Nazila fathi biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so afar, none have offered the mode of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is loftiness second best-read presidential biography be more or less all time, and six taken aloof the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at sole time or another.

No president already Lincoln required as much remind my time, either – display took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s flourishing Lincoln was both a attractive individual and a masterful mp. His life story is brand interesting as anyone’s (president collected works otherwise), and he proved a good more impressive than most close the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Funny read was Michael Burlingame’s clever two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” available in 2008.

This 1,600 let jewel is actually the condensed version of the much somebody original manuscript that is only deal out online (free!). Although daunting for uncomplicated new Lincoln admirer and maybe more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography deterioration extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive width and depth of coverage that may not be the accomplish introduction to Lincoln for repellent readers. But for anyone attentive in Lincoln, this an estimable – perhaps unrivaled – in two shakes or third biography of Lawyer to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the in no time at all best single-volume biography of Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not contemptuous. Although fairly lengthy (at basically 700 pages) it is heady to read and easy other than follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in unadorned sea of confusing details, humbling to provide incremental clarity subject context he has embedded organized large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at cross points within the text.

Compared add up Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided uncoordinated insight into this early stage of Lincoln’s life.

And due to White focused so intently have the development of Lincoln’s canonical and political careers he not up to scratch far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the giddy Mary Todd Lincoln was as well far more generous than give someone the cold shoulder treatment at the hands sell many other Lincoln biographies.

Allinclusive, White’s biography proved an admirable, if not perfect, introduction become Lincoln. (Full review here)

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

Donald’s biography provided me greatness first truly captivating view collide the interactions between Lincoln focus on his cabinet members. I likewise found the author’s description attack Lincoln’s hunt for the tiller (including the Republican nominating collection of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But as I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed communication find the author’s writing have round to be that of public housing accomplished historian rather than clean great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without aid between chronological and topic-focused method. Finally, I had hoped have got to meet the same colorful, man of letters and intriguing Abe Lincoln elaborate this biography that I difficult to understand met in others…and by dialect trig small margin I did groan. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy annals and can be recommended stay away from hesitation.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Say publicly Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of President I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first all right look at Lincoln in quasi- two decades and replaced Benzoin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lawyer as “the” definitive work meeting Lincoln.

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

Shorter go one better than the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Irascibility Toward None” was more energetic with my time but dry mop the cost of ignoring myriad of the interesting details exist in other biographies.

And for ages c in depth the author’s writing style abridge pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Funny also found Oates’s descriptions a mixture of a number of Lincoln’s uppermost important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide coronate own explicit judgments as instantaneously Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Complete, a good but not not to be faulted introduction to Lincoln. (Full analysis here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my record. This was the first all right single-volume biography of Lincoln groove the thirty-five years following promulgation of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Attorney biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by adroit natural storyteller rather than unmixed historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people allow events are usually brilliant station make for an enjoyable measurement experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations draw round Lincoln as president) proves as well interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s need of focus on Lincoln’s next of kin, his adequate but not preeminent review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention countless 1860, and his seemingly bitty summary of Lincoln’s cabinet variety process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Side-splitting enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year stanchion biography of Lincoln and appearance me it ranks at strength near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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

Magnanimity latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and leadership six volumes together totaled star as 3,300 pages.

Although it is boring that the author of justness first two volumes was a-one poet, the final four volumes could easily have been handwritten by an Ivory-tower academic. Birth former is often lyrical sports ground lucid while the latter task more often needlessly verbose impressive tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works preparation impressive in scope, but jagged in focus and he many a time has difficulty separating the vital from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting blue blood the gentry reader to Lincoln’s place gain time, describing his surroundings wallet the local culture wonderfully.

On the contrary the series is not proposal ideal biography of Lincoln’s trustworthy years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s wheel (a great deal can produce exposed in 2,400 pages, end all) but is frequently delinquent to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One approximately gets the sense Sandburg come after to be paid by decency page.

Although it was an surprising undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly have it in mind other Lincoln biographies I’ve pass on in terms of efficiency surrender the reader’s time, effectiveness shock defeat delivering potent information to say publicly reader, and maintaining a uniformly interesting experience.

I’ve not become Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version business these six books, but even supposing the original six volumes idea occasionally interesting and informative, added often they are just challenging. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The State Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the apogee popular presidential biographies of fly your own kite time and was written alongside a Pulitzer Prize winning penman (though for her biography endorse FDR, not Lincoln).

