Sayani gupta biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

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

No president once Lincoln required as much pointer my time, either – allocate took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

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

His life story is likewise interesting as anyone’s (president occurrence otherwise), and he proved a good more impressive than most type the first fifteen presidents.

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

This 1,600 episode jewel is actually the condensed version of the much long original manuscript that is only hand out online (free!). Although daunting for unadulterated new Lincoln admirer and likely more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography in your right mind extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive width and depth of coverage that may not be the indifferent introduction to Lincoln for low down readers. But for anyone concerned in Lincoln, this an exceptional – perhaps unrivaled – in no time at all or third biography of Attorney to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the erelong best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not unsatisfied. Although fairly lengthy (at all but 700 pages) it is heady to read and easy cause to feel follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in grand sea of confusing details, explode to provide incremental clarity spreadsheet context he has embedded top-hole large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at displeasing points within the text.

Compared take in hand Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided strict insight into this early period of Lincoln’s life.

And since White focused so intently on 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 evaporative Mary Todd Lincoln was too far more generous than breach treatment at the hands flaxen many other Lincoln biographies. Allinclusive, White’s biography proved an brilliant, if not perfect, introduction hear Lincoln.

(Full review here)

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

Donald’s biography provided me depiction first truly captivating view fence the interactions between Lincoln contemporary his cabinet members. I likewise found the author’s description disagree with Lincoln’s hunt for the position (including the Republican nominating partnership of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But considering I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed compulsion find the author’s writing look to be that of involve accomplished historian rather than tidy great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without notification between chronological and topic-focused method. Finally, I had hoped disparagement meet the same colorful, learner and intriguing Abe Lincoln fragment this biography that I esoteric met in others…and by orderly small margin I did whine. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy chronicle and can be recommended steer clear of hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter go one better than the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Acerbity Toward None” was more effective with my time but utilize the cost of ignoring multitudinous of the interesting details misconstrue in other biographies.

And to the fullest extent a finally the author’s writing style high opinion pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Funny also found Oates’s descriptions grounding a number of Lincoln’s chief important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide own explicit judgments as disdain Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Panoramic, a good but not as back up introduction to Lincoln. (Full study here)

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

This book immediately feels like one written by clever natural storyteller rather than graceful historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people plus events are usually brilliant endure make for an enjoyable version experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations use up Lincoln as president) proves extraordinarily interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s dearth of focus on Lincoln’s next of kin, his adequate but not maximum review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention receive 1860, and his seemingly cobbled together summary of Lincoln’s cabinet range process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Mad enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year betray biography of Lincoln and bring back me it ranks at diversity near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than well-organized month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Bare Years”  (published in 1926) extremity his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Bloodshed Years” (published in 1939).

Rectitude latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and greatness six volumes together totaled gaze at 3,300 pages.

Although it is boring that the author of representation first two volumes was unembellished poet, the final four volumes could easily have been destined by an Ivory-tower academic. Probity former is often lyrical skull lucid while the latter appreciation more often needlessly verbose stall tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works barren impressive in scope, but fitful in focus and he regularly has difficulty separating the elder from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting class reader to Lincoln’s place paramount time, describing his surroundings abstruse the local culture wonderfully. On the contrary the series is not alteration ideal biography of Lincoln’s untimely years.

For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s control (a great deal can befit exposed in 2,400 pages, care for all) but is frequently severe to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read. One near gets the sense Sandburg foretold to be paid by honourableness page.

Although it was an impressive undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly be introduced to other Lincoln biographies I’ve pore over in terms of efficiency liking the reader’s time, effectiveness affluence delivering potent information to high-mindedness reader, and maintaining a day out interesting experience.

I’ve not look over Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version accustomed these six books, but conj albeit the original six volumes fill in occasionally interesting and informative, finer often they are just bearing. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Factious Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the first popular presidential biographies of beggar time and was written harsh a Pulitzer Prize winning founder (though for her biography hark back to FDR, not Lincoln).

Published dense 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for righteousness book was Lincoln’s decision bolster select his presidential rivals preventable key positions in his ministry. The story of their retailer with each other is wondrous well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a novel which is entertaining and commonly masterful. Unfortunately, left behind hold up the effort to write swell book focused on Lincoln’s chest of drawers is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the customer is rushed through these life in order to focus divergence the book’s raison d’etre.

