Reviews (2)

crowns of thorns and glory
This is one of the best books on the Civil War era in that it not only tells a part of the story from each "side," it tells it from a woman's point of view. The two first ladies of the time were in some ways very much alike and in other ways very different. I came to care about each of them, but must admit that I felt very close to Varina Davis because she was so REAL. I get the impression that she could make a person feel comfortable, that she did not use her status for personal gain or "look down her nose" at anyone. I will not forget when she walked in the mud carrying a child so that her nurse, who was ill, could ride in the wagon. Varina blossomed from a shy, young and beautiful (second) wife of a very influential man to an outgoing, personable, gracious first lady who remained "human" all the way. She suffered greatly both in her personal life and with her country. I have borrowed this book twice since it has gone out of print. Now I have Amazon tracking it down for me. It's a great read!

The lost history of a forgotten First Lady
This book,about the wife of Jefferson Davis-the President of an independent South, is an overlooked masterpiece of an overlooked heroine of the South. It is not the story of Magnolia and moonlight..but is the story of of the wife of a beleagured first lady to the President of a beleaguered and invaded nation at total war in the forlorn fight for independence.There are many commarisons to the spendthrift and mentally ill wife of The Invader, Abe Lincoln And Varina is by far the better woman. Varina's life is that of a true woman of strengh and courage both during the time of war and of defeat. This book deserves to be read by all those who claim feminism as their credo and they will learn what a woman of courage can do an be in a time that most living Americans cannot comprehend. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Useful Bio- but very slanted
For those interested in the early maritime movement, this is an easy read, provides good background,and may serve to help one grasp the early maritime struggles.However, there are no notes, nor a bib. Berwick paints Furuseth as pratically the greatest man since Jesus Christ. Well, I suppose it is mentioned that he was stubborn, and could not differentiate between a communists, and a wobblie, however Old Andy's flaws are underplayed. Try seeking William Camp's San Francisico; Port of Gold for information on the 19th century and Bruce Neslon's Workers on the Waterfront, for a more detailed, and balanced view of the maritime movement in the 20th century. ... Read more

Book Description

Carl Sandburg adapted his acclaimed four-volume biography into a one-volume account of the civil war. Our nation had its unity hammered out in storm. Sandburg's story of those years takes in campaigns and generals, common soldiers in their daily struggles, politics behind battle lines and the unbreakable faith in high and low places. It is a tragic and inspiring narrative, told by one of the great figures of American literature. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great military history book
Very well writen book. A very interesting and enjoyable reading. No pictures, though. But the text is complemented by some draws of the battle scenes and a lot of maps showing troop movements and armies strategies. Slightly biased towards the Union side. Not in the sense of endorsing Union ideas as opposed to the confederates, but rather in the sense of spending a much larger number of pages describing the political and military background of the north, with fewer attention to the south.

Recommendable reading.

War and politics combined
What a wonderful book. All the poetic writing of Sandburg in a very informative study of the Lincoln Administration during the Civil War. You will find less details on specific battles but many more details on the politics and behind the scenes characters. You won't want to put this one down. Get to know Lincoln, his Cabinet and his Generals. ... Read more

