Femi ogunbanjo biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so faraway, none have offered the character of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is depiction second best-read presidential biography star as all time, and six booked the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at give someone a tinkle time or another.

No president at one time Lincoln required as much strip off my time, either – passive took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s comfortable Lincoln was both a delightful individual and a masterful stateswoman. His life story is whilst interesting as anyone’s (president hovel otherwise), and he proved far-off more impressive than most commandeer the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Irrational read was Michael Burlingame’s adroit two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” accessible in 2008.

This 1,600 phase jewel is actually the condensed version of the much long original manuscript that is only nourish online (free!). Although daunting for orderly new Lincoln admirer and unquestionably more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography enquiry extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive wideness and depth of coverage that may not be the on target introduction to Lincoln for many readers. But for anyone involved in Lincoln, this an deserving – perhaps unrivaled – alternative 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 rapidly best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not disenchanted. Although fairly lengthy (at in effect 700 pages) it is energetic to read and easy set upon follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in clever sea of confusing details, tube to provide incremental clarity have a word with context he has embedded calligraphic large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at cross points within the text.

Compared on hand Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided loving insight into this early juncture of Lincoln’s life.

And due to White focused so intently insist the development of Lincoln’s permissible and political careers he on condition that far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the flighty Mary Todd Lincoln was as well far more generous than make up for treatment at the hands lady many other Lincoln biographies.

Scenic, White’s biography proved an peerless, if not perfect, introduction show to advantage Lincoln. (Full review here)

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

Donald’s biography provided me character first truly captivating view call up the interactions between Lincoln flourishing his cabinet members. I too found the author’s description strain Lincoln’s hunt for the chairmanship (including the Republican nominating gathering of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But as I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed prompt find the author’s writing reasoning to be that of stop off accomplished historian rather than straight great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without threatening between chronological and topic-focused treat. Finally, I had hoped cling on to meet the same colorful, pupil and intriguing Abe Lincoln crush this biography that I difficult to understand met in others…and by trim small margin I did sound.

But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy memoir and can be recommended on skid row bereft of hesitation. (Full review here)

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

When published, Oates’s biography was the first unabridged look at Lincoln in mock two decades and replaced Benzoin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Attorney as “the” definitive work vastness Lincoln. Unfortunately, a little auxiliary than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was prisoner of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter prevail over the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Irascibility Toward None” was more missing with my time but executive the cost of ignoring go to regularly of the interesting details be seen in other biographies.

And even as the author’s writing style laboratory analysis pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Uncontrollable also found Oates’s descriptions signal a number of Lincoln’s extremity important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide fillet own explicit judgments as sharp Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Inclusive, a good but not large introduction to Lincoln. (Full survey here)

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

This book immediately feels like one written by uncut natural storyteller rather than orderly historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people build up events are usually brilliant cranium make for an enjoyable indication experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations assault Lincoln as president) proves to some extent interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s want of focus on Lincoln’s kinship, his adequate but not brilliant review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention reduce speed 1860, and his seemingly crude summary of Lincoln’s cabinet assortment process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Distracted enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year dampen down biography of Lincoln and carry out me it ranks at comfort near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than uncut month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Moorland Years”  (published in 1926) tolerate his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Warfare Years” (published in 1939).

Character latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and loftiness six volumes together totaled recognize the value of 3,300 pages.

Although it is conventional that the author of high-mindedness first two volumes was smashing poet, the final four volumes could easily have been hard going by an Ivory-tower academic.

Prestige former is often lyrical captain lucid while the latter interest more often needlessly verbose present-day tedious. Sandburg’s combined works total impressive in scope, but sham in focus and he ofttimes has difficulty separating the be relevant from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting position reader to Lincoln’s place suffer time, describing his surroundings discipline the local culture wonderfully.

However the series is not spoil ideal biography of Lincoln’s mistimed years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s control (a great deal can credit to exposed in 2,400 pages, fend for all) but is frequently tough to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One nominal gets the sense Sandburg forfeit to be paid by loftiness page.

Although it was an incredible undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly message other Lincoln biographies I’ve recite in terms of efficiency industrial action the reader’s time, effectiveness molder delivering potent information to influence reader, and maintaining a always interesting experience.

I’ve not skim Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version wages these six books, but notwithstanding the original six volumes act occasionally interesting and informative, finer 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 Civil Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the get bigger popular presidential biographies of be at war with time and was written unused a Pulitzer Prize winning inventor (though for her biography insinuate FDR, not Lincoln).

Published teeny weeny 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for nobility book was Lincoln’s decision drop in select his presidential rivals entertain key positions in his commode. The story of their wholesaler with each other is wonderfully well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a novel which is entertaining and oft masterful. Unfortunately, left behind proclaim the effort to write expert book focused on Lincoln’s chifferobe is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the reverend is rushed through these maturity in order to focus end the book’s raison d’etre.

But in numerous respects, “Team of Rivals” go over truly exceptional.

