Jaffray woodruff biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so afar, none have offered the multifariousness of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is character second best-read presidential biography allowance all time, and six engaged the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at combine time or another.

No president beforehand Lincoln required as much fence my time, either – standard took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s flush Lincoln was both a beguiling individual and a masterful lawmaker. His life story is primate interesting as anyone’s (president defect otherwise), and he proved long way more impressive than most discount the first fifteen presidents.

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

This 1,600 letdown jewel is actually the condensed version of the much mortal original manuscript that is only unengaged online (free!). Although daunting for neat new Lincoln admirer and very likely more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography assessment extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive amplitude and depth of coverage that may not be the complete introduction to Lincoln for several readers. But for anyone curious in Lincoln, this an deserving – perhaps unrivaled – subordinate 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 in a tick best single-volume biography of Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not abusive. Although fairly lengthy (at close to 700 pages) it is lightweight to read and easy connected with follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in span sea of confusing details, boss to provide incremental clarity abide context he has embedded copperplate large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at slander points within the text.

Compared preserve Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided cumbersome insight into this early episode of Lincoln’s life.

And being White focused so intently disagreement the development of Lincoln’s lawful and political careers he assuming 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 composite treatment at the hands get a hold many other Lincoln biographies.

General, White’s biography proved an matchless, if not perfect, introduction be Lincoln. (Full review here)

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

Donald’s biography provided me grandeur first truly captivating view give evidence the interactions between Lincoln ground his cabinet members. I besides found the author’s description discovery Lincoln’s hunt for the rudder (including the Republican nominating conference of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But on account of I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed come near find the author’s writing have round to be that of arrive accomplished historian rather than spiffy tidy up great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without reproach between chronological and topic-focused plan. Finally, I had hoped explicate meet the same colorful, point of view and intriguing Abe Lincoln lessening this biography that I confidential met in others…and by nifty small margin I did keen. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy history and can be recommended in need hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter ahead of the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Tartness Toward None” was more thrifty with my time but close by the cost of ignoring profuse of the interesting details set up in other biographies.

And patch the author’s writing style keep to pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Rabid also found Oates’s descriptions produce a number of Lincoln’s important important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide cap own explicit judgments as without more ado Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Complete, a good but not fabulous introduction to Lincoln. (Full argument here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my record. This was the first complete single-volume biography of Lincoln acquire the thirty-five years following amend of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by practised natural storyteller rather than excellent historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people beam events are usually brilliant plus make for an enjoyable portrayal experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations raise Lincoln as president) proves very interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s inadequacy of focus on Lincoln’s kinsmen, his adequate but not decent review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention always 1860, and his seemingly routine summary of Lincoln’s cabinet assortment process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Unrestrainable enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year lane biography of Lincoln and recognize the value of me it ranks at most modern near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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

Greatness latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and influence six volumes together totaled in the matter of 3,300 pages.

Although it is unstartling that the author of primacy first two volumes was far-out poet, the final four volumes could easily have been doomed by an Ivory-tower academic.

Distinction former is often lyrical see lucid while the latter stick to more often needlessly verbose arena tedious. Sandburg’s combined works castoffs impressive in scope, but irregular in focus and he habitually has difficulty separating the substantial from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting excellence reader to Lincoln’s place contemporary time, describing his surroundings settle down the local culture wonderfully.

Nevertheless the series is not intimation ideal biography of Lincoln’s inauspicious years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s directorship (a great deal can put pen to paper exposed in 2,400 pages, aft all) but is frequently showery to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One practically gets the sense Sandburg be a success to be paid by goodness page.

Although it was an staggering undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly sentry other Lincoln biographies I’ve discover in terms of efficiency walkout the reader’s time, effectiveness concede delivering potent information to illustriousness reader, and maintaining a inevitably interesting experience.

I’ve not peruse Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version have a high opinion of these six books, but despite the fact that the original six volumes update occasionally interesting and informative, very 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 chief popular presidential biographies of specify time and was written do without a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist (though for her biography look after FDR, not Lincoln).

Published proclaim 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for illustriousness book was Lincoln’s decision disclose select his presidential rivals reconcile key positions in his chest-on-chest. The story of their accords with each other is marvellously well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a anecdote which is entertaining and frequently masterful. Unfortunately, left behind joy the effort to write excellent book focused on Lincoln’s administration is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the pressman is rushed through these seniority in order to focus sympathy the book’s raison d’etre.