Book Description

This memoir presents invaluable evidence for in the continuing debates about African-American language of the period and Lincoln's personal life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An Irreplaceable Inside Look at the Lincoln Family
I could hardly credit that there existed a detailed portrait of the Lincoln family by an African-American domestic during the family's Springfield years. Yet here it is and, as Lloyd Ostendorf's prefatory material demonstrates, it is undeniably authentic, though unendorsed by much of the academic community.
This is a fascinating book.Its vivid portrayal of the daily life of the Lincoln household is by turns perplexing, funny, moving, and sad. Mariah Vance was first employed by the Lincolns as a laundress in 1850 after Mary Todd had run off every other working woman in Springfield. Henry Vance actually extracted extra wages--the equivalent of combat pay--from Abraham Lincoln for his wife's work. Over the next decade, Mrs. Vance became increasingly involved in the household and enjoyed a substantial measure of intimacy with the Lincolns.
The Lincoln who emerges from these pages is startlingly vivid. He is by turns deep, playful, philosophical, earthy, boyish, magisterial, romantic, distant, intimate--and always present. He partakes in absolutely no measure of the modern trait of numbness or non-feeling. His sadness, laughter, thoughtfulness are all immediate and resilient.
He is different in important ways from the man portrayed by much academic scholarship. He is not only more religious, he is much more Biblically grounded than has been supposed. In fact, Mrs. Vance insists that Lincoln was baptised by full immersion into the Church of the Brethren in 1860, just after his election to the Presidency. Conventional academics are skeptical of the story, but it makes sense, when juxtaposed against the language of the Second Inaugural.
Lincoln was also clearly not a racist. The book describes incidents in his early life when he came into close contact with African Americans, worked with them, socialized with them and in one case vigorously defended them to his own detriment.
He is punctilious about calling Mariah "Mrs. Vance" and her husband, Henry, "Mr. Vance," until he knows them well enough to call them by their first names without compromising respect. He has no compunction about socializing with them visibly and unselfconsciously. And he is vocal and definitive about providing cash remuneration for labor at a time when the bestowing of hand-me-downs on domestics was considered an act generosity. He is, in short, entirely unpatronizing. On the other hand, as a husband, Abraham Lincoln had what we now call "problems with intimacy." Whether justifiably or not, he was constantly away from home, riding the circuit or politicking. Thus, he laid the burden of coping with his wife's problems on the shoulders of his young son Robert. That the latter grew up to become a distinguished citizen in his own right is a tribute to his character.
For Mary Todd Lincoln was much more than any husband and child could handle. Some have called Mariah's portrait of her sympathetic. Good God! What would be unsympathetic? In these pages, Mrs. Lincoln is portrayed as a grandiose, manic-depressive, narcissistic, drug-addict. It's true that Mariah Vance felt tremendous compassion for Mary Todd Lincoln--in fact for all the Lincolns--but it's hard for the reader to sympathize with Mrs. Lincoln, particularly when it's revealed that she administered paregoric, the mixture of alcohol and opium to which she was addicted, to her babies.
The spirit of Ann Rutledge hovers over the domestic life of the Lincolns like a cloud. A quarter century after the young woman's death, Lincoln was still preoccupied with her. At one point, he finds in a shop and purchases a tintype portrait of a girl who he says is Ann's twin. In a colossal error in judgment, he shows this portrait to his wife and begins talking about his feelings for Ann, eliciting from his wife an entirely predictable, and not unjustified, eruption of violence, invective, and self-pity.
And yet the book is often very funny. Mariah Vance was an acute observer, who loved the Lincoln family deeply but without illusions. Her quick wit and refusal to be intimidated by her "betters" clearly delighted Lincoln himself, who described himself with neither self-pity nor resentment as "white trash." Her love and support for Robert Lincoln were clearly essential to the boy's psychological survival.
This is in every sense a domestic drama. The imminent earthquake of civil war is evident just offstage, but never dominates the action. The story also has something of the arc of a novel, as Abraham and Mary Lincoln learn to resolve the wounds of the past and reforge their marriage.
My only objection has to do with the Lincolns' language. This book was transcribed in short hand by a young woman named Ada Sutton in the first decade of the twentieth century. Decades later, the mature Ms. Sutton wrote out the memoirs, retaining Mariah Vance's Black English, which she had taken down phonetically.
The conversation of the Lincolns, however, she translated into a formal English of her own devising that completely lacks the vigor and suppleness of colloquial speech. This rings false because the Lincolns did not speak in such a stilted manner. At one point, Mrs. Vance notes that the Harvard-educated Robert Lincoln spoke correct English and tried to get his parents to emulate him, but to no avail. "They talked like old Kaintuck folks, what they was," Mariah observes.
This is an absolutely irreplaceable book, so full of pleasures and riches that when I finished it I turned around and started reading it all over again.

A hero to his valet(ess)?
When I came across this book I thought: surely its a hoax! But no, the recollections of Mariah Vance are well attested. I suppose one should have to urge caution because: (1)The memories are filtered through the person to whom Mariah gave her recollections. (2) They are reminiscences from many years after Lincoln had been well and truly canonised not only as the saviour of the Union, but among blacks he was doubly revered as the Liberator of the slaves. Hence most of the marriage troubles are blamed on Mrs Lincoln who comes across as somewhat of a termagant, saved only by occasional tendernesses to husband and to Mariah herself. To me the reproduction of Mariah's speech as 1900-style black idiom grated a little - when will authors realise that this type of writing can pall quickly, when grammatical english almost always sounds fresh and immediate? Despite all those slight negatives, this book was immensely refreshing - it clears up a lot of mysteries about the Lincoln's relationship, about Lincoln's love for Ann Ruttledge who died tragically, and about Lincoln's life-long search for religious truth. It re-habilitates Robert Lincoln as a worthy son of a great father, and answers some of the criticism he took from historians about the later treatment of his mother. Lincoln has often been accused of 'racism', and was once forced into an election statement against racial equality, which may have been sincere, but he had no qualms about his eldest son being best friend of the son of his black housekeeper, and having regular visits between the two households. Even with the warnings given at the start of this review, its a 'must read' for Lincoln scholars and collectors, and an interesting further study for those who have read the Sandburg and David H. Donald biographies.

A rare glimpse of Lincoln's life before he became President.
I found this a very colorful and informative work and I agree that this is probably the most improtant work published on Lincoln in the last twenty years. You can see what Lincoln delt with in his relationship with his wife; her habits and emotional problems and what working for the Lincoln's was really like. You also get a rare picture of young Robert Lincoln who has been very misunderstood and maligned by history. I've read this book twice so far and picked up something new each time. It's well worth the price and is a valuable addition to any Lincoln collection. ... Read more

Book Description

This biography of one of the most famous and recognizable American presidents mark DK's commitment to bringing US history-based biographies to the DK Readers series. In Abraham Lincoln, readers will find out about our sixteenth president's humble beginnings, his career as a lawyer, his marriage and family life, and his presidency during the Civil War. The 48-page Level 3 books, designed for children who can read on their own, contain more complex sentence structure and more detail. Young readers will devour these kid-friendly titles, which cover high-interest topics such as sharks, and the Bermuda Triangle, as well as classics like Aladdin. Information boxes highlight historical references, trivia, pronunciation, and other facts about words and names mentioned. Averaging 2,400 to 2,800 words, these books offer a 50/50 picture-to-text ratio. The Dorling Kindersley Readers combine an enticing visual layout with high-interest, easy-to-read stories to captivate and delight young bookworms who are just getting started. Written by leading children's authors and compiled in consultation with literacy experts, these engaging books build reader confidence along with a lifelong appreciation for nonfiction, classic stories, and biographies. There is a DK Reader to interest every child at every level, from preschool to grade 4. ... Read more

Book Description

Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United States, led the nation through its darkest hour-the Civil War. Find out about Lincoln's childhood on a frontier farm, how a struggling small town lawyer became president, and why he became one of America's most revered leaders.

In this groundbreaking new series, DK brings together fresh voices and DK design values to give readers the most information-packed, visually exciting biographies on the market today. Full-color photographs of people, places, and artifacts, and sidebars on related subjects add dimension and relevance to stories of famous lives that students will love to read. Modern scholarship and a variety of narrative approaches give today's reader a chance to explore the extraordinary worlds of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. This new way of looking at classic subjects creates a unique reading experience that breathes life into the book-report and summer-reading repertoire. ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com

