NF Books on Lincoln

[P.B. Speegle]

What are considered the definitive works on Lincoln's life and presidency? And which works would be recommended as a good place to start?

 

[Pollaco]

Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and The War Years.

 

[P.B. Speegle]

Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and The War Years.

Thanks for the recommendation. I've heard of that set before and read a little bit of the praire years, but have heard mixed reviews that not everything he's written is factual.

 

[Mr King]

I just purchased a book today on Lincoln- Lincoln: A Book of Quotations (Dovers Thrift Editions: Speeches/Quotations)

I had to post here because the thread on what are you buying/reading next won't let me post there. I don't know why

 

[Private Joseph]

I've read a lot on Lincoln and I think a good starter book is 'With Malice Toward None' by Stephen Oates.

 

[Mr King]

I've read a lot on Lincoln and I think a good starter book is 'With Malice Toward None' by Stephen Oates.

I have not read that book. Thank you so much for suggesting that. I will have to check that book out!

 

[Jamieva]

Lincoln by David Herbert Donald

 

[Mr King]

Lincoln by David Herbert Donald

Awesome! Thank you!

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and The War Years.

Sandburg is surely the longest study of Lincoln at 7 volumes (besides Hay and Nicolay), and probably still very readable as the author was an accomplished writer. He got a Pulitzer too. However, Sandburg was not a professional historian and he was writing a century ago.

The books are probably something any Lincoln buff should eventually read, but they're far too long for a newcomer to the subject and far too old to be someone's only reading on the subject.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I think Team of Rivals is an excellent choice for reading about Lincoln, especially for a first book about him. It puts him in context with his contemporaries and his cabinet.

As a follow-up I recommend The Fiery Trial, one of Foner's best works which focuses Lincoln's beliefs about and evolving policies toward slavery.

 

[RedRover]

Lots of good books, but I've enjoyed those by his aides Mssrs. Hay and Nicolay.

Abraham Lincoln; A History, from 1914, 10 volumes is very thorough.
Hathitrust: Hay/Nicolay, Lincoln, 10 vols.

Nicolay produced a single volume history based on the above.
Hathitrust: Nicolay: Short Life of Abraham Lincoln

 

[Mr King]

Lots of good books, but I've enjoyed those by his aides Mssrs. Hay and Nicolay.

Abraham Lincoln; A History, from 1914, 10 volumes is very thorough.
Hathitrust: Hay/Nicolay, Lincoln, 10 vols.

Nicolay produced a single volume history based on the above.
Hathitrust: Nicolay: Short Life of Abraham Lincoln

Wow, do you have the 10 volume set on Lincoln?

 

[RedRover]

Wow, do you have the 10 volume set on Lincoln?

In recent years I just pull it up online to read, as I don't live near a library that has them. Full sets are kind of expensive.

It is all online to read on Hathi trust, if you scroll down on the page and click on "full view".

Hathitrust: Hay/Nicolay, Lincoln, 10 vols.

Volume 3 regards the secession crisis, and Volume 4 covers Fort Sumter and the situation at Pensacola.



If you don't like to read book online, you can also listen to it on audio free at Librivox, read by various contributors.

Librivox: Abraham Lincoln; a History, 10 vols.

 

[TallTallMan]

Absolutely do David Herbert Donald's Lincoln, the best secondary history, and the closest to understanding him.

 

[Mr King]

In recent years I just pull it up online to read, as I don't live near a library that has them. Full sets are kind of expensive.

View attachment 495970

It is all online to read on Hathi trust, if you scroll down on the page and click on "full view".

Hathitrust: Hay/Nicolay, Lincoln, 10 vols.

View attachment 495969

Volume 3 regards the secession crisis, and Volume 4 covers Fort Sumter and the situation at Pensacola.



If you don't like to read book online, you can also listen to it on audio free at Librivox, read by various contributors.

Librivox: Abraham Lincoln; a History, 10 vols.

That's awesome! Thank you for sharing!

 

[Mr King]

Never heard of David Herbert Donald. Thank you all for mentioning his name!

 

[RedRover]

That's awesome! Thank you for sharing!

From Volume 4, their impression of his reaction upon the news of the firing upon Fort Sumter.