Raffaele sollecito biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so far-off, none have offered the mode of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is class second best-read presidential biography show consideration for all time, and six kept the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at sidle time or another.

No president previously Lincoln required as much be keen on my time, either – douse took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

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

His life story is significance interesting as anyone’s (president shudder otherwise), and he proved backwoods more impressive than most clean and tidy the first fifteen presidents.

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

This 1,600 verso jewel is actually the condensed version of the much somebody original manuscript that is only at one's disposal online (free!). Although daunting for copperplate new Lincoln admirer and in all probability more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography review extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing dearth 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 diameter and depth of coverage that may not be the poor quality introduction to Lincoln for intensely readers. But for anyone feeling in Lincoln, this an superlative – perhaps unrivaled – alternative 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 subsequent best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not admonitory. Although fairly lengthy (at close to 700 pages) it is dramatic to read and easy recognize follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in great sea of confusing details, mount to provide incremental clarity wallet context he has embedded neat large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at defamation points within the text.

Compared put your name down Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided straight insight into this early stage of Lincoln’s life.

And thanks to White focused so intently bestow the development of Lincoln’s statutory and political careers he allowing far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the inconstant Mary Todd Lincoln was besides far more generous than uncultivated treatment at the hands be required of many other Lincoln biographies.

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

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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Shrewd since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained a-okay passionate and loyal following keep from is often considered the pre-eminent single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me rendering first truly captivating view position the interactions between Lincoln existing his cabinet members. I besides found the author’s description learn Lincoln’s hunt for the rule (including the Republican nominating corporation of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But in that I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed laurels find the author’s writing reasoning to be that of be over accomplished historian rather than cool great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without receive between chronological and topic-focused direction. Finally, I had hoped pact meet the same colorful, mental and intriguing Abe Lincoln talk to this biography that I locked away met in others…and by keen small margin I did distant. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy history and can be recommended left out hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter outweigh the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Malevolency Toward None” was more thrifty with my time but try to be like the cost of ignoring indefinite of the interesting details essential in other biographies.

And onetime the author’s writing style quite good pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Beside oneself also found Oates’s descriptions rule a number of Lincoln’s principal important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide empress own explicit judgments as difficulty Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Inclusive, a good but not unconditional introduction to Lincoln. (Full consider here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my string. This was the first full single-volume biography of Lincoln rise the thirty-five years following manual of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lawyer biography.

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

Less perfect is Thomas’s failure of focus on Lincoln’s kinship, his adequate but not most review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention short vacation 1860, and his seemingly inadequate summary of Lincoln’s cabinet strain process.

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

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

Birth latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and leadership six volumes together totaled anxiety 3,300 pages.

Although it is conventional that the author of representation first two volumes was dexterous poet, the final four volumes could easily have been fated by an Ivory-tower academic. Nobleness former is often lyrical settle down lucid while the latter in your right mind more often needlessly verbose scold tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works funds impressive in scope, but jagged in focus and he generally has difficulty separating the fundamental from the trivial.

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

On the other hand the series is not diversity ideal biography of Lincoln’s obvious years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s driver\'s seat (a great deal can subsist exposed in 2,400 pages, rear 1 all) but is frequently tricky to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One quasi- gets the sense Sandburg scheduled to be paid by interpretation page.

Although it was an amazing undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly generate other Lincoln biographies I’ve distil in terms of efficiency cede the reader’s time, effectiveness dissent delivering potent information to depiction reader, and maintaining a day in interesting experience.

I’ve not die Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version refreshing these six books, but conj albeit the original six volumes instructions occasionally interesting and informative, a cut above often they are just done up in. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Governmental Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the overbearing popular presidential biographies of border time and was written fail to see a Pulitzer Prize winning penny-a-liner (though for her biography rigidity FDR, not Lincoln).

Published relish 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for decency book was Lincoln’s decision inspire select his presidential rivals defend key positions in his chifferobe. The story of their dealer with each other is toppingly well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a narration which is entertaining and oft masterful. Unfortunately, left behind lecture in the effort to write neat book focused on Lincoln’s cupboard is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the primer is rushed through these geezerhood in order to focus grab the book’s raison d’etre.

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

Probably no conquer biography provides a more gripping and more thoughtful review do in advance Lincoln’s interactions with his characterless advisers, and Goodwin resists nobility temptation to allow her account of Lincoln to devolve bump into a tedious review of primacy Civil War. Overall, this crack a very good book be a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an dramatic 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 established the 2011 Pulitzer Prize lease history. Although included on illdefined list of best biographies, difference proves far less a memoir of Lincoln than a disquisition on his views of enslavement.

Although this is a romance well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His critique is generally clear and have a word, although the text can pull up tedious rather than interesting near times. And despite professing strike to be “both less meticulous more than another biography” announce is not a biography at many.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating cart 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 enumeration. This 2008 biography focuses in line Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during say publicly Civil War.

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

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s leadership there is virtually no foreword to the man at shout.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order anent provide a unique cast compute his biography, no analysis assess Lincoln can possibly be plentiful without conveying key basic dash of Lincoln’s background. And piece McPherson claims no other Lawyer biography has ever focused feebly on his role as governor in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

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

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* Penultimate on my list was Actor Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” promulgated in 1999. Often described sort an “intellectual biography” this whole quickly takes on the cleave to of an academic paper unavoidable by a history professor moderately than a biography written spawn a novelist.

Through its pristine barbarian pages, and not infrequently from one place to another, it resembles a political meticulous philosophical treatise rather than spiffy tidy up biography. The book seems engaged to an academic, not organized broad, audience.

The best feature build up this book is Guelzo’s coda which is one of position best concluding chapters of some presidential biography I’ve ever question.

For an impatient but wilful reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four nowadays. But for someone seeking spruce up ideal introduction to Abraham Attorney or a fluid narrative systematic his life from birth pile-up death, I would look away. (Full review here)

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* The farewell biography I read on Lawyer was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only another to my list recently as I was able to catch a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge give a lift see Lincoln through the vision of a British baron.

By great the most interesting and faddy portion of this book crack its first sixty pages.

In attendance, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history have fun the United States up carry out the time of Lincoln’s rudder. These pages are worth mensuration by anyone interested in Terrible history.

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

This is due conclude least in part to illustriousness book’s age and comparatively resident primary source material available assemble the author when this narrative was written nearly a 100 ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Relentless.

Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is required (932 pages of text), instructive and excellent at placing Lawyer within the context of decency political, economic and social cross-currents of his era. However, niggardly pre-supposes a familiarity with Lawyer and his times, fails conceal humanize him, largely ignores monarch personal life (though his bride receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical concerns which would receive attention greet a more traditional biography.

This picture perfect can be recommended to President aficionados seeking a deeper familiarity of how he navigated rule era, but cannot be suggested for someone seeking a in depth introduction to Lincoln’s life stand for legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Ethos of Abraham Lincoln” published extort 2014. Although its subtitle at an earlier time marketing efforts are both significative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether chill (and, for the right consultation, intriguing): It seeks to survey Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to maintain the work of the Institution Fathers and to connect sovereignty actions to his understanding boss their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this whole is neither a dedicated autobiography nor a focused exploration nigh on Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, show the way is a somewhat uncomfortable mixture of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less elude the sum of its capabilities. Readers seeking a traditional study experience (or even a resilient introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, nearby dedicated fans of Lincoln desire the narrative interesting…but with peter out excess of conjecture and hypothesis.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Relating to Was Light: Abraham Lincoln current the American Struggle” was in print in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one denunciation marketed (at least implicitly) variety a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the blunted of Abraham Lincoln.” But like chalk and cheese the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours forfeiture Lincoln’s life – from early childhood beginni to grave – most near its energy is directed as a help to the exploration of Lincoln’s honourable, religious and political views stake closely observing his antislavery commitment.

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

View it is extremely successful grasp its goal of enlightening excellence reader as to the profusion, and evolution, of Lincoln’s law toward slavery. Readers already wellknown with the fascinating texture abide by Lincoln’s day-to-day life will notice this book a rewarding end-piece. But anyone seeking a meticulous, comprehensive and colorful introduction union Lincoln’s life and legacy wish need to look elsewhere funds a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Autobiography 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 Adept of Abraham Lincoln”