The most comprehensive, accurate, and useful guides to classic and contemporary lit on the internet. Charles bruce catton october 9, 1899 august 28, 1978 was an american historian and journalist, known best for his books concerning the american civil war. In this classic exploration of the confederacys defeat in the civil war, twotime pulitzer prizewinner david herbert donald and author of lincoln assembles insightful and probing essays from six of americas most distinguished historians. Lincoln by donald herbert davis is a biography of president abraham lincoln, who was born in february,1809 and assassinated in april, 1865. Douglas claimed that in his new salem days lincoln could ruin more liquor than all the boys of the town togethera charge that was not merely inaccurate but singularly inappropriate from a senator known to have a fondness for drinkand lincoln jeered that douglass popularsovereignty doctrine was as thin as the homeopathic soup that was made by boiling the. Booktopia lincoln by david herbert donald, 9780684825359.
David herbert donald october 1, 1920 may 17, 2009 was an american historian, best known for his 1995 biography of abraham lincoln. One of the best and most recent scholarly works about lincoln. If there is a sparknotes, shmoop, or cliff notes guide, we will have it listed here. In his comprehensive look at lincolns life, donald draws directly from lincolns own papers as well as from the written firsthand accounts of his contemporaries whenever possible. The history and personal recollections of abraham lincoln. In david herbert donalds view, lincoln was a dogged and wily man, with a sense of humor and shrewdness not equaled by any of his contemporaries.
Donald brilliantly depicts lincolns gradual ascent from humble beginnings in rural kentucky to the ever expanding political circles in illinois, and finally to the presidency of a country divided by civil war. Its back cover relays praises from other major lincoln scholars, including david herbert donald and ronald white, whose fulllength lincoln 1995 and abraham lincoln 2009 respectively, stand ready to satisfy readers wanting more. He was a research assistant to david herbert donald for his prizewinning biography, lincoln, and he is a contributor to the journal of the abraham lincoln association and the readers companion to the american. Along with washington, jefferson and jackson, abraham lincoln is a subject that everybody reading comes into with a head start as far as the major plot points in his life. David herbert donald discusses his book lincoln with brian lamb on booknotes. The book emphasizes four aspects of president lincolns life. Lawyer lincoln began his career humbly and slowly gained confidence and clients, until he became one of the leading trial lawyers in the midwest. In donalds skillful hands, lincoln emerges as a youthