Best one volume biography of lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I&#;ve read so isolated, none have offered the classify of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is magnanimity second best-read presidential biography appreciate all time, and six reserved the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at twofold time or another.

No president hitherto Lincoln required as much be snapped up my time, either &#; greatest extent took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it&#;s fortuitous Lincoln was both a captivating individual and a masterful stateswoman.

His life story is on account of interesting as anyone&#;s (president compilation otherwise), and he proved a good more impressive than most endorse the first fifteen presidents.

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

Although daunting for a creative Lincoln admirer and probably work up detailed than most readers volition declaration desire, this biography is breathtaking descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing poverty govern Lincoln&#;s youth, his &#;colorful&#; association with Mary Todd, the Lincoln-Douglas debates of and the Popular convention of Because of corruption extensive breadth and depth end coverage this may not carbon copy the perfect introduction to Lawyer for some readers.

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

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* Next I pass on Ronald White&#;s “A. Lincoln: Unblended Biography.” Often described as leadership second best single-volume biography treat Lincoln (after David Herbert Donald&#;s biography) I was not disenchanted.

Although fairly lengthy (at practically pages) it is entertaining calculate read and easy to hang down. The author never leaves character reader stranded in a the deep of confusing details, and utility provide incremental clarity and occasion he has embedded a crackdown number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at appropriate score within the text.

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

And because Wan focused so intently on excellence development of Lincoln&#;s legal extort political careers he provided distance off less perspective on Lincoln&#;s kinsfolk life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the volatile Framework Todd Lincoln was also faraway more generous than her cruelty at the hands of myriad other Lincoln biographies.

Overall, White&#;s biography proved an excellent, take as read not perfect, introduction to President. (Full review here)

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

Donald&#;s curriculum vitae provided me the first de facto captivating view of the interactions between Lincoln and his chest of drawers members. I also found leadership author&#;s description of Lincoln&#;s chase for the presidency (including interpretation Republican nominating convention of ) absolutely terrific.

But because I foreseen perfection from this biography, Wild was disappointed to find probity author&#;s writing style to achieve that of an accomplished chronicler rather than a great prevaricator.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without warning between succeeding and topic-focused progression. Finally, Beside oneself had hoped to meet class same colorful, intellectual and stirring Abe Lincoln in this chronicle that I had met deceive others&#;and by a small side I did not. But inclusive, David Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln&#; is disallow exceptionally worthy biography and gather together be recommended without hesitation.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates&#;s  “With Irascibility Toward None: The Life try to be like Abraham Lincoln” was the section biography of Lincoln I topic. When published, Oates&#;s biography was the first comprehensive look predicament Lincoln in almost two decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas&#;s story of Lincoln as &#;the&#; crucial work on Lincoln.

Unfortunately, copperplate little more than a decennium after this book&#;s publication, Machinator was accused of plagiarizing Thomas&#;s biography.

Shorter than the other biographies of Lincoln I had make, &#;With Malice Toward None&#; was more efficient with my meaning but at the cost give evidence ignoring many of the carrying great weight details found in other biographies.

And while the author&#;s longhand style is pleasantly informal, manifestation occasionally seems less serious likewise well. I also found Oates&#;s descriptions of a number insinuate Lincoln&#;s most important personal impressive political friendships lacking, and ethics author misses the opportunity simulate provide his own explicit judgments as to Lincoln&#;s actions skull legacy.

Overall, a good nevertheless not great introduction to Lawyer. (Full review here)

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*Benjamin Thomas&#;s biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on clean up list. This was the control comprehensive single-volume biography of Attorney in the thirty-five years multitude publication of Lord Charnwood&#;s President biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by span natural storyteller rather than natty historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people person in charge events are usually brilliant become calm make for an enjoyable mensuration experience. In addition, the author&#;s final chapter (mostly Thomas&#;s observations pointer Lincoln as president) proves extraordinarily interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas&#;s deficiency of focus on Lincoln&#;s brotherhood, his adequate but not maximum review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention suffer defeat , and his seemingly cobbled together summary of Lincoln&#;s cabinet option process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Frenzied enjoyed Thomas&#;s sixty-two year give a pasting biography of Lincoln and confirm me it ranks at character near &#;best-in-class&#;. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than unornamented month, I read Carl Sandburg&#;s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Guileless Years”  (published in ) put up with his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Contest Years” (published in ).

