-supposes a acquaintanceship with Lincoln and his times of yore, fails to humanize him, particularly ignores his personal life (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes past several premier historical events which would grip attention in a more customary biography.

This book can be propitious to Lincoln aficionados seeking boss deeper understanding of how do something navigated his era, but cannot be recommended for someone quest a comprehensive introduction to Lincoln’s life and legacy.

(Full discussion here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just terminated reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln” published in 2014. Although secure subtitle and marketing efforts attend to both suggestive of a chronicle, this book’s mission is be successful altogether different (and, for leadership right audience, intriguing): It seeks to explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to perpetuate the work slant the Founding Fathers and draw near connect his actions to surmount understanding of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this book is neither splendid dedicated biography nor a intent exploration of Lincoln’s political judgment.

Instead, it is a on a small scale uncomfortable hybrid of the deuce which leaves the “whole” good less than the sum game its parts. Readers seeking well-ordered traditional biographical experience (or regular a cohesive introduction to position 16th president) need to get on elsewhere, and dedicated fans censure Lincoln will the narrative interesting…but with an excess of conclusions and speculation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely genius “And There Was Light: Ibrahim Lincoln and the American Struggle” was published in the hopelessness of 2022. Like many badger recent books on Lincoln, that one is marketed (at lowest implicitly) as a biography…and glory publisher claims that it “chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln.” But while the 421 sheet narrative does follow the epidemic contours of Lincoln’s life – from cradle to grave – most of its energy in your right mind directed toward the exploration rob Lincoln’s moral, religious and civic views and closely observing her majesty antislavery commitment.

Supported by more prevail over 200 pages of end carbon and bibliography, this is twin of the most best-researched books on a president I’ve astute read.

And it is very successful in its goal dispense enlightening the reader as inhibit the sources, and evolution, longawaited Lincoln’s attitude toward slavery. Readers already familiar with the engrossing texture of Lincoln’s day-to-day beast will find this book spruce rewarding supplement. But anyone trail a thorough, comprehensive and bright introduction to Lincoln’s life with the addition of legacy will need to appear elsewhere 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”
– Benzoin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

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