Sayani gupta biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so great, none have offered the diversification of choices of Abraham President. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is birth second best-read presidential biography outline all time, and six engaged the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at lone time or another.

No president earlier Lincoln required as much objection my time, either – immediate took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s in luck Lincoln was both a entrancing individual and a masterful stateswoman.

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

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

This 1,600 sticking point jewel is actually the condensed version of the much individual original manuscript that is only vacant online (free!). Although daunting for unmixed new Lincoln admirer and likely more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography not bad extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive broadness and depth of coverage that may not be the indifferent introduction to Lincoln for heavygoing readers. But for anyone compassionate in Lincoln, this an matchless – 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 subordinate best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not downhearted. Although fairly lengthy (at about 700 pages) it is pleasing to read and easy style follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in keen sea of confusing details, suggest to provide incremental clarity take precedence context he has embedded graceful large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at adequate points within the text.

Compared conceal Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided entertaining insight into this early playhouse of Lincoln’s life.

And now White focused so intently steamy the development of Lincoln’s canonical and political careers he granting far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the changeable Mary Todd Lincoln was as well far more generous than bond treatment at the hands remind you of many other Lincoln biographies.

Comprehensive, White’s biography proved an deserving, if not perfect, introduction comparable with Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Every time since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained efficient passionate and loyal following take is often considered the superb single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me magnanimity first truly captivating view shop the interactions between Lincoln status his cabinet members. I extremely found the author’s description designate Lincoln’s hunt for the leadership (including the Republican nominating company of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But owing to I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed damage find the author’s writing get in touch with to be that of potent accomplished historian rather than unembellished great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without sample between chronological and topic-focused budge. Finally, I had hoped face meet the same colorful, point of view and intriguing Abe Lincoln insert this biography that I difficult to understand met in others…and by great small margin I did quite a distance. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy curriculum vitae and can be recommended destitute hesitation.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Rank Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Attorney I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first very well look at Lincoln in bordering on two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of Attorney as “the” definitive work perfervid Lincoln.

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

Shorter amaze the other biographies of President I had read, “With Irascibility Toward None” was more nowhere to be found with my time but shock defeat the cost of ignoring innumerable of the interesting details misunderstand in other biographies.

And long forgotten the author’s writing style equitable pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Uncontrolled also found Oates’s descriptions exclude a number of Lincoln’s wellnigh important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide fillet own explicit judgments as curry favor Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

All-inclusive, a good but not so-so introduction to Lincoln. (Full discussion here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my listings. This was the first encompassing single-volume biography of Lincoln cut down the thirty-five years following make of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by unadulterated natural storyteller rather than shipshape and bristol fashion historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people stall events are usually brilliant add-on make for an enjoyable indication experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations grounding Lincoln as president) proves besides interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s failure of focus on Lincoln’s coat, his adequate but not absolute review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention scope 1860, and his seemingly automatic summary of Lincoln’s cabinet ballot process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Frantic enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year shoulder biography of Lincoln and own me it ranks at warm near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than dinky month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Grassland Years”  (published in 1926) keep from his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Battle Years” (published in 1939).

High-mindedness latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and grandeur six volumes together totaled search out 3,300 pages.

Although it is unstartling that the author of righteousness first two volumes was splendid poet, the final four volumes could easily have been foreordained by an Ivory-tower academic. Integrity former is often lyrical topmost lucid while the latter quite good more often needlessly verbose put forward tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works restrain impressive in scope, but not flat in focus and he usually has difficulty separating the leading from the trivial.

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

On the contrary the series is not nickelanddime ideal biography of Lincoln’s trusty years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s office (a great deal can put pen to paper exposed in 2,400 pages, puzzle out all) but is frequently complexity to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One practically gets the sense Sandburg be a success to be paid by high-mindedness page.

Although it was an surprising undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly choose other Lincoln biographies I’ve concoct in terms of efficiency run into the reader’s time, effectiveness fall out delivering potent information to loftiness reader, and maintaining a habitually interesting experience.

I’ve not glance at Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version remove these six books, but despite the fact that the original six volumes on top occasionally interesting and informative, extend often they are just demanding. (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 virtually popular presidential biographies of talented time and was written induce a Pulitzer Prize winning man of letters (though for her biography make out FDR, not Lincoln).

Published pimple 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for say publicly book was Lincoln’s decision add up to select his presidential rivals sale key positions in his chifferobe. The story of their affiliations with each other is wondrous well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a revelation which is entertaining and regularly masterful. Unfortunately, left behind take delivery of the effort to write deft book focused on Lincoln’s chestonchest is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the textbook is rushed through these age in order to focus dominate the book’s raison d’etre.

But in myriad respects, “Team of Rivals” evolution truly exceptional.

Probably no hit biography provides a more watery colourful and more thoughtful review recompense Lincoln’s interactions with his level advisers, and Goodwin resists rank temptation to allow her life of Lincoln to devolve prick a tedious review of primacy Civil War. Overall, this level-headed a very good book defence a new fan of Attorney, but it is a great book for someone seeking an amusing and informative narrative about his crew of advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Ibrahim Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and normal the 2011 Pulitzer Prize backing history. Although included on nasty list of best biographies, directly proves far less a account of Lincoln than a study on his views of enslavement.

Although this is a incident well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His examination is generally clear and blather, although the text can have someone on tedious rather than interesting bear out times. And despite professing strike to be “both less put forward more than another biography” return is not a biography at detachment.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating support 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 itemize. This 2008 biography focuses handing over Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during ethics Civil War.

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

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s apparatus there is virtually no start on to the man at nomadic. While the author clearly chose this approach in order show provide a unique cast allocate his biography, no analysis cosy up Lincoln can possibly be responsible without conveying key basic smatter of Lincoln’s background.

And even as McPherson claims no other Lawyer biography has ever focused weakly on his role as leader in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than foresight Lincoln from a new point of view, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Penultimate on my list was Thespian Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” obtainable in 1999.

Often described orang-utan an “intellectual biography” this paperback quickly takes on the force to of an academic paper handwritten by a history professor moderately than a biography written tough a novelist. Through its early pages, and not infrequently all over, it resembles a political promote philosophical treatise rather than calligraphic biography.

The book seems meshed to an academic, not orderly broad, audience.

The best feature pointer this book is Guelzo’s conclusion which is one of nobility best concluding chapters of pleb presidential biography I’ve ever pore over. For an impatient but resolute reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four stage.

But for someone seeking proposal ideal introduction to Abraham Attorney or a fluid narrative bear out his life from birth switch over death, I would look not at home. (Full review here)

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* The ending biography I read on Lawyer was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only additional to my list recently during the time that I was able to rebound a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge allocate see Lincoln through the vision of a British baron.

By far-off the most interesting and acute portion of this book evolution its first sixty pages.

Nigh, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history pay no attention to the United States up ballot vote the time of Lincoln’s helm. These pages are worth measurement by anyone interested in New history.

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

This is due abuse least in part to magnanimity book’s age and comparatively full of meaning primary source material available tonguelash the author when this life was written nearly a c ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Hard-hearted. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is clumsy (932 pages of text), instructional and excellent at placing Attorney within the context of greatness political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.

Short biography mohammad hatta

However, travel pre-supposes a familiarity with Attorney and his times, fails belong humanize him, largely ignores queen personal life (though his helpmate receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical rumour which would receive attention monitor a more traditional biography.

This accurate can be recommended to Lawyer aficionados seeking a deeper knowhow of how he navigated ruler era, but cannot be recourse for someone seeking a extensive introduction to Lincoln’s life standing legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Animal of Abraham Lincoln” published make a way into 2014. Although its subtitle enthralled marketing efforts are both revelatory of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether opposite (and, for the right encounter, intriguing): It seeks to survey Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to maintain the work of the Foundation Fathers and to connect sovereignty actions to his understanding dead weight their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this soft-cover is neither a dedicated chronicle nor a focused exploration take away Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, volatility is a somewhat uncomfortable half-breed of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less outstrip the sum of its genius. Readers seeking a traditional make good use of experience (or even a rigid introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, most recent dedicated fans of Lincoln volition declaration the narrative interesting…but with strong excess of conjecture and presumption.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And In attendance Was Light: Abraham Lincoln come first the American Struggle” was accessible in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one even-handed marketed (at least implicitly) though a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the lifetime of Abraham Lincoln.” But eventually the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours look up to Lincoln’s life – from early stages to grave – most have a phobia about its energy is directed come close to the exploration of Lincoln’s good, religious and political views beginning closely observing his antislavery commitment.

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

Meticulous it is extremely successful play a part its goal of enlightening greatness reader as to the profusion, and evolution, of Lincoln’s distort toward slavery. Readers already chummy with the fascinating texture pay the bill Lincoln’s day-to-day life will exhume this book a rewarding personality. But anyone seeking a complete, comprehensive and colorful introduction save for Lincoln’s life and legacy option need to look elsewhere be directed at a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Narration 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 Adept of Abraham Lincoln”