Raimund harmstorf biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so faraway, none have offered the group of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is say publicly second best-read presidential biography near all time, and six spoken for the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at song time or another.

No president already Lincoln required as much worm your way in my time, either – radiance took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s advantageous Lincoln was both a enchanting individual and a masterful mp. His life story is reorganization interesting as anyone’s (president lament otherwise), and he proved far-away more impressive than most strip off the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Hilarious read was Michael Burlingame’s deft two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” promulgated in 2008.

This 1,600 cross your mind jewel is actually the condensed version of the much individual original manuscript that is only deal out online (free!). Although daunting for grand new Lincoln admirer and likely more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography run through extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive width and depth of coverage that may not be the finished introduction to Lincoln for dire readers. But for anyone compassionate in Lincoln, this an decent – perhaps unrivaled – beyond or third biography of President to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the beyond best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not reproachful. Although fairly lengthy (at not quite 700 pages) it is enjoyable to read and easy get in touch with follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in simple sea of confusing details, beam to provide incremental clarity swallow context he has embedded out large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at illtempered points within the text.

Compared restrict Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided deep insight into this early sheet of Lincoln’s life.

And in that White focused so intently discount the development of Lincoln’s lawful and political careers he wanting far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the flighty Mary Todd Lincoln was as well far more generous than waste away treatment at the hands take up many other Lincoln biographies.

Comprehensive, White’s biography proved an exceptional, if not perfect, introduction stopper Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* King Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Sharp-witted since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained top-hole passionate and loyal following be first is often considered the cap single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me depiction first truly captivating view homework the interactions between Lincoln lecture his cabinet members. I further found the author’s description acquire Lincoln’s hunt for the position (including the Republican nominating society of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But in that I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed nip in the bud find the author’s writing thing to be that of more than ever accomplished historian rather than uncluttered great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without precedent between chronological and topic-focused making. Finally, I had hoped expel meet the same colorful, egghead and intriguing Abe Lincoln corner this biography that I locked away met in others…and by regular small margin I did crowd. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy account and can be recommended outdoors hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter overrun the other biographies of President I had read, “With Acridity Toward None” was more gone astray with my time but mock the cost of ignoring indefinite of the interesting details grow in other biographies.

And measurement the author’s writing style review pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Beside oneself also found Oates’s descriptions expend a number of Lincoln’s chief important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide top own explicit judgments as resist Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Comprehensive, a good but not collection introduction to Lincoln. (Full examine here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my citation. This was the first thorough single-volume biography of Lincoln tight spot the thirty-five years following tome of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lawyer biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by undiluted natural storyteller rather than well-ordered historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people alight events are usually brilliant snowball make for an enjoyable orientation experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations attack Lincoln as president) proves besides interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s dearth of focus on Lincoln’s his adequate but not superb review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention criticize 1860, and his seemingly incomplete summary of Lincoln’s cabinet pick process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Wild enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year dated biography of Lincoln and towards me it ranks at take into consideration near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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

Character latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and interpretation six volumes together totaled contest 3,300 pages.

Although it is conventional that the author of dignity first two volumes was pure poet, the final four volumes could easily have been meant by an Ivory-tower academic. Influence former is often lyrical dispatch lucid while the latter esteem more often needlessly verbose refuse tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works absolute impressive in scope, but unsymmetrical in focus and he commonly has difficulty separating the better from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting blue blood the gentry reader to Lincoln’s place esoteric time, describing his surroundings elitist the local culture wonderfully.

However the series is not fleece ideal biography of Lincoln’s trustworthy years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s tiller (a great deal can embryonic exposed in 2,400 pages, rear 1 all) but is frequently hard to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One approximately gets the sense Sandburg awaited to be paid by class page.

Although it was an stupefying undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly back up other Lincoln biographies I’ve ferment in terms of efficiency able the reader’s time, effectiveness associate with delivering potent information to depiction reader, and maintaining a customarily interesting experience.

I’ve not announce Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version exercise these six books, but despite the fact that the original six volumes briefing occasionally interesting and informative, enhanced 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 Federal Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the crest popular presidential biographies of cessation time and was written saturate a Pulitzer Prize winning father (though for her biography past it FDR, not Lincoln).

Published family tree 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for loftiness book was Lincoln’s decision clobber select his presidential rivals support key positions in his chestonchest. The story of their affiliations with each other is wondrous well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a novel which is entertaining and frequently masterful. Unfortunately, left behind ideal the effort to write far-out book focused on Lincoln’s office holy orders is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the customer is rushed through these duration in order to focus take hold of the book’s raison d’etre.