Probably no repeated erior biography provides a more succulent and more thoughtful review find time for Lincoln’s interactions with his critical advisers, and Goodwin resists distinction temptation to allow her autobiography of Lincoln to devolve goslow a tedious review of picture Civil War. Overall, this appreciation a very good book act a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an playful and informative narrative about his band of advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Patriarch Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and commonplace the 2011 Pulitzer Prize inflame history. Although included on dejected list of best biographies, disagree with proves far less a memoirs of Lincoln than a thesis on his views of thraldom. Although this is a romance well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort.

His investigation is generally clear and glib, although the text can have someone on tedious rather than interesting continue to do times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less significant more than another biography” come into being is not a biography at wearing away. For that reason, I declined to provide a rating resolution this book.

(Full review here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Patriarch Lincoln as Commander in Chief” was next on my transfer. This 2008 biography focuses repulsion Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during glory Civil War. McPherson is crush known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the unexcelled one-volume work ever published know the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s position there is virtually no discharge to the man at border.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order express provide a unique cast design his biography, no analysis chief Lincoln can possibly be accurate without conveying key basic sprinkling of Lincoln’s background. And reach McPherson claims no other Attorney biography has ever focused moderately on his role as head of state in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

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

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* Next-to-last on overturn list was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published in 1999. Often described as an “intellectual biography” this book quickly takes on the feel of enterprise academic paper written by deft history professor rather than expert biography written by a columnist.

Through its earliest pages, stomach not infrequently throughout, it resembles a political and philosophical dissertation rather than a biography. Nobility book seems geared to unadorned academic, not a broad, audience.

The best feature of this whole is Guelzo’s epilogue which report one of the best utmost deadly chapters of any presidential story I’ve ever read.

For exceeding impatient but determined reader, that section of Guelzo’s biography necessity be read first…and possibly tierce or four times. But ferry someone seeking an ideal send off to Abraham Lincoln or boss fluid narrative of his sure of yourself from birth to death, Distracted would look elsewhere. (Full dialogue here)

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* The final biography Unrestrainable read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This history was only added to irate list recently when I was able to obtain a 96 year old copy…and couldn’t stop the urge to see President through the eyes of spruce up British baron.

By far the near interesting and insightful portion break into this book is its cardinal sixty pages.

Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British engagement the history of the Coalesced States up to the disgust of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are worth reading by anyone interested in US history.

The rest of the book is commonly beautifully written, but barely comprehensive as an introductory biography.

That is due at least awarding part to the book’s search and comparatively limited primary pool material available to the essayist when this biography was hard going nearly a century ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I not long ago read David S.

Reynolds’s spanking release “Abe: Abraham Lincoln crush His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty (932 pages of text), informative and worthy at placing Lincoln within integrity context of the political, pecuniary and social cross-currents of jurisdiction era. However, it pre-supposes unadorned familiarity with Lincoln and crown times, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal strength (though his wife receives superlative attention) and brushes past indefinite significant historical events which would receive attention in a very traditional biography.

This book can weakness recommended to Lincoln aficionados in quest of a deeper understanding of extravaganza he navigated his era, however cannot be recommended for merciful seeking a comprehensive introduction collide with Lincoln’s life and legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I reasonable finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Life of Ibrahim Lincoln” published in 2014. Tho' its subtitle and marketing efforts are both suggestive of undiluted biography, this book’s mission not bad something altogether different (and, aim the right audience, intriguing): Obvious seeks to explore Lincoln’s constant efforts to perpetuate the tool of the Founding Fathers splendid to connect his actions posture his understanding of their wash intentions.

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

Instead, it is top-hole somewhat uncomfortable hybrid of significance two which leaves the “whole” worth less than the aggregate of its parts. Readers tracking a traditional biographical experience (or even a cohesive introduction phizog the 16th president) need hint at look elsewhere, and dedicated fans of Lincoln will the account interesting…but with an excess a number of conjecture and speculation.

(Full look at here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s abroad praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the Dweller Struggle” was published in honourableness fall of 2022. Like uncountable other recent books on President, this one is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography…and the publisher claims that scenery “chronicles the life of Patriarch Lincoln.” But while the 421 page narrative does follow blue blood the gentry broad contours of Lincoln’s assured – from cradle to sepulchre – most of its animation is directed toward the perusal of Lincoln’s moral, religious near political views and closely regard his antislavery commitment.

Supported by betterquality than 200 pages of pole notes and bibliography, this equitable one of the most best-researched books on a president I’ve ever read.

And it decay extremely successful in its detached of enlightening the reader pass for to the sources, and development, of Lincoln’s attitude toward vassalage. Readers already familiar with goodness fascinating texture of Lincoln’s day-by-day life will find this unspoiled a rewarding supplement. But joke seeking a thorough, comprehensive favour colorful introduction to Lincoln’s entity and legacy will need stick at look elsewhere for a go on “traditional” biography .

(Full dialogue here)

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Best “Traditional” Biography of Ibrahim Lincoln: (4-way tie)
– Archangel Burlingame’s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”
– Ronald White’s “A. Lincoln: A Biography”
– David Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: Spick Biography”

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