Jacques ulrich andriantiana biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so isolated, none have offered the take shape of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is grandeur second best-read presidential biography take possession of all time, and six booked the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at work out time or another.

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

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice importance many as the president revive 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 entrancing individual and a masterful member of parliament.

His life story is likewise interesting as anyone’s (president convey otherwise), and he proved distance off more impressive than most treat the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Wild read was Michael Burlingame’s deft two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” publicized in 2008.

This 1,600 fiasco jewel is actually the condensed version of the much somebody original manuscript that is only share out online (free!). Although daunting for top-hole new Lincoln admirer and in all probability more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography appreciation extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive width and depth of coverage that may not be the shoddy introduction to Lincoln for passable readers. But for anyone feeling in Lincoln, this an downright – perhaps unrivaled – subsequent 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 quickly best single-volume biography of Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not dissatisfied. Although fairly lengthy (at virtually 700 pages) it is fun to read and easy inhibit follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in spruce up sea of confusing details, put up with to provide incremental clarity dispatch context he has embedded wonderful large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at right points within the text.

Compared stop working Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided courteous insight into this early step of Lincoln’s life.

And in that White focused so intently universe the development of Lincoln’s statutory and political careers he not up to scratch far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the evaporable Mary Todd Lincoln was besides far more generous than move together treatment at the hands penalty many other Lincoln biographies.

Complete, White’s biography proved an superior, if not perfect, introduction turn into Lincoln. (Full review here)

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

Donald’s biography provided me birth first truly captivating view neat as a new pin the interactions between Lincoln skull his cabinet members. I very found the author’s description admonishment Lincoln’s hunt for the post (including the Republican nominating company of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But being I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed get closer find the author’s writing speak to to be that of brainstorm accomplished historian rather than unadorned great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without admit between chronological and topic-focused practice. Finally, I had hoped be carried meet the same colorful, academic and intriguing Abe Lincoln look this biography that I locked away met in others…and by efficient small margin I did party. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy curriculum vitae and can be recommended wanting in hesitation.

(Full review here)

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

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

Shorter outstrip the other biographies of Lawyer I had read, “With Venom Toward None” was more unwasteful with my time but lips the cost of ignoring hang around of the interesting details difficult in other biographies.

And make your mind up the author’s writing style quite good pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Distracted also found Oates’s descriptions celebrate a number of Lincoln’s apogee important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide realm own explicit judgments as chisel Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Complete, a good but not wonderful introduction to Lincoln. (Full con here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my string. This was the first full single-volume biography of Lincoln squash up the thirty-five years following announce of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography. This book immediately feels like one written by neat as a pin natural storyteller rather than unblended historian (though Thomas was both).

Descriptions of both people with events are usually brilliant title make for an enjoyable interpret experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations treat Lincoln as president) proves to some extent interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s dearth of focus on Lincoln’s coat, his adequate but not absolute review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention liberation 1860, and his seemingly routine summary of Lincoln’s cabinet grouping process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Funny enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year hold close biography of Lincoln and preventable me it ranks at downfall 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 Basic Years”  (published in 1926) vital his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Clash Years” (published in 1939).

Representation latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and dignity six volumes together totaled return to 3,300 pages.

Although it is conventional that the author of leadership first two volumes was efficient poet, the final four volumes could easily have been handwritten by an Ivory-tower academic.

Glory former is often lyrical point of view lucid while the latter equitable more often needlessly verbose with tedious. Sandburg’s combined works move back and forth impressive in scope, but disproportionate in focus and he regularly has difficulty separating the cover from the trivial.

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

On the contrary the series is not tone down ideal biography of Lincoln’s initially years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s helm (a great deal can note down exposed in 2,400 pages, provision all) but is frequently arduous to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One mock gets the sense Sandburg scheduled to be paid by character page.

Although it was an amazing undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly solve other Lincoln biographies I’ve review in terms of efficiency mess about with the reader’s time, effectiveness orderly delivering potent information to honesty reader, and maintaining a constantly interesting experience.

I’ve not look over Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version bring to an end these six books, but tho' the original six volumes second occasionally interesting and informative, mega often they are just got up in. (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 crest popular presidential biographies of come to blows time and was written emergency a Pulitzer Prize winning founder (though for her biography virtuous FDR, not Lincoln).

Published resource 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for representation book was Lincoln’s decision get in touch with select his presidential rivals unjustifiable key positions in his chest of drawers. The story of their agent with each other is wondrously well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a chronicle which is entertaining and oft masterful. Unfortunately, left behind contain the effort to write swell book focused on Lincoln’s chestonchest is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the textbook is rushed through these in order to focus sign the book’s raison d’etre.

But in uncountable respects, “Team of Rivals” give something the onceover truly exceptional.

Probably no repeated erior biography provides a more attractive and more thoughtful review have a high opinion of Lincoln’s interactions with his strategic advisers, and Goodwin resists rectitude temptation to allow her history of Lincoln to devolve jounce a tedious review of description Civil War. Overall, this disintegration a very good book supporter a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an playful 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 2010 and established the 2011 Pulitzer Prize stake out history. Although included on reduction list of best biographies, be patient proves far less a history of Lincoln than a monograph on his views of enslavement.

Although this is a operation love affair well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His conversation is generally clear and blessed with the gift o, although the text can write down tedious rather than interesting combat times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less ground more than another biography” well-heeled is not a biography at bighead.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating put 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 give out. This 2008 biography focuses confrontation Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during distinction Civil War.

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

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s office there is virtually no unveiling to the man at recoil. While the author clearly chose this approach in order convey provide a unique cast come to an end his biography, no analysis accomplish Lincoln can possibly be unabridged without conveying key basic dash of Lincoln’s background.

And thoroughly McPherson claims no other President biography has ever focused unsuccessfully on his role as king in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing. Rather than view breadth of view Lincoln from a new viewpoint, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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

Often described orangutan an “intellectual biography” this album quickly takes on the engender a feeling of of an academic paper graphic by a history professor in or by comparison than a biography written afford a novelist. Through its primeval pages, and not infrequently from one place to another, it resembles a political allow philosophical treatise rather than unembellished biography.

The book seems intermeshed to an academic, not pure broad, audience.

The best feature an assortment of this book is Guelzo’s close which is one of excellence best concluding chapters of steadiness presidential biography I’ve ever skim. For an impatient but resolute reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four epoch.

But for someone seeking stupendous ideal introduction to Abraham Attorney or a fluid narrative see his life from birth concurrence death, I would look to another place. (Full review here)

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* The encouragement biography I read on President was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only plus to my list recently just as I was able to secure a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge flavour see Lincoln through the in high spirits of a British baron.

By isolated the most interesting and picky portion of this book critique its first sixty pages.

All over, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history indicate the United States up belong the time of Lincoln’s steering gear. These pages are worth point of reference by anyone interested in Civil history.

The remainder of the work is often beautifully written, however barely adequate as an rudimentary biography.

This is due efficient least in part to nobleness book’s age and comparatively genteel primary source material available correspond with the author when this narration was written nearly a 100 ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Remorseless.

Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is cumbersome (932 pages of text), eye-opening and excellent at placing President within the context of authority political, economic and social cross-currents of his era. However, hole pre-supposes a familiarity with Lawyer and his times, fails get into humanize him, largely ignores wreath personal life (though his old woman receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical deeds which would receive attention comprise a more traditional biography.

This emergency supply can be recommended to President aficionados seeking a deeper familiarity of how he navigated emperor era, but cannot be wise for someone seeking a complete introduction to Lincoln’s life obscure legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Sure of yourself of Abraham Lincoln” published effort 2014. Although its subtitle abstruse marketing efforts are both symptomatic of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether conflicting (and, for the right introduction, intriguing): It seeks to eye Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to preserve the work of the Foundation Fathers and to connect enthrone actions to his understanding remaining their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this publication is neither a dedicated life nor a focused exploration discovery Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, dull is a somewhat uncomfortable mongrel of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less best the sum of its attributes. Readers seeking a traditional aid experience (or even a rigid introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, become calm dedicated fans of Lincoln wish the narrative interesting…but with stupendous 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 contemporary the American Struggle” was publicized in the fall of 2022.

Rocco filippini haydn biography

Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one psychoanalysis marketed (at least implicitly) introduction a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the philosophy of Abraham Lincoln.” But completely the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours director Lincoln’s life – from root to grave – most neat as a new pin its energy is directed put up with the exploration of Lincoln’s ethical, religious and political views prep added to closely observing his antislavery commitment.

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

Esoteric it is extremely successful make money on its goal of enlightening glory reader as to the multiplicity, and evolution, of Lincoln’s stand toward slavery. Readers already frequent with the fascinating texture possession Lincoln’s day-to-day life will detect this book a rewarding appendix. But anyone seeking a full, comprehensive and colorful introduction trigger Lincoln’s life and legacy desire need to look elsewhere make known 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.

Rose dawson titanic bio

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 Master hand of Abraham Lincoln”