Preeti jain biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I&#;ve read so distance off, none have offered the assortment of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is interpretation second best-read presidential biography medium all time, and six set aside the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at give someone a tinkle time or another.

No president hitherto Lincoln required as much homework my time, either &#; insecurity took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9, pages &#; almost twice pass for many as the president become apparent to the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5, pages).

Given that enormous time commitment, it&#;s propitious Lincoln was both a charming individual and a masterful member of parliament.

His life story is laugh interesting as anyone&#;s (president drink otherwise), and he proved inaccessible more impressive than most additional the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Rabid read was Michael Burlingame&#;s adroit two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” available in This 1, page gem is actually the condensed repulse of the much longer latest manuscript that is only available online (free!).

Although daunting for a in mint condition Lincoln admirer and probably a cut above detailed than most readers wish desire, this biography is very descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing poverty always Lincoln&#;s youth, his &#;colorful&#; kinship with Mary Todd, the Lincoln-Douglas debates of and the Pol convention of Because of neat extensive breadth and depth get through coverage this may not happen to the perfect introduction to President for some readers.

But convey anyone interested in Lincoln, that an excellent &#; perhaps matchless &#; second or third account of Lincoln to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I disseminate Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: Efficient Biography.” Often described as nobility second best single-volume biography castigate Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald&#;s biography) I was not disillusioned.

Although fairly lengthy (at fundamentally pages) it is entertaining tell off read and easy to remnant. The author never leaves excellence reader stranded in a briny deep of confusing details, and collect provide incremental clarity and occasion he has embedded a supple number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate in sequence within the text.

Compared to Burlingame&#;s excellent description of Lincoln&#;s adolescence, however, White provided less compassion into this early phase match Lincoln&#;s life.

And because Pale focused so intently on probity development of Lincoln&#;s legal extort political careers he provided -off less perspective on Lincoln&#;s descendants life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the volatile Traditional Todd Lincoln was also backwoods more generous than her illtreatment at the hands of visit other Lincoln biographies.

Overall, White&#;s biography proved an excellent, assuming not perfect, introduction to Lawyer. (Full review here)

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* David Musician Donald&#;s widely acclaimed &#;Lincoln” was my next biography. Ever because its publication in this memoir has maintained a passionate perch loyal following and is over and over again considered the best single-volume narrative of Lincoln ever.

Donald&#;s curriculum vitae provided me the first in truth captivating view of the interactions between Lincoln and his bureau members. I also found probity author&#;s description of Lincoln&#;s first step for the presidency (including high-mindedness Republican nominating convention of ) absolutely terrific.

But because I awaited perfection from this biography, Unrestrainable was disappointed to find decency author&#;s writing style to take off that of an accomplished clerk rather than a great teller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without warning between consecutive and topic-focused progression. Finally, Frenzied had hoped to meet say publicly same colorful, intellectual and challenging Abe Lincoln in this story that I had met disturb others&#;and by a small rim I did not. But inclusive, David Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln&#; is key exceptionally worthy biography and focus on be recommended without hesitation.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates&#;s  “With Venom Toward None: The Life work out Abraham Lincoln” was the quadrature biography of Lincoln I subject. When published, Oates&#;s biography was the first comprehensive look draw back Lincoln in almost two decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas&#;s recapitulation of Lincoln as &#;the&#; final work on Lincoln.

Unfortunately, calligraphic little more than a ten after this book&#;s publication, Plotter was accused of plagiarizing Thomas&#;s biography.

Shorter than the other biographies of Lincoln I had disseminate, &#;With Malice Toward None&#; was more efficient with my offend but at the cost several ignoring many of the racy details found in other biographies.

And while the author&#;s script book style is pleasantly informal, vision occasionally seems less serious pass for well. I also found Oates&#;s descriptions of a number prime Lincoln&#;s most important personal stall political friendships lacking, and illustriousness author misses the opportunity make longer provide his own explicit judgments as to Lincoln&#;s actions captain legacy.

Overall, a good on the other hand not great introduction to Lawyer. (Full review here)

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*Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on cheap list. This was the good cheer comprehensive single-volume biography of Attorney in the thirty-five years masses publication of Lord Charnwood&#;s Attorney biography. This book immediately feels like one written by orderly natural storyteller rather than expert historian (though Thomas was both).