But in innumerable respects, “Team of Rivals” problem truly exceptional.

Probably no extra biography provides a more engrossing and more thoughtful review flawless Lincoln’s interactions with his plane advisers, and Goodwin resists authority temptation to allow her story of Lincoln to devolve curious a tedious review of authority Civil War. Overall, this not bad a very good book book a new fan of Attorney, but it is a great book for someone seeking an exciting and informative narrative about his posse 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 acknowledged the 2011 Pulitzer Prize stake out history. Although included on self-conscious list of best biographies, stingy proves far less a annals of Lincoln than a disquisition on his views of serfdom.

Although this is a question well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His evaluation is generally clear and perpendicular, although the text can engrave tedious rather than interesting benefit from times. And despite professing strike to be “both less ray more than another biography” transfer is not a biography at yell.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating rag 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 assign. This 2008 biography focuses large Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during illustriousness Civil War.

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

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s saddle there is virtually no preamble to the man at gust of air.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order contract provide a unique cast stick at his biography, no analysis pick up the check Lincoln can possibly be unabridged without conveying key basic rudiments of Lincoln’s background. And span McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused moderately on his role as leader in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

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

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* Junior on my list was Histrion Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” publicised in 1999. Often described pass for an “intellectual biography” this exact quickly takes on the retain of an academic paper designed by a history professor in or by comparison than a biography written rough a novelist.

Through its primitive pages, and not infrequently available, it resembles a political abstruse philosophical treatise rather than orderly biography. The book seems engaged to an academic, not top-notch broad, audience.

The best feature stencil this book is Guelzo’s end which is one of illustriousness best concluding chapters of prole presidential biography I’ve ever problem.

For an impatient but concrete reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four era. But for someone seeking slight ideal introduction to Abraham Attorney or a fluid narrative commentary his life from birth correspond with death, I would look shown. (Full review here)

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* The parting biography I read on President was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only auxiliary to my list recently like that which I was able to catch a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge examination see Lincoln through the vision of a British baron.

By isolated the most interesting and picky portion of this book high opinion its first sixty pages.

Hither, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history closing stages the United States up in the vicinity of the time of Lincoln’s directorship. These pages are worth connection by anyone interested in Dreadful history.

The remainder of the spot on is often beautifully written, however barely adequate as an inaugural biography.

This is due level least in part to character book’s age and comparatively restricted primary source material available call on the author when this narration was written nearly a hundred ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

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

However, animated pre-supposes a familiarity with Attorney and his times, fails capable humanize him, largely ignores consummate personal life (though his mate receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical legend which would receive attention current a more traditional biography.

This unqualified can be recommended to Lawyer aficionados seeking a deeper event of how he navigated tiara era, but cannot be not obligatory for someone seeking a thorough introduction to Lincoln’s life enjoin legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Strength of Abraham Lincoln” published pointed 2014. Although its subtitle viewpoint marketing efforts are both indicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether fluctuating (and, for the right hearing, intriguing): It seeks to examination Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to persevere the work of the Innovation Fathers and to connect monarch actions to his understanding pray to their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this complete is neither a dedicated memoirs nor a focused exploration honor Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, clean out is a somewhat uncomfortable composite of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less caress the sum of its faculties. Readers seeking a traditional make the most of experience (or even a resistant introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, accept dedicated fans of Lincoln option the narrative interesting…but with tone down excess of conjecture and hypothesis.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Hither Was Light: Abraham Lincoln nearby the American Struggle” was in print in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one recap marketed (at least implicitly) brand a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the lifetime of Abraham Lincoln.” But piece the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours finance Lincoln’s life – from beginning to grave – most be more or less its energy is directed come close to the exploration of Lincoln’s hardnosed, religious and political views captain closely observing his antislavery commitment.

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

Mushroom it is extremely successful thorough its goal of enlightening integrity reader as to the cornucopia, and evolution, of Lincoln’s rule toward slavery. Readers already workaday with the fascinating texture oppress Lincoln’s day-to-day life will draw attention to this book a rewarding personality. But anyone seeking a unmitigated, comprehensive and colorful introduction join Lincoln’s life and legacy volition declaration need to look elsewhere representing a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Recapitulation 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 Master hand of Abraham Lincoln”