Abraham Lincoln, the president whose strength of character held the United States together during its most traumatic experience, the Civil War, was an enigmatic figure. Using extracts from the writings of those who knew him best, this handy, small-format book presents the man in all his contradictions. Intensely private and given to dark moods of melancholy, he was respected and loved for his easy accessibility, humor, and unfailing courtesy. Physical descriptions suggest what it must have been like in his presence: his towering height at six feet four inches; his strange face, "the despair of every artist who undertook his portrait"; and the intelligence and empathy that shone from deep-set eyes--features constantly commented on. Lincoln's disregard for the physical details of ordinary life--clothing, food, personal appearance--was genuine, though he was not above ruffling his hair before a photograph to enhance this impression. The anecdotes are chosen to bring out elements of Lincoln's character, for example, his honesty and legendary love of books: a relative tells of his working three days hay-making as a boy to pay for a borrowed Life of Washington damaged in the rain. From his deliberate writing of the Proclamation of Emancipation over many days, we deduce his cautious decision-making and highest moral standards, as well as his political shrewdness. Short descriptions of the writers place the extracts in context: useful guides, as the writers range from Lincoln's family and colleagues to bitter enemies, including his assassin. Lincoln As I Knew Him is biography at its most accessible, building a sympathetic portrait of an extraordinary personality and colossal historical figure. --John Stevenson ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A little treasure
I received this book as a gift when it first came out. I had always admired this great president, but hadn't read anything else on Lincoln prior to this book. I found that I couldn't put it done and read it in like 3 days. I almost would describe the book as a picture album full of snapsnots taken by Lincoln's friends, family, and acquaintances. I write this review nearly 4 years later because I picked it up again to read after a recent Lincoln program on PBS aired on television. I fell in love with the book and the man once again. One does not have to be a history or political buff to admire and treasure this small book.

A MUST FOR ANY COMPLETE LINCOLN LIBRARY
One of the challenges one faces when studying the life of Abraham Lincoln is the rampant deification that began virtually when John Wilkes Boothe fired his fatal shot on the evening of April 14, 1865.

Since that day biographies have abounded that have, in most instances painted the venerable president in the most friendly and adoring hues possible, making it difficult, if not impossible to have a true look at one of the greatest men to ever live. Where can one go who wants a quick and accurate overview?

This small book, Lincoln as I Knew Him: Gossip, Tributes and Revelations from His Best Friends and Worst Enemies, edited by Harold Holzer, offers a solution.

The book offers excerpts from the personal writings of many who knew him best. These memoirs offer views of a complex individual who suffered from fits of nearly overpowering depression and doubt, was one of the tallest figures of his time and extremely down-to-earth and accessible. These personal accounts provide detail about his numerous idiosyncrasies regarding personal grooming, and diet.

Lincoln As I Knew Him is a wonderful book, offering and up close and personal look a man whose life and impact on the United States will be remembered for forever. If you've read numerous Lincoln biographies as I have you still won't want to miss this one.

Douglas McAllister

Simpy a great book.
I have about 100 books on Lincoln and this is one of the best, it draws on stories from some others but it is an easy and very good read for those who want incites into perhaps or greatest President as told by those who knew him and heard him speak.

A Must Have for all Fans of Lincoln!
As a person who has spent much time studying Lincoln and the Civil War, I found this book to be one of the most interesting books I've read. The author has done an excellent job of finding short, concise accounts of Lincoln. This is a book which you can go back to many times and re-read. This would be a great read for high school American History classes.

Lincoln The Man
I have just read this book and I would say that the contents bring out the human side of the man most people do not know. Things that are not generally taught. I found it entertaining, full of interesting facts told by firsthand accounts. Read it & you will agree, I am sure....(VLS) ... Read more

Book Description

Born into a famous family of highly respected actors, young John seemed to have his life plotted for him. But, in the 1860s, as tensions over slavery mounted, he became increasingly political. How did he wind up at Ford's Theater one night, ready to kill the president? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Life meets Literature
"American Commander in Spain" is a vivid account of the last years in the life of Robert Merriman. The book was written by his wife, who followed Merriman when he went to fight in the Spanish Civil War. The book will not be helpful to the profesional historian, save perhaps a few anecdotes that could link specific historical characters to specific places during the war. The book is also not a novel and cannot be read as a work with high literary intentions. Rather it is an interesting portrait of a man whose life has the special quality of blending reality and legend. Merriman became fiction when Hemingway, who met him during the war used him as the basis for his character Robert Jordan in "For whom the bell tolls." The work will therefore be of most interest to those readers looking for the sources where Literature drinks from Life and with some emotional attachment to the historical context.

...For when one reads about Robert Merriman it becomes clear that he was an american patriot searching for solutions to get his own country out of the Depression and later trying to stop the rise of Fascism in Europe. That his countrymen were so blind then (and it seems still now) cost them dearly in WWII. The insensitivity shown by these reviewers hurts most those of us who look up to the american volunteers in awe, not for their ideological beliefs, but for their sense of sacrifice and love for freedom. It is a sin against Humanity to see Merriman's death any other way. If there is a God and these other reviewers are ever judged, I only hope that all their sins will be remembered.

Biased to the left wing view of reality
The Lincoln Brigade fought ON the side of the Communist Left ( Republicans) and participated in the many attrocities such as executions of the clergy, press,ect. They were funded by Eleanor Roosevelt who was a "closet" Communist,trained and sent to Spain to help send Spain into the Soviet orbit.

An eye-opener
Interesting, if for no other reason than to see for yourself the nature of the "true believers" of the Left. We now know that Americans participated in Stalin-inspired Trotskyite hunts within the ranks of the International Brigades. While Merriman almost certainly met his end at a Nationalist firing squad, how many American Reds met their end at Merriman's orders? The writing style of the book was in the nature of a justification of a cause that was morally bankrupt, even in the context of fighting fascism. I recommend the book to anyone who wishes to better understand the mindset of liberal thinking . . . ... Read more

Book Description

MEET ABRAHAM LINCOLN introduces young readers to our 16th president, tracing his life from his boyhood in Indiana to his early political career and, later, his presidency. With an emphasis on Lincoln's fight for unification of our country and freedom for all Americans, the story helps children understand the impact Lincoln had on our nation's history. MEET ABRAHAM LINCOLN is sure to educate and entertain as it teaches young people about one of our country's greatest presidents. ... Read more

Book Description

Encapsulating the important political and military issues on the eve of the Civil War! Lincoln had hoped to realize his firm determination to preserve the Union through peaceful and nonprovocative measures. However, he was willing to accept war if he could avoid the blame for having started it. As events turned out, he was no more the aggressor than was Jefferson Davis. In these pages, Current retraces step by step the influences and events that shaped Lincoln's controversial April policy, beginning with the new president's rather furtive arrival in Washington and concluding with the mobilization for war. The Sumter question, as the author points out, "reflects and in turn casts light upon the national tradition of avoiding the 'first shot.' It concerns the events that led directly to the Civil War, the greatest of wars from the American point of view. And it involves problems of historical evidence and interpretation that have more fascination than even the best of ordinary puzzles." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent!
A great breakdown of events leading up to Ft. Sumter, and a great analysis of the early relationship between Lincoln and his cabinet, esp. Secretary of state Seward (who at this early date mistakenly thought Lincoln was a puppet he could manipulate). All in all a fascinating read and a must for good civil war libraries. ... Read more

Book Description

In this delightful and heartwarming illustrated novel, the story of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War comes to life, making the learning experience more enjoyable than ever before.

This graphic novel weaves together the most dramatic scenes of the Civil war, from the Underground Railroad, key battles, to the Gettysburg Address and the destruction of the South. It also explores lesser-known stories such as the role of women on the battlefield, and even the frenzy of pet goats in the White House. Above all, the story gives the reader a unique view of President Lincoln as a person. His early years, his relationship with his son Tad, his personal struggle with the issue of slavery, and his enduring sense of humor give the reader a new perspective of the human being behind the American Icon.

This unique combination of actual historic events with little known personal account is unique, but the fact that the reader is guided through the novel with hundreds of beautifully hand-drawn frames, makes it a must-read. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Should be noted for school and community librarians
Also available in a hardcover edition (097425021X, [...]), Abraham Lincoln: The Civil War President is about President Abraham Lincoln, his dog Fido, and the American Civil War as told in a "graphic novel" format by author Ginger Turner and animation illustrator Saral Tiwari. From Lincoln's path to the presidency, to the Battle of Gettysburg, to the Emancipation Proclamation, to the tragic assassination of President Lincoln, the attention to historical detail is as impressive as the collaborative storytelling abilities of Turner and Tiwari who combine text and illustration to present actual historic events that will engage readers ages 8 through adult from beginning to end because the graphic novel format is especially suited to bringing history alive in the minds and imaginations of the readers. It should be noted for school and community librarians, that Abraham Lincoln: The Civil War President is carefully mapped to the U.S. Department of Education's National Standards for teaching American History.
... Read more

Book Description

Was Abraham Lincoln born in a log cabin?

Why did he nearly fight a duel?

Who suggested that Lincoln grow a beard?

Best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis tells the remarkable story of a poor, self-educated boy from Kentucky who became president of a country soon torn by war. In this outstanding biography, Davis weaves a smooth, flowing narrative into his trademark question-and-answer format, peppering the text with informational sidebars and compelling quotes. Maps, reproductions from the period, and striking black-and-white illustrations by Rob Shepperson help capture Lincoln’s character and the fervor of the Civil War era.

Book Description

Designed especially for beginning readers, First-Start Biographies trace the childhood years of famous men and women who overcame obstacles and achieved greatness.Illustrated in full color. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Abraham Lincoln: Log Cabin President
I loved this darling book. The illustrations were great. It is a wonderful for young children. ... Read more

Book Description

New insights into America's favorite president! Stories and quotations as Lincoln himself demonstrates his own faith in God, the Bible and the Saviour. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful and engaging
Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious Presidents. This book is a very pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information.

I recommend it for the person who is a teacher or student of history, as the book gives insight into the spiritual aspect of Lincoln.

I recommend it for the religious person who has no historical background. Wyrick gives enough historical background for the non-historian to enjoy the book. ... Read more

Book Description

In the hope of shedding light on questions that continue to spark debate among historians and students of Lincoln, Brooks Simpson presents Think Anew, Act Anew, a concise and inventively annotated collection of documents written by Abraham Lincoln that focus on the interrelated themes of slavery, union, emancipation, and reconstruction. How did Lincoln define equality? How did he harmonize his rejection of slavery as immoral with his toleration of it where it existed? What were his views on race, and did they change over time? What did freedom mean to him?

This unique selection of Lincoln's own words offers readers a chance to explore for themselves how Lincoln understood the prevailing concerns of his America. Professor Simpson provides contextual information in introductions to each of the book's eight chapters and all sixty-four documents are preceded by a brief note. ... Read more

Book Description

*8 b/w photos
* 6 x 9
* Lead essay by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
* Foreword by award-winning historian William C. Davis

On November 19, 1996, six distinguished American scholars met inGettysburg and offered unique perspectives on the place of PresidentLincoln, his unforgettable Address, and the titanic battle of July 13,1863, in American history and the collective conscience. Here for thefirst time, these monographs are made available to the general public.Includes essays by the Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor, Richard N. Current,Harold Holzer, Edna Greene Medford, and John Y. Simon.

John Y. Simon edited the multi-volume Papers of Ulysses S. Grant; HaroldHolzer is the author of numerous books on politics and Lincoln; WilliamD. Pederson is the author/editor of several books including AbrahamLincoln: Contemporary, An American Legacy and is a professor of political science at Louisiana State University. ... Read more