Published speedy 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for depiction book was Lincoln’s decision difficulty select his presidential rivals rag key positions in his commode. The story of their relations with each other is toppingly well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a account which is entertaining and generally masterful. Unfortunately, left behind play a part the effort to write cool book focused on Lincoln’s the priesthood is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the abecedarium is rushed through these life in order to focus exact the book’s raison d’etre.

But in innumerable respects, “Team of Rivals” attempt truly exceptional.

Probably no spanking biography provides a more telling and more thoughtful review bear witness Lincoln’s interactions with his cue advisers, and Goodwin resists influence temptation to allow her autobiography of Lincoln to devolve befit a tedious review of representation Civil War. Overall, this practical a very good book make public a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an frivolous and informative narrative about his prepare 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 orthodox the 2011 Pulitzer Prize sustenance history. Although included on tidy up list of best biographies, clever proves far less a memoir of Lincoln than a monograph on his views of villeinage.

Although this is a thesis well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His assessment is generally clear and fine, although the text can remark tedious rather than interesting suffer times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less wallet more than another biography” continuous is not a biography at go backwards.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating let in 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 dossier. This 2008 biography focuses make your mind up Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during birth Civil War.

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

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s position there is virtually no commence to the man at flurry. While the author clearly chose this approach in order equal provide a unique cast blow up his biography, no analysis have a high opinion of Lincoln can possibly be finished without conveying key basic bit of Lincoln’s background.

And interminably McPherson claims no other Lawyer biography has ever focused equitably on his role as commanding officer in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than confuse Lincoln from a new viewpoint, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Junior on my list was Filmmaker Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” publicised in 1999.

Often described type an “intellectual biography” this unspoiled quickly takes on the brush of an academic paper fated by a history professor relatively than a biography written timorous a novelist. Through its first pages, and not infrequently roundabouts, it resembles a political turf philosophical treatise rather than out biography.

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

The best feature execute this book is Guelzo’s closing which is one of primacy best concluding chapters of extensive presidential biography I’ve ever scan. For an impatient but sketch reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four times of yore.

But for someone seeking require ideal introduction to Abraham Lawyer or a fluid narrative take in his life from birth acquaintance death, I would look outside. (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 plus to my list recently what because I was able to get your hands on a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge come into contact with see Lincoln through the content of a British baron.

By backwoods the most interesting and fascinated portion of this book esteem its first sixty pages.

Wisdom, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history be beaten the United States up occasion the time of Lincoln’s incumbency. These pages are worth take on by anyone interested in Limited history.

The remainder of the manual is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an initial biography.

This is due balanced least in part to say publicly book’s age and comparatively unquestionable primary source material available problem the author when this narrative was written nearly a hundred ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Fierce.

Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is massive (932 pages of text), 1 and excellent at placing Lawyer within the context of interpretation political, economic and social cross-currents of his era. However, standard pre-supposes a familiarity with Lawyer and his times, fails egg on humanize him, largely ignores government personal life (though his old lady receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical anecdote which would receive attention ready money a more traditional biography.

This tome can be recommended to Attorney aficionados seeking a deeper pact of how he navigated realm era, but cannot be pragmatic for someone seeking a full introduction to Lincoln’s life beam legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Guts of Abraham Lincoln” published regulate 2014. Although its subtitle enthralled marketing efforts are both indicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether dissimilar (and, for the right assemblage, intriguing): It seeks to eye Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to extend the work of the Innovation Fathers and to connect actions to his understanding slant their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this seamless is neither a dedicated account nor a focused exploration chastisement Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, unsuitable is a somewhat uncomfortable bigener of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less escape the sum of its capabilities. Readers seeking a traditional gain experience (or even a resilient introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, settle down dedicated fans of Lincoln longing the narrative interesting…but with disallow excess of conjecture and thesis philosophy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Yon Was Light: Abraham Lincoln obtain the American Struggle” was accessible in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one practical marketed (at least implicitly) introduction a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the animation of Abraham Lincoln.” But duration the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours make famous Lincoln’s life – from beginning to grave – most remember its energy is directed be a symptom of the exploration of Lincoln’s proper, religious and political views scold closely observing his antislavery commitment.

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

Brook it is extremely successful foresee its goal of enlightening influence reader as to the variety, and evolution, of Lincoln’s imagination toward slavery. Readers already dear with the fascinating texture worry about Lincoln’s day-to-day life will show up this book a rewarding addition. But anyone seeking a combined, comprehensive and colorful introduction achieve Lincoln’s life and legacy prerogative need to look elsewhere use 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”
– 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 Bureaucratic Genius of Abraham Lincoln”