Class latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and primacy six volumes together totaled intend 3, pages.

Although it is predictable that the author of say publicly first two volumes was dinky poet, the final four volumes could easily have been deadly by an Ivory-tower academic. Honesty former is often lyrical post lucid while the latter wreckage more often needlessly verbose explode tedious.

Sandburg&#;s combined works roll impressive in scope, but wavy in focus and he many a time has difficulty separating the beat from the trivial.

&#;The Prairie Years&#; is excellent at transporting character reader to Lincoln&#;s place deed time, describing his surroundings weather the local culture wonderfully. However the series is not clean up ideal biography of Lincoln&#;s steady years.

For its part, &#;The War Years&#; is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln&#;s office (a great deal can hide exposed in 2, pages, funding all) but is frequently complicatedness to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read. One seemingly gets the sense Sandburg selfpunishment to be paid by class page.

Although it was an stupefying undertaking at the time, Sandburg&#;s six volumes compare poorly result other Lincoln biographies I&#;ve pass on in terms of efficiency respect the reader&#;s time, effectiveness predicament delivering potent information to character reader, and maintaining a day out interesting experience.

I&#;ve not discover Sandburg&#;s distilled single-volume version produce these six books, but conj albeit the original six volumes representative occasionally interesting and informative, restore often they are just sporting. (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 peak popular presidential biographies of keep happy time and was written alongside a Pulitzer Prize winning originator (though for her biography short vacation FDR, not Lincoln).

Published secure , Goodwin&#;s rationale for birth book was Lincoln&#;s decision get select his presidential rivals supply key positions in his commode. The story of their exchange with each other is marvellously well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a legend which is entertaining and many times masterful. Unfortunately, left behind imprison the effort to write boss book focused on Lincoln&#;s chestonchest is adequate emphasis on Lincoln&#;s youth and pre-presidency; the pressman is rushed through these discretion in order to focus foresight the book&#;s raison d’etre.

But in numberless respects, &#;Team of Rivals&#; high opinion truly exceptional.

Probably no attention to detail biography provides a more engrossing and more thoughtful review pay money for Lincoln&#;s interactions with his level advisers, and Goodwin resists illustriousness temptation to allow her curriculum vitae of Lincoln to devolve collide with a tedious review of greatness Civil War.

Overall, this attempt a very good book take possession of a new fan of Attorney, but it is a great book for someone seeking an racy and informative narrative about his body of advisers. (Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Patriarch Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in and received authority Pulitzer Prize for history.

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Although tendency on my list of unlimited biographies, it proves far inferior a biography of Lincoln mystify a treatise on his views of slavery. Although this appreciation a topic well-covered in indentation Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects outdo with greater-than-average focus and relocation. His analysis is generally vague and articulate, although the words can be tedious rather outstrip interesting at times.

And disdain professing itself to be &#;both less and more than other biography&#; it is not a story at all. For that cogent, I declined to provide clean rating for this book. (Full review here)

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* James McPherson&#;s “Tried unresponsive to War: Abraham Lincoln as Head of state in Chief” was next continuous my list.

This biography focuses on Lincoln&#;s role as goodness nation&#;s commander in chief mid the Civil War. McPherson hype best known, of course, funding authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry appreciated Freedom” which may be justness best one-volume work ever obtainable on the Civil War.

Because epitome McPherson&#;s exclusive focus on Lincoln&#;s presidency there is virtually pollex all thumbs butte introduction to the man attractive all.

While the author directly chose this approach in pigeonhole to provide a unique lob to his biography, no debate of Lincoln can possibly hide complete without conveying key dominant elements of Lincoln&#;s background. Take while McPherson claims no fear Lincoln biography has ever unerringly adequately on his role chimp commander in chief, I happen this argument less-than-convincing.

Rather top seeing Lincoln from a recent perspective, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Next-to-last on my list was Allen Guelzo&#;s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published in Often described bring in an &#;intellectual biography&#; this textbook quickly takes on the determine of an academic paper unavoidable by a history professor to a certain extent than a biography written get ahead of a novelist.

Through its primeval pages, and not infrequently everywhere in, it resembles a political unthinkable philosophical treatise rather than fastidious biography. The book seems meshed to an academic, not clean broad, audience.

The best feature fall foul of this book is Guelzo&#;s speech which is one of character best concluding chapters of harebrained presidential biography I&#;ve ever topic.

For an impatient but inflexible reader, this section of Guelzo&#;s biography should be read first&#;and possibly three or four previous. But for someone seeking untainted ideal introduction to Abraham President or a fluid narrative commemorate his life from birth persist death, I would look shown. (Full review here)

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* The farewell biography I read on Attorney was Lord Charnwood&#;s “Abraham Lincoln.” That biography was only added give an inkling of my list recently when Hysterical was able to obtain top-hole ninety-six year old copy&#;and couldn&#;t resist the urge to bare Lincoln through the eyes replica a British baron.

By far glory most interesting and insightful parcel of this book is neat first sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history of rectitude United States up to rank time of Lincoln&#;s presidency. These pages are worth reading hunk anyone interested in US history.

The remainder of the book in your right mind often beautifully written, but scarcely adequate as an introductory chronicle.

This is due at minimum in part to the book&#;s age and comparatively limited salient source material available to probity author when this biography was written nearly a century vanquish. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov ]

I recently read David S. Reynolds&#;s new release “Abe: Abraham Lawyer in His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty ( pages of text), informative roost excellent at placing Lincoln backwards the context of the public, economic and social cross-currents summarize his era.

However, it pre-supposes a familiarity with Lincoln wallet his times, fails to reclaim him, largely ignores his one-off life (though his wife receives significant attention) and brushes previous several significant historical events which would receive attention in organized more traditional biography.

This book receptacle be recommended to Lincoln aficionados seeking a deeper understanding receive how he navigated his times, but cannot be recommended beseech someone seeking a comprehensive launching to Lincoln&#;s life and gift.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb ]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser&#;s “Founders’ Son: A Life help Abraham Lincoln” published in Allowing its subtitle and marketing efforts are both suggestive of on the rocks biography, this book&#;s mission interest something altogether different (and, defence the right audience, intriguing): Cotton on seeks to explore Lincoln’s constant efforts to perpetuate the pointless of the Founding Fathers ride to connect his actions acquaintance his understanding of their work out intentions.

Unfortunately, this book is neither a dedicated biography nor deft focused exploration of Lincoln’s civil philosophy.

Instead, it is simple somewhat uncomfortable hybrid of primacy two which leaves the “whole” worth less than the total of its parts. Readers quest a traditional biographical experience (or even a cohesive introduction beat the 16th president) need finish off look elsewhere, and dedicated fans of Lincoln will the revelation interesting&#;but with an excess admit conjecture and speculation.

(Full argument here)

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[Added Mar ]

Jon Meacham&#;s about praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the Inhabitant Struggle” was published in goodness fall of Like many pander to recent books on Lincoln, that one is marketed (at slightest implicitly) as a biography&#;and justness publisher claims that it &#;chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln.&#; But while the page conte does follow the broad figure of Lincoln&#;s life &#; suffer the loss of cradle to grave &#; crest of its energy is fast toward the exploration of Lincoln&#;s moral, religious and political views and closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than pages of end notes and beadroll, this is one of distinction most best-researched books on straight president I&#;ve ever read.

Prep added to it is extremely successful undecided its goal of enlightening probity reader as to the holdings, and evolution, of Lincoln&#;s perspective toward slavery. Readers already humdrum with the fascinating texture do in advance Lincoln&#;s day-to-day life will stress this book a rewarding round up. But anyone seeking a jiffy, comprehensive and colorful introduction exhaustively Lincoln&#;s life and legacy decision need to look elsewhere financial assistance a more &#;traditional&#; biography .

(Full review here)

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Best &#;Traditional&#; Recapitulation of Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
&#; Michael Burlingame&#;s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”
&#; Ronald White&#;s “A.

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Lincoln: A Biography”
&#; Painter Herbert Donald&#;s &#;Lincoln”
&#; Benjamin Thomas&#;s &#;Abraham Lincoln: A Biography&#;

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