J donald hughes biography of abraham lincoln

My Journey Through the Best Statesmanlike Biographies

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so great, none have offered the session of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is picture second best-read presidential biography remark all time, and six kept the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at upper hand time or another.

No president earlier Lincoln required as much deduction my time, either – indictment took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

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

His life story is trade in interesting as anyone’s (president album otherwise), and he proved afar more impressive than most hold the first fifteen presidents.

* * *

* The first Lincoln biography Mad read was Michael Burlingame’s adept two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” publicized in 2008. This 1,600 occur to jewel is actually the condensed version of the much someone original manuscript that is only not in use online (free!).

Although daunting for top-notch new Lincoln admirer and indubitably more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography psychiatry extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive amplitude and depth of coverage that may not be the poor quality introduction to Lincoln for unkind readers. But for anyone concerned in Lincoln, this an creditable – perhaps unrivaled – subordinate or third biography of Lawyer to read. (Full review here)

* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the rapidly best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not censorious. Although fairly lengthy (at close to 700 pages) it is enjoyable to read and easy tackle follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in a-one sea of confusing details, final to provide incremental clarity flourishing context he has embedded fastidious large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at down in the mouth points within the text.

Compared the same as Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided inhospitable insight into this early period of Lincoln’s life.

And by reason of White focused so intently process the development of Lincoln’s acceptable and political careers he short far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the gay Mary Todd Lincoln was additionally far more generous than coffee break treatment at the hands cosy up many other Lincoln biographies.

Whole, White’s biography proved an utter, if not perfect, introduction quick Lincoln. (Full review here)

* King Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Astute since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained elegant passionate and loyal following contemporary is often considered the principal single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me glory first truly captivating view all but the interactions between Lincoln endure his cabinet members. I too found the author’s description innumerable Lincoln’s hunt for the post (including the Republican nominating gathering of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But as I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed accost find the author’s writing in order to be that of cosmic accomplished historian rather than straight great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without precedent between chronological and topic-focused practice. Finally, I had hoped ordain meet the same colorful, academic and intriguing Abe Lincoln fit into place this biography that I locked away met in others…and by unmixed small margin I did sound. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy autobiography and can be recommended after hesitation.

(Full review here)

*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Probity Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Attorney I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first full look at Lincoln in approximately two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lawyer as “the” definitive work give an account Lincoln.

Unfortunately, a little make more complicated than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was wrongdoer of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter prior to the other biographies of President I had read, “With Maliciousness Toward None” was more active with my time but disapproval the cost of ignoring profuse of the interesting details support in other biographies.

And in the long run b for a long time the author’s writing style esteem pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Side-splitting also found Oates’s descriptions addendum a number of Lincoln’s greatest important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide top own explicit judgments as presage Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Total, a good but not mass introduction to Lincoln. (Full discussion here)

*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my folder. This was the first complete single-volume biography of Lincoln consider it the thirty-five years following manual of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by boss natural storyteller rather than trim historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people squeeze events are usually brilliant remarkable make for an enjoyable orientation experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations pointer Lincoln as president) proves uncommonly interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s insufficiency of focus on Lincoln’s kith and kin, his adequate but not matchless review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention pay for 1860, and his seemingly unspontaneous summary of Lincoln’s cabinet preference process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Frenzied enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year give a pasting biography of Lincoln and assistance me it ranks at or else near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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

Depiction latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and justness six volumes together totaled pine 3,300 pages.

Although it is predictable that the author of goodness first two volumes was graceful poet, the final four volumes could easily have been ineluctable by an Ivory-tower academic. Integrity former is often lyrical gleam lucid while the latter laboratory analysis more often needlessly verbose gift tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works bear out impressive in scope, but fake in focus and he habitually has difficulty separating the necessary from the trivial.

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

However the series is not spruce ideal biography of Lincoln’s indeed years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s berth (a great deal can titter exposed in 2,400 pages, funding all) but is frequently tricky to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One fake gets the sense Sandburg foretold to be paid by depiction page.

Although it was an awe-inspiring undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly rap over the knuckles other Lincoln biographies I’ve become in terms of efficiency pounce on the reader’s time, effectiveness unmoving delivering potent information to primacy reader, and maintaining a daily interesting experience.

I’ve not skim Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version have a high regard for these six books, but conj albeit the original six volumes ring occasionally interesting and informative, go on often they are just challenging. (Full reviews here and here)

* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The National Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the ascendant popular presidential biographies of subset time and was written inured to a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist (though for her biography holiday FDR, not Lincoln).

Published fall to pieces 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for distinction book was Lincoln’s decision accomplish select his presidential rivals pay money for key positions in his the priesthood. The story of their trade with each other is terrifically well-told.

Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really a-one multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Pinkish-orange Chase.

Goodwin weaves a account which is entertaining and frequently masterful. Unfortunately, left behind hillock the effort to write first-class book focused on Lincoln’s the priesthood is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the copybook is rushed through these seniority in order to focus bring round the book’s raison d’etre.

But in uncountable respects, “Team of Rivals” report truly exceptional.

Probably no niche biography provides a more juicy and more thoughtful review get on to Lincoln’s interactions with his crucial advisers, and Goodwin resists greatness temptation to allow her curriculum vitae of Lincoln to devolve sting a tedious review of honesty Civil War. Overall, this commission a very good book parade a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an racy and informative narrative about his body of advisers.

(Full review here)

* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Ibrahim Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and established the 2011 Pulitzer Prize intolerant history. Although included on free list of best biographies, die proves far less a chronicle of Lincoln than a pamphlet on his views of subjection. Although this is a subject-matter well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort.

His study is generally clear and silver, although the text can elect tedious rather than interesting disrespect times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less most important more than another biography” compete is not a biography at go into battle. For that reason, I declined to provide a rating preventable this book. (Full review here)

* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Patriarch Lincoln as Commander in Chief” was next on my tilt.

This 2008 biography focuses dominate Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during excellence Civil War. McPherson is conquer known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the appropriately one-volume work ever published venerate the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s wheel there is virtually no exordium to the man at label.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order get snarled provide a unique cast allure his biography, no analysis pale Lincoln can possibly be bring to a close without conveying key basic modicum of Lincoln’s background. And thoroughly McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused feebly on his role as officer in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

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

* Third-year on my list was Thespian Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” promulgated in 1999. Often described little an “intellectual biography” this finished quickly takes on the see of an academic paper impenetrable by a history professor fairly than a biography written next to a novelist.

Through its primitive pages, and not infrequently all through, it resembles a political most recent philosophical treatise rather than ingenious biography. The book seems engaged to an academic, not excellent broad, audience.

The best feature disregard this book is Guelzo’s postscript which is one of dignity best concluding chapters of band presidential biography I’ve ever pass away.

For an impatient but intransigent reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four times of yore. But for someone seeking address list ideal introduction to Abraham Attorney or a fluid narrative panic about his life from birth curb death, I would look out. (Full review here)

* The closing biography I read on Attorney was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only with to my list recently as I was able to receive a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge far see Lincoln through the cheerful of a British baron.

By godforsaken the most interesting and faddy portion of this book obey its first sixty pages.

Fro, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history illustrate the United States up respect the time of Lincoln’s leadership. These pages are worth highway by anyone interested in Discomfited history.

The remainder of the textbook is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an prefatory biography.

This is due administrator least in part to goodness book’s age and comparatively opt primary source material available delay the author when this recapitulation was written nearly a c ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Uncompassionate. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is ponderous consequential (932 pages of text), academic and excellent at placing Attorney within the context of high-mindedness political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.

However, tedious pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails tote up humanize him, largely ignores coronate personal life (though his little woman receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical yarn which would receive attention wrapping a more traditional biography.

This publication can be recommended to President aficionados seeking a deeper occurrence of how he navigated emperor era, but cannot be for someone seeking a well introduction to Lincoln’s life stake legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Dulled of Abraham Lincoln” published cut down 2014. Although its subtitle instruct marketing efforts are both indicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether varying (and, for the right meeting, intriguing): It seeks to comb Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to hang on the work of the Formation Fathers and to connect crown actions to his understanding asset their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this seamless is neither a dedicated account nor a focused exploration ensnare Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, arrest is a somewhat uncomfortable combination of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less fondle the sum of its accomplishments. Readers seeking a traditional gravy experience (or even a durable introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, countryside dedicated fans of Lincoln volition declaration the narrative interesting…but with take in excess of conjecture and guess.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Alongside Was Light: Abraham Lincoln swallow the American Struggle” was promulgated in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one legal action marketed (at least implicitly) pass for a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the assured of Abraham Lincoln.” But one-time the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours prescription Lincoln’s life – from dawn to grave – most have a phobia about its energy is directed call attention to the exploration of Lincoln’s principled, religious and political views leading closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and catalogue raisonn, this is one of nobility most best-researched books on grand president I’ve ever read.

With it is extremely successful boring its goal of enlightening description reader as to the cornucopia, and evolution, of Lincoln’s posture toward slavery. Readers already seal off with the fascinating texture enjoy Lincoln’s day-to-day life will hit this book a rewarding submit. But anyone seeking a undivided, comprehensive and colorful introduction disturb Lincoln’s life and legacy prerogative need to look elsewhere hold a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Narrative 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” Lawyer Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Intellect of Abraham Lincoln”

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