- Hardcover: 714 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Nov 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0684808463
- ISBN-13: 978-0684808468
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 17.3 x 4.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
88,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4 in Books > Biography > Political > United States > Lincoln, Abraham
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
In a significant contribution to Lincoln scholarship, distinguished historian and Pulitzer Prize - winning biographer Donald (Harvard; Look Homeward: A Life of Thomas Wolfe, 1987, etc.) draws a richly detailed, absorbing portrait of our 16th president. The Lincoln that Donald gives us is an inexperienced, ill-prepared, and essentially passive man who nonetheless quickly grew into greatness as president during the nation's worst crisis. Lincoln, Donald argues, was by temperament and philosophy fatalistic and reactive, with a lifelong belief in the Doctrine of Necessity (human destiny controlled by a higher power) that finds expression in his assertion that "the Almighty has His own purposes." Nonetheless, Lincoln was from childhood insatiably ambitious. Donald deftly traces Lincoln's rise from his hardscrabble frontier beginnings through his growth into an important local legislator and lawyer. Although Lincoln, a conservative Whig and devotee of Henry Clay, was for many years as unsuccessful as a politician as he was wealthy and prominent as an attorney, Lincoln's brilliant debating performance in his 1858 Senate race against Stephen A. Douglas catapulted him to national renown in the infant Republican party. Donald devotes most of his account to the story of Lincoln as war president - his at first inept, and gradually more skillful, stewardship of the armies, diplomacy, and other national affairs during the Civil War - through his assassination. Donald makes his case for his subject's passivity. However, Lincoln emerges as a chief executive who, with steadfastness of purpose and constant humor, resisted political pressures and personal attack from Democrats and Republicans alike, made bold decisions, and, although flexibly pragmatic about means, remained faithful to his inner vision of popular government and indissoluble union. A magisterial work, destined to assume its place with those of Beveridge, Sandburg, Thomas, and Oates as a standard life of Lincoln. (Kirkus Reviews)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Unlike many biographies of Abraham Lincoln, which have concentrated on particular aspects of his life, his politics, his writings, his personal life or background, this book is presented as a detailed, definitive biography which draws together all the strands of the politician's life, and includes much new material. Lincoln emerges from it as a fascinating personality, an intensely political, tormented, yet deeply attractive figure. The author, David Herbert Donald, is an authority on Lincoln and the winner of two Pulitzer prizes for biography.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
Abraham Lincoln was not interested in his ancestry. In his mind he was a self-made man, who had no need to care about his family tree. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Abraham Lincoln was not interested in his ancestry. In his mind he was a self-made man, who had no need to care about his family tree. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Regarded by many as America's greatest president ever, Abraham Lincoln has left a massive impression on its collective imagination. Much of who he is comes to us as almost folkloric imagery - the young 'railsplitter' on the frontier, the small-town attorney, Stephen Douglas' adversary in the most famous debates in American history, the bearded father figure who led the nation through its most divisive conflict before his assassination at the hands of a deranged actor. Few biographers have been better equipped to study the man behind the myth than David Herbert Donald, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and longtime scholar of the era.
The result is impressive. Donald sifts through the mythology and interpretations to lay Lincoln bare, often using Lincoln's own words to define the man. He presents a man of considerable ambition and a healthy ego, which helped him overcome the formidable challenges he faced in life. While Donald's argument that Lincoln was controlled by events is difficult to sustain, his portrait of a master politician who maintained his authority over a young party though tact and guile is excellent, as is his examination of Lincoln's constant problems with the Union army's high command. For readers seeking an introduction to the life of a legendary American leader, this is the book to read.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This retelling of a classic tale-the life of Abraham Lincoln-is exceptional for its use of original historical sources. As a lawyer, I enjoyed the in-depth study of Lincoln's work as a small town circuit lawyer and as a soldier I enjoyed the examination of President Lincoln's decision-making process during our bloody kin-slaying. As an historian, I felt that Mr. Donald has done quite a job focusing on original sources and avoided the use of previous biographical works. This is important. One biographer's work is often carried into another and ruins the value of the picture drawn by a following writer. That doesn't happen here and it is one of the greatest strengths of the book.-Kelly Whiting
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Many of us grow up as fans of someone. But when we get older, we find out that our heroes did not, and perhaps could never, live up to our expectations.
Abraham Lincoln is different, at least for me. After reading Donald's Lincoln you walk away as though you had met the man and had a long -- and honest -- coversation with him. As opposed to many biographies of Lincoln, Donald relies on the president's own words and perceptions, not the author's opinions or views.
An important contribution to the study of Lincoln Donald provides is the humanity in which he treats the president's failures. We find out how he failed at business, politics and love before the successes he accomplished later.
When viewed through the lense of Lincon's life and times, he becomes even greater. The president was not popular, not well-supported by his own political party and not a saint. Lincoln is a politician, a detached but loyal husband, a thinker but not an idealogue and a genuinely funny guy.
Donald's greatest achievement is allowing Lincoln to be Lincoln. I highly recommend this book.
Michael D. Cohen, Ph.D.
Abraham Lincoln is different, at least for me. After reading Donald's Lincoln you walk away as though you had met the man and had a long -- and honest -- coversation with him. As opposed to many biographies of Lincoln, Donald relies on the president's own words and perceptions, not the author's opinions or views.
An important contribution to the study of Lincoln Donald provides is the humanity in which he treats the president's failures. We find out how he failed at business, politics and love before the successes he accomplished later.
When viewed through the lense of Lincon's life and times, he becomes even greater. The president was not popular, not well-supported by his own political party and not a saint. Lincoln is a politician, a detached but loyal husband, a thinker but not an idealogue and a genuinely funny guy.
Donald's greatest achievement is allowing Lincoln to be Lincoln. I highly recommend this book.
Michael D. Cohen, Ph.D.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Now anyone can truly know Lincoln and how great a man he was
This biography has helped me understand what a truly great man and a truly great American is. It's humbling just to read of his experiences as a man and a father, not to mention... Read more
Published on 19 May 1999
An incredibly, wonderfully readable work achievement!
Professor Donald has achieved "another" biography of Lincoln which should be read and studied by all who are interested. Read more
Published on 31 July 1998
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