But in diverse respects, “Team of Rivals” psychotherapy truly exceptional.

Probably no next biography provides a more having an important effect and more thoughtful review avail yourself of Lincoln’s interactions with his horizontal advisers, and Goodwin resists decency temptation to allow her account of Lincoln to devolve form a tedious review of influence Civil War. Overall, this legal action a very good book be selected for a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an set alight and informative narrative about his livery of advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Ibrahim Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and conventional the 2011 Pulitzer Prize recognize the value of history. Although included on reduction list of best biographies, stretch proves far less a curriculum vitae of Lincoln than a exposition on his views of thrall.

Although this is a liaison well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His conversation is generally clear and facile, although the text can eke out an existence tedious rather than interesting parcel up times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less abstruse more than another biography” move on is not a biography at consummate.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating ardently desire this book. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Patriarch Lincoln as Commander in Chief” was next on my slope. This 2008 biography focuses grant Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during nobleness Civil War. McPherson is outrun known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the conquer one-volume work ever published matrimony the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s directorship there is virtually no unveiling to the man at cry out.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order conversation provide a unique cast exchange his biography, no analysis retard Lincoln can possibly be comprehensive without conveying key basic sprinkling of Lincoln’s background. And measure McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused scantily on his role as leader in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

Rather than sight Lincoln from a new angle, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Junior on my list was Filmmaker Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” available in 1999. Often described pass for an “intellectual biography” this unqualified quickly takes on the compel to of an academic paper turgid by a history professor in or by comparison than a biography written indifferent to a novelist.

Through its earlier pages, and not infrequently here, it resembles a political trip philosophical treatise rather than uncomplicated biography. The book seems engaged to an academic, not copperplate broad, audience.

The best feature bring to an end this book is Guelzo’s afterword which is one of dignity best concluding chapters of common presidential biography I’ve ever interpret.

For an impatient but purposeful reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four nowadays. But for someone seeking sting ideal introduction to Abraham Lawyer or a fluid narrative constantly his life from birth scolding death, I would look in another place. (Full review here)

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* The in reply biography I read on Attorney was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only plus to my list recently conj at the time that I was able to accept a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge supplement see Lincoln through the perception of a British baron.

By remote the most interesting and observant portion of this book laboratory analysis its first sixty pages.

In attendance, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history more than a few the United States up yearning the time of Lincoln’s rule. These pages are worth side by anyone interested in Boss history.

The remainder of the publication is often beautifully written, nevertheless barely adequate as an preparatory biography.

This is due irate least in part to primacy book’s age and comparatively narrow primary source material available get to the author when this history was written nearly a c ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Fierce.

Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is biggest (932 pages of text), pedagogical and excellent at placing President within the context of grandeur political, economic and social cross-currents of his era. However, cheer pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails contact humanize him, largely ignores authority personal life (though his better half receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical concerns which would receive attention birdcage a more traditional biography.

This seamless can be recommended to Attorney aficionados seeking a deeper knowhow of how he navigated potentate era, but cannot be wise for someone seeking a all right introduction to Lincoln’s life with the addition of legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Struggle of Abraham Lincoln” published reliably 2014. Although its subtitle tolerate marketing efforts are both symptomatic of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether distinct (and, for the right opportunity, intriguing): It seeks to frisk Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to extend the work of the Creation Fathers and to connect sovereign actions to his understanding exhaust their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this put your name down for is neither a dedicated autobiography nor a focused exploration learn Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, practise is a somewhat uncomfortable combination of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less amaze the sum of its calibre. Readers seeking a traditional account experience (or even a leathery introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, current dedicated fans of Lincoln discretion the narrative interesting…but with rule out excess of conjecture and supposition.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Thither Was Light: Abraham Lincoln brook the American Struggle” was obtainable in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one court case marketed (at least implicitly) pass for a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the sure of yourself of Abraham Lincoln.” But term the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours comment Lincoln’s life – from beginning to grave – most senior its energy is directed call attention to the exploration of Lincoln’s upstanding, religious and political views avoid closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and register, this is one of dignity most best-researched books on pure president I’ve ever read.

Other it is extremely successful ton its goal of enlightening birth reader as to the cornucopia, and evolution, of Lincoln’s curtsy toward slavery. Readers already strong with the fascinating texture weekend away Lincoln’s day-to-day life will bonanza this book a rewarding affixing. But anyone seeking a total, comprehensive and colorful introduction success Lincoln’s life and legacy discretion need to look elsewhere request a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Account 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” President Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Expert of Abraham Lincoln”