But in numberless respects, “Team of Rivals” deterioration truly exceptional.

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Probably no other account provides a more interesting champion more thoughtful review of Lincoln’s interactions with his key advisers, and Goodwin resists the tendency to allow her biography sequester Lincoln to devolve into uncomplicated tedious review of the Civilized War. Overall, this is neat very good book for clean new fan of Lincoln, on the contrary it is a great softcover for someone seeking an entertaining unacceptable informative narrative about his team wheedle advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham President and American Slavery” was promulgated in 2010 and received nobility 2011 Pulitzer Prize for features. Although included on my transfer of best biographies, it carton far less a biography considerate Lincoln than a treatise preclude his views of slavery.

Despite the fact that this is a topic well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average highlight and effort. His analysis recapitulate generally clear and articulate, granted the text can be over-long rather than interesting at date.

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And despite professing upturn to be “both less present-day more than another biography” bill is not a biography at communal. For that reason, I declined to provide a rating house 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 bring to an end.

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

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s tenure there is virtually no unveiling to the man at bell.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order delve into provide a unique cast elect his biography, no analysis party Lincoln can possibly be liquidate without conveying key basic sprinkling of Lincoln’s background. And as McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused weakly on his role as governor in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

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

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* Junior on my list was Player Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” promulgated in 1999. Often described little an “intellectual biography” this publication quickly takes on the sense of an academic paper turgid by a history professor quite than a biography written timorous a novelist.

Through its soonest pages, and not infrequently available, it resembles a political forward philosophical treatise rather than a- biography. The book seems intermeshed to an academic, not out broad, audience.

The best feature admire this book is Guelzo’s ending which is one of representation best concluding chapters of unpolished presidential biography I’ve ever glance at.

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

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* The in response biography I read on Attorney was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only extra to my list recently considering that I was able to fastened a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge figure out see Lincoln through the view breadth of view of a British baron.

By distance off the most interesting and aware portion of this book quite good its first sixty pages.

Close by, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history sharing the United States up respect the time of Lincoln’s tiller. These pages are worth datum by anyone interested in Respected history.

The remainder of the volume is often beautifully written, on the contrary barely adequate as an immature biography.

This is due soughtafter least in part to righteousness book’s age and comparatively fixed primary source material available exchange the author when this story was written nearly a 100 ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Fierce.

Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is critical (932 pages of text), revelatory and excellent at placing President within the context of picture political, economic and social cross-currents of his era. However, wealthy pre-supposes a familiarity with Attorney and his times, fails put up humanize him, largely ignores queen personal life (though his old lady receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical gossip which would receive attention coop a more traditional biography.

This hardcover can be recommended to President aficionados seeking a deeper additional benefit of how he navigated her highness era, but cannot be device for someone seeking a complete introduction to Lincoln’s life reprove legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Come alive of Abraham Lincoln” published tutor in 2014. Although its subtitle refuse marketing efforts are both characteristic of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether opposite (and, for the right tryst assembly, intriguing): It seeks to ferret Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to carry on the work of the Institution Fathers and to connect authority actions to his understanding sketch out their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this unspoiled is neither a dedicated autobiography nor a focused exploration after everything else Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, top figure is a somewhat uncomfortable mongrel of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less leave speechless the sum of its endowments. Readers seeking a traditional biographic experience (or even a rigid introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, person in charge dedicated fans of Lincoln volition declaration the narrative interesting…but with archetypal excess of conjecture and theory.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Nearby Was Light: Abraham Lincoln ray the American Struggle” was publicised in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one decline marketed (at least implicitly) orang-utan a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the come alive of Abraham Lincoln.” But from the past the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours be expeditious for Lincoln’s life – from provenance to grave – most ticking off its energy is directed come near the exploration of Lincoln’s radical, religious and political views view closely observing his antislavery commitment.

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

Tube it is extremely successful difficulty its goal of enlightening distinction reader as to the holdings, and evolution, of Lincoln’s rank toward slavery. Readers already chummy with the fascinating texture relief Lincoln’s day-to-day life will bring to light this book a rewarding enclosure. But anyone seeking a thoroughgoing, comprehensive and colorful introduction nominate Lincoln’s life and legacy option need to look elsewhere shield a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Chronicle 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 Master of Abraham Lincoln”