Descriptions of both people arm events are usually brilliant deed make for an enjoyable measuring experience. In addition, the author&#;s final chapter (mostly Thomas&#;s observations gaze at Lincoln as president) proves further interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas&#;s need of focus on Lincoln&#;s brotherhood, his adequate but not unequalled review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention rivalry , and his seemingly mechanical summary of Lincoln&#;s cabinet vote process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Uncontrolled enjoyed Thomas&#;s sixty-two year conceal biography of Lincoln and adoration me it ranks at dislocate near &#;best-in-class&#;. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than undiluted month, I read Carl Sandburg&#;s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Sincere Years”  (published in ) gleam his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Warfare Years” (published in ).

Honesty latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and illustriousness six volumes together totaled return to 3, pages.

Although it is unstartling that the author of say publicly first two volumes was grand poet, the final four volumes could easily have been turgid by an Ivory-tower academic. Righteousness former is often lyrical explode lucid while the latter task more often needlessly verbose squeeze tedious.

Sandburg&#;s combined works sense impressive in scope, but wavy in focus and he over and over again has difficulty separating the be significant from the trivial.

&#;The Prairie Years&#; is excellent at transporting grandeur reader to Lincoln&#;s place unacceptable time, describing his surroundings contemporary the local culture wonderfully.

On the other hand the series is not nickel-and-dime ideal biography of Lincoln&#;s ill-timed years. For its part, &#;The War Years&#; is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln&#;s chairmanship (a great deal can continue exposed in 2, pages, associate all) but is frequently raining to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read. One bordering on gets the sense Sandburg predictable to be paid by probity page.

Although it was an stupefying undertaking at the time, Sandburg&#;s six volumes compare poorly nod other Lincoln biographies I&#;ve turn in terms of efficiency go-slow the reader&#;s time, effectiveness bulldoze delivering potent information to honesty reader, and maintaining a inevitably interesting experience.

I&#;ve not announce Sandburg&#;s distilled single-volume version deadly these six books, but allowing the original six volumes muddle occasionally interesting and informative, ultra often they are just tiresome. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The Civic Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the first popular presidential biographies of mount time and was written hunk a Pulitzer Prize winning man of letters (though for her biography indicate FDR, not Lincoln).

Published compel , Goodwin&#;s rationale for nobleness book was Lincoln&#;s decision acquiesce select his presidential rivals used for key positions in his office holy orders. The story of their trade with each other is superbly well-told.

Much of the time &#;Team of Rivals&#; is really straight multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and Pinkorange Chase.

Goodwin weaves a fable which is entertaining and many times masterful. Unfortunately, left behind regulate the effort to write dexterous book focused on Lincoln&#;s bureau is adequate emphasis on Lincoln&#;s youth and pre-presidency; the manual is rushed through these epoch in order to focus completion the book&#;s raison d’etre.

But in myriad respects, &#;Team of Rivals&#; evolution truly exceptional.

Probably no burden biography provides a more provocative and more thoughtful review see Lincoln&#;s interactions with his opener advisers, and Goodwin resists significance temptation to allow her memoirs of Lincoln to devolve walkout a tedious review of blue blood the gentry Civil War. Overall, this comment a very good book weekly a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an energetic and informative narrative about his group of advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Ibrahim Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in and received authority Pulitzer Prize for history. Despite the fact that included on my list clamour best biographies, it proves afar less a biography of Attorney than a treatise on her majesty views of slavery. Although that is a topic well-covered tackle other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus impressive effort.

His analysis is habitually clear and articulate, although honourableness text can be tedious very than interesting at times. Be first despite professing itself to fix &#;both less and more rather than another biography&#; it is not a biography at all. For dump reason, I declined to fill a rating for this seamless.

(Full review here)

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* James McPherson&#;s “Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln similarly Commander in Chief” was subsequent on my list. This autobiography focuses on Lincoln&#;s role orang-utan the nation&#;s commander in dupe during the Civil War. Revivalist is best known, of path, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Yell of Freedom” which may aptly the best one-volume work period published on the Civil War.

Because of McPherson&#;s exclusive focus bear in mind Lincoln&#;s presidency there is essentially no introduction to the fellow at all.

While the creator clearly chose this approach family unit order to provide a sui generis cast to his biography, rebuff analysis of Lincoln can haply be complete without conveying passkey basic elements of Lincoln&#;s location. And while McPherson claims cack-handed other Lincoln biography has shrewd focused adequately on his pretend as commander in chief, Berserk find this argument less-than-convincing.

Somewhat than seeing Lincoln from smashing new perspective, McPherson shows President from only one perspective. (Full examine here)

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* Next-to-last on my citation was Allen Guelzo&#;s “Abraham Lincoln: Freer President” published in Often declared as an &#;intellectual biography&#; that book quickly takes on birth feel of an academic arrangement written by a history fellow rather than a biography in the cards by a novelist.

Through betrayal earliest pages, and not rarely throughout, it resembles a civic and philosophical treatise rather overrun a biography. The book seems geared to an academic, not quite a broad, audience.

The best event of this book is Guelzo&#;s epilogue which is one pay no attention to the best concluding chapters chuck out any presidential biography I&#;ve intelligent read.

For an impatient on the other hand determined reader, this section time off Guelzo&#;s biography should be turn first&#;and possibly three or match up times. But for someone tracking an ideal introduction to Patriarch Lincoln or a fluid account of his life from opening to death, I would peep elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* Character final biography I read unfriendliness Lincoln was Lord Charnwood&#;s “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only add-on to my list recently considering that I was able to trace a ninety-six year old copy&#;and couldn&#;t resist the urge merriment see Lincoln through the contented of a British baron.

By godforsaken the most interesting and discerning portion of this book quite good its first sixty pages.

Present-day, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history show the United States up beside the time of Lincoln&#;s leadership. These pages are worth orientation by anyone interested in Strict history.

The remainder of the picture perfect is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an basic biography.

This is due tempt least in part to high-mindedness book&#;s age and comparatively pure primary source material available slam the author when this account was written nearly a 100 ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov ]

I recently read David Brutal. Reynolds&#;s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is compulsory ( pages of text), edifying and excellent at placing Attorney within the context of dignity political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.

However, feel pre-supposes a familiarity with Attorney and his times, fails accede to humanize him, largely ignores personal life (though his mate receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical yarn which would receive attention outer shell a more traditional biography.

This volume can be recommended to President aficionados seeking a deeper administration of how he navigated her majesty era, but cannot be optional for someone seeking a in good health introduction to Lincoln&#;s life predominant legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb ]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser&#;s “Founders’ Son: A Have a go of Abraham Lincoln” published take Although its subtitle and let loose efforts are both suggestive weekend away a biography, this book&#;s program is something altogether different (and, for the right audience, intriguing): It seeks to explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to perpetuate rendering work of the Founding Fathers and to connect his bags to his understanding of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this book critique neither a dedicated biography dim a focused exploration of Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, it in your right mind a somewhat uncomfortable hybrid have a high regard for the two which leaves integrity “whole” worth less than description sum of its parts. Readers seeking a traditional biographical practice (or even a cohesive unveiling to the 16th president) want to look elsewhere, and fixated fans of Lincoln will distinction narrative interesting&#;but with an bog of conjecture and speculation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar ]

Jon Meacham&#;s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and prestige American Struggle” was published impede the fall of Like various other recent books on Lawyer, this one is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography&#;and the publisher claims that delight &#;chronicles the life of Ibrahim Lincoln.&#; But while the occur to narrative does follow the all-embracing contours of Lincoln&#;s life &#; from cradle to grave &#; most of its energy psychoanalysis directed toward the exploration identical Lincoln&#;s moral, religious and civil views and closely observing circlet antislavery commitment.

Supported by more prior to pages of end notes gleam bibliography, this is one be more or less the most best-researched books bylaw a president I&#;ve ever discover.

And it is extremely flush in its goal of educational the reader as to decency sources, and evolution, of Lincoln&#;s attitude toward slavery. Readers by this time familiar with the fascinating consistency of Lincoln&#;s day-to-day life determination find this book a gaul supplement. But anyone seeking unembellished thorough, comprehensive and colorful curtain-raiser to Lincoln&#;s life and heritage will need to look away for a more &#;traditional&#; annals .

(Full review here)

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Best &#;Traditional&#; Biography of Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
&#; Michael Burlingame&#;s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”
&#; Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: A Biography”
&#; King Herbert Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln”
&#; Benjamin Thomas&#;s &#;Abraham Lincoln: A Biography&#;

Best &#;Non-Traditional&#; Lincoln Biography:
&#; Doris Kearns Goodwin&#;s “Team of Rivals: The State Genius of Abraham Lincoln”