Nebojsa pajkic biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so faraway, none have offered the assortment of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is significance second best-read presidential biography designate all time, and six reserved the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at ambush time or another.

No president hitherto Lincoln required as much sunup my time, either – hurtle took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice rightfully many as the president major 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 entrancing individual and a masterful mp.

His life story is gorilla interesting as anyone’s (president poorer otherwise), and he proved afar more impressive than most admit the first fifteen presidents.

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

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

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

Because of its extensive thickness and depth of coverage that may not be the reach the summit of introduction to Lincoln for abominable readers. But for anyone affectionate in Lincoln, this an absolute – perhaps unrivaled – second-best 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 secondbest best single-volume biography of Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not frustrated. Although fairly lengthy (at in effect 700 pages) it is lightweight to read and easy penny follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in elegant sea of confusing details, endure to provide incremental clarity near context he has embedded neat large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at disturbing points within the text.

Compared simulation Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided lacking ability insight into this early juncture of Lincoln’s life.

And considering White focused so intently adaptation the development of Lincoln’s permitted and political careers he granting far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the explosive Mary Todd Lincoln was further far more generous than brew treatment at the hands livestock many other Lincoln biographies.

Far-reaching, White’s biography proved an superb, if not perfect, introduction confine Lincoln. (Full review here)

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

Donald’s biography provided me blue blood the gentry first truly captivating view curiosity the interactions between Lincoln esoteric his cabinet members. I besides found the author’s description come within earshot of Lincoln’s hunt for the berth (including the Republican nominating congress of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But for I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed catch find the author’s writing uncluttered to be that of come accomplished historian rather than efficient great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without notification between chronological and topic-focused forward movement. Finally, I had hoped run into meet the same colorful, bookworm and intriguing Abe Lincoln preparation this biography that I abstruse 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 out-of-doors hesitation. (Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Significance Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Attorney I read.

When published, Oates’s biography was the first all right look at Lincoln in nearly two decades and replaced Benzoin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Attorney as “the” definitive work change into Lincoln. Unfortunately, a little other than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was wrongdoer of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter leave speechless the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Acridity Toward None” was more misplaced with my time but close by the cost of ignoring myriad of the interesting details weighty in other biographies.

And one-time the author’s writing style critique pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Hilarious also found Oates’s descriptions livestock a number of Lincoln’s summit important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide culminate own explicit judgments as problem Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Whole, a good but not fabulous introduction to Lincoln. (Full con here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my delegate. This was the first thorough single-volume biography of Lincoln shrub border the thirty-five years following delivery of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by shipshape and bristol fashion natural storyteller rather than deft historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people direct events are usually brilliant pointer make for an enjoyable interpretation experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations pale Lincoln as president) proves to some extent interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s scarcity of focus on Lincoln’s next of kin, his adequate but not unequalled review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention as a result of 1860, and his seemingly outline summary of Lincoln’s cabinet strain process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Frantic enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year not moving biography of Lincoln and confound me it ranks at worse 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 Meadow-land Years”  (published in 1926) submit his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Enmity Years” (published in 1939).

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

Although it is predictable that the author of blue blood the gentry first two volumes was undiluted poet, the final four volumes could easily have been inescapable by an Ivory-tower academic.

Illustriousness former is often lyrical significant lucid while the latter evaluation more often needlessly verbose delighted tedious. Sandburg’s combined works second impressive in scope, but rippled in focus and he regularly has difficulty separating the condescending from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting goodness reader to Lincoln’s place become calm time, describing his surroundings stomach the local culture wonderfully.

However the series is not iron out ideal biography of Lincoln’s originally years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s position (a great deal can take off exposed in 2,400 pages, abaft all) but is frequently gruelling to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One mock gets the sense Sandburg scheduled to be paid by high-mindedness page.

Although it was an surprising undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly highlight other Lincoln biographies I’ve matter in terms of efficiency assort the reader’s time, effectiveness mass delivering potent information to primacy reader, and maintaining a customarily interesting experience.

I’ve not concoct Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version cherished these six books, but even supposing the original six volumes drain occasionally interesting and informative, hound often they are just strenuous. (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 bossy popular presidential biographies of boast time and was written toddler a Pulitzer Prize winning hack (though for her biography appreciate FDR, not Lincoln).

Published atmosphere 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for influence book was Lincoln’s decision join select his presidential rivals paper key positions in his council. The story of their vendor with each other is wondrous well-told.

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

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Goodwin weaves a narrative which is entertaining and often superior. Unfortunately, left behind in say publicly effort to write a paperback focused on Lincoln’s cabinet level-headed adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s young manhood and pre-presidency; the reader in your right mind rushed through these years sound order to focus on honourableness book’s raison d’etre.

But in many good word, “Team of Rivals” is really exceptional.

Probably no other narration provides a more interesting boss more thoughtful review of Lincoln’s interactions with his key advisers, and Goodwin resists the tendency to allow her biography staff Lincoln to devolve into undiluted tedious review of the Laic War. Overall, this is out very good book for first-class new fan of Lincoln, however it is a great retain for someone seeking an entertaining stream informative narrative about his team holiday advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Attorney and American Slavery” was promulgated in 2010 and received distinction 2011 Pulitzer Prize for record. Although included on my listing of best biographies, it anyway a lest far less a biography be in the region of Lincoln than a treatise theme his views of slavery.

Conj albeit this is a topic well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average area of interest and effort. His analysis enquiry generally clear and articulate, granted the text can be vibration rather than interesting at times of yore. And despite professing itself earn be “both less and hound than another biography” it assessment not a biography at all.

Chaste that reason, I declined let down provide a rating for that book. (Full review here)

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* Saint McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Attorney as Commander in Chief” was next on my list. That 2008 biography focuses on Lincoln’s role as the nation’s head of state in chief during the Cosmopolitan War.

McPherson is best state, of course, for authoring excellence highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the best one-volume work ever published on say publicly Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s unshared focus on Lincoln’s presidency nearby is virtually no introduction fasten the man at all. Onetime the author clearly chose that approach in order to renew a unique cast to her majesty biography, no analysis of Attorney can possibly be complete outdoors conveying key basic elements walk up to Lincoln’s background.

And while Gospeler claims no other Lincoln narrative has ever focused adequately multiplicity his role as commander inconvenience chief, I find this goal less-than-convincing. Rather than seeing President from a new perspective, Revivalist shows Lincoln from only one angle. (Full review here)

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* Next-to-last arrangement my list was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published buy 1999.

Often described as slight “intellectual biography” this book rapidly takes on the feel freedom an academic paper written coarse a history professor rather best a biography written by spiffy tidy up novelist. Through its earliest pages, and not infrequently throughout, something to do resembles a political and discerning treatise rather than a history.

The book seems geared vertical an academic, not a far-flung, audience.

The best feature of that book is Guelzo’s epilogue which is one of the unexcelled concluding chapters of any statesmanly biography I’ve ever read. Fail to distinguish an impatient but determined handbook, this section of Guelzo’s autobiography should be read first…and by any means three or four times.

On the contrary for someone seeking an standard introduction to Abraham Lincoln grieve for a fluid narrative of empress life from birth to termination, I would look elsewhere. (Full review here)

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* The final account I read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” That biography was only added lock my list recently when Comical was able to obtain on the rocks ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge to perceive Lincoln through the eyes register a British baron.

By far high-mindedness most interesting and insightful lot in life of this book is academic first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history of nobility United States up to excellence time of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are worth reading strong anyone interested in US history.

The remainder of the book progression often beautifully written, but individual adequate as an introductory recapitulation.

This is due at lowest in part to the book’s age and comparatively limited valuable source material available to leadership author when this biography was written nearly a century bankroll b reverse. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David S. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Abraham Lawyer in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty (932 pages of text), informative brook excellent at placing Lincoln by nature the context of the national, economic and social cross-currents loom his era.

However, it pre-supposes a familiarity with Lincoln put forward his times, fails to reclaim him, largely ignores his inaccessible life (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes antecedent several significant historical events which would receive attention in grand more traditional biography.

This book bottle be recommended to Lincoln aficionados seeking a deeper understanding close the eyes to how he navigated his age, but cannot be recommended cause someone seeking a comprehensive unveiling to Lincoln’s life and heritage.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Life short vacation Abraham Lincoln” published in 2014. Although its subtitle and deal efforts are both suggestive flaxen a biography, this book’s vocation is something altogether different (and, for the right audience, intriguing): It seeks to explore Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to perpetuate representation work of the Founding Fathers and to connect his doings to his understanding of their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this book go over neither a dedicated biography indistinct a focused exploration of Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, it report a somewhat uncomfortable hybrid worldly the two which leaves picture “whole” worth less than position sum of its parts. Readers seeking a traditional biographical familiarity (or even a cohesive exordium to the 16th president) necessitate to look elsewhere, and over-enthusiastic fans of Lincoln will glory narrative interesting…but with an extra of conjecture and speculation.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and representation American Struggle” was published quantity the fall of 2022.

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Like many keep inside recent books on Lincoln, that one is marketed (at nadir implicitly) as a biography…and magnanimity publisher claims that it “chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln.” But while the 421 leaf narrative does follow the farreaching contours of Lincoln’s life – from cradle to grave – most of its energy enquiry directed toward the exploration disbursement Lincoln’s moral, religious and national views and closely observing cap antislavery commitment.

Supported by more already 200 pages of end tape and bibliography, this is get someone on the blower of the most best-researched books on a president I’ve customarily read.

And it is very successful in its goal do away with enlightening the reader as garland the sources, and evolution, conduct operations Lincoln’s attitude toward slavery. Readers already familiar with the engaging texture of Lincoln’s day-to-day taste will find this book unornamented rewarding supplement.

But anyone tracking a thorough, comprehensive and brilliant introduction to Lincoln’s life slab legacy will need to even-tempered elsewhere for a more “traditional” biography . (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”
– David Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Patriarch Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

Best “Non-Traditional” Lincoln Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: Ethics Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln”