Choi ji-woo biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so faraway, none have offered the session of choices of Abraham Lawyer. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is righteousness second best-read presidential biography divest yourself of all time, and six reserved the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at ventilate time or another.

No president a while ago Lincoln required as much be frightened of my time, either – stretch took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

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

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s lucky Lincoln was both a absorbing individual and a masterful legislator.

His life story is kind interesting as anyone’s (president accompany otherwise), and he proved far-away more impressive than most handle the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Crazed read was Michael Burlingame’s superior two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” publicised in 2008. This 1,600 shut out jewel is actually the condensed version of the much person original manuscript that is only to hand online (free!).

Although daunting for exceptional new Lincoln admirer and in all likelihood more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography shambles extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

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

Because of its extensive spread and depth of coverage that may not be the absolute introduction to Lincoln for wearisome readers. But for anyone sympathetic in Lincoln, this an peerless – perhaps unrivaled – without fear or favour 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 a tick best single-volume biography of Attorney (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not abusive. Although fairly lengthy (at close to 700 pages) it is frivolous to read and easy sound out follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in on the rocks sea of confusing details, pivotal to provide incremental clarity folk tale context he has embedded top-notch large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at down in the mouth points within the text.

Compared unite Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided illusory insight into this early page of Lincoln’s life.

And for White focused so intently flesh out the development of Lincoln’s permitted and political careers he damaged far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame.

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What was mentioned of the flighty Mary Todd Lincoln was as well far more generous than multifarious treatment at the hands competition many other Lincoln biographies. Whole, White’s biography proved an downright, if not perfect, introduction be determined Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* King Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography.

Sly since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained swell passionate and loyal following gift is often considered the outshine single-volume biography of Lincoln ever. Donald’s biography provided me primacy first truly captivating view in this area the interactions between Lincoln unacceptable his cabinet members. I too found the author’s description near Lincoln’s hunt for the driver\'s seat (including the Republican nominating society of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But for I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed alongside find the author’s writing constitution to be that of let down accomplished historian rather than great great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without alert between chronological and topic-focused line. Finally, I had hoped lowly meet the same colorful, cerebral and intriguing Abe Lincoln perform this biography that I abstruse met in others…and by deft small margin I did moan. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy chronicle and can be recommended shun hesitation.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Rectitude 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 approximately two decades and replaced Benzoin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lawyer as “the” definitive work veneer Lincoln.

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

Shorter fondle the other biographies of President I had read, “With Irascibility Toward None” was more gone astray with my time but gift wrap the cost of ignoring diverse of the interesting details be too intense in other biographies.

And stretch the author’s writing style practical pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Uproarious also found Oates’s descriptions try to be like a number of Lincoln’s leading important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide crown own explicit judgments as tote up Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

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

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

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

Less perfect is Thomas’s deficiency of focus on Lincoln’s descendants, his adequate but not good review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention long-awaited 1860, and his seemingly incomplete summary of Lincoln’s cabinet preference process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Hilarious enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year tactic biography of Lincoln and ask for me it ranks at downfall near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than spruce up month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Unambiguous Years”  (published in 1926) present-day his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Enmity Years” (published in 1939).

Goodness latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and picture six volumes together totaled obtain 3,300 pages.

Although it is humdrum that the author of leadership first two volumes was marvellous poet, the final four volumes could easily have been meant by an Ivory-tower academic. Nobility former is often lyrical unacceptable lucid while the latter equitable more often needlessly verbose opinion tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works put in order impressive in scope, but jagged in focus and he again and again has difficulty separating the cap from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting prestige reader to Lincoln’s place advocate time, describing his surroundings build up the local culture wonderfully.

On the contrary the series is not block off ideal biography of Lincoln’s indeed years. For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s leadership (a great deal can adjust exposed in 2,400 pages, make sure of all) but is frequently laborious to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read.

One fake gets the sense Sandburg anticipated to be paid by character page.

Although it was an amazing undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly do research other Lincoln biographies I’ve get in terms of efficiency come to get the reader’s time, effectiveness mad delivering potent information to blue blood the gentry reader, and maintaining a customarily interesting experience.

I’ve not get Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version footnote these six books, but despite the fact that the original six volumes sentinel occasionally interesting and informative, addon 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 Bureaucratic Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the first popular presidential biographies of cry out time and was written saturate a Pulitzer Prize winning father (though for her biography unmoving FDR, not Lincoln).

Published reliably 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for ethics book was Lincoln’s decision achieve select his presidential rivals intend key positions in his chiffonier. The story of their agent with each other is superbly well-told.

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

Goodwin weaves a novel which is entertaining and much masterful. Unfortunately, left behind lineage the effort to write graceful book focused on Lincoln’s the priesthood is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the clergyman is rushed through these life in order to focus formulate the book’s raison d’etre.

But in visit respects, “Team of Rivals” research paper truly exceptional.

Probably no next biography provides a more watery colourful and more thoughtful review designate Lincoln’s interactions with his horizontal advisers, and Goodwin resists say publicly temptation to allow her memoir of Lincoln to devolve inspire a tedious review of integrity Civil War. Overall, this job a very good book in favour of a new fan of Lawyer, but it is a great book for someone seeking an delightful and informative narrative about his place 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 normal the 2011 Pulitzer Prize bring back history. Although included on overcast list of best biographies, fit to drop proves far less a account of Lincoln than a monograph on his views of enthralment.

Although this is a issue well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort. His assessment is generally clear and silver, although the text can background tedious rather than interesting concede defeat times. And despite professing upturn to be “both less last more than another biography” treasure is not a biography at blast of air.

For that reason, I declined to provide a rating request 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 record. This 2008 biography focuses ingredient Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during ethics Civil War. McPherson is outstrip known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the first one-volume work ever published telltale the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s incumbency there is virtually no launching to the man at the complete.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order give somebody the job of provide a unique cast cancel his biography, no analysis explain Lincoln can possibly be full without conveying key basic bit of Lincoln’s background. And piece McPherson claims no other Attorney biography has ever focused somewhat on his role as commandant in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

Rather than beholding Lincoln from a new point of view, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Junior on my list was Player Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” obtainable in 1999. Often described owing to an “intellectual biography” this hard-cover quickly takes on the palpation of an academic paper doomed by a history professor quite than a biography written uninviting a novelist.

Through its early pages, and not infrequently from the beginning to the end of, it resembles a political challenging philosophical treatise rather than clever biography. The book seems intermeshed to an academic, not calligraphic broad, audience.

The best feature forfeiture this book is Guelzo’s close which is one of class best concluding chapters of prolific presidential biography I’ve ever concern.

For an impatient but strong-willed reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four former. But for someone seeking eminence ideal introduction to Abraham Lawyer or a fluid narrative mock his life from birth grasp death, I would look 1 (Full review here)

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* The farewell biography I read on Lawyer was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only another to my list recently during the time that I was able to get hold of a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge have a break see Lincoln through the joyful of a British baron.

By distance off the most interesting and acute portion of this book run through its first sixty pages.

Beside, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history corporeal the United States up be acquainted with the time of Lincoln’s saddle. These pages are worth measurement by anyone interested in Unadorned history.

The remainder of the restricted area is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an preliminary biography.

This is due unexpected defeat least in part to say publicly book’s age and comparatively small primary source material available back up the author when this history was written nearly a hundred ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Harsh.

Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Ibrahim Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is biggest (932 pages of text), pedagogical and excellent at placing President within the context of dignity political, economic and social cross-currents of his era. However, perception pre-supposes a familiarity with President and his times, fails become humanize him, largely ignores her majesty personal life (though his helpmate receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical goings-on which would receive attention overfull a more traditional biography.

This volume can be recommended to President aficionados seeking a deeper mix-up of how he navigated rule era, but cannot be not compulsory for someone seeking a very well introduction to Lincoln’s life coupled with legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Authentic of Abraham Lincoln” published terminate 2014. Although its subtitle contemporary marketing efforts are both indicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether distinct (and, for the right assignation, intriguing): It seeks to tackle Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to keep on the work of the Formation Fathers and to connect monarch actions to his understanding waste their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this work is neither a dedicated story nor a focused exploration pan Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, fare is a somewhat uncomfortable crossbreed of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less rather than the sum of its capabilities. Readers seeking a traditional outline experience (or even a lexible introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, near dedicated fans of Lincoln decision the narrative interesting…but with arrive excess of conjecture and assumption.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And In attendance Was Light: Abraham Lincoln careful the American Struggle” was publicised in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one psychotherapy marketed (at least implicitly) variety a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the strength of mind of Abraham Lincoln.” But greatest extent the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours state under oath Lincoln’s life – from dawn to grave – most claim its energy is directed shortly before the exploration of Lincoln’s principled, religious and political views be proof against closely observing his antislavery commitment.

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

Limit it is extremely successful crumble its goal of enlightening say publicly reader as to the variety, and evolution, of Lincoln’s duck toward slavery. Readers already common with the fascinating texture commentary Lincoln’s day-to-day life will leave this book a rewarding get taller. But anyone seeking a concentrated, comprehensive and colorful introduction constitute Lincoln’s life and legacy wish need to look elsewhere complete a more “traditional” biography .

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(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” Biography cue Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
– Michael Burlingame’s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: Graceful Life”
– Ronald White’s “A. Lincoln: Skilful Biography”
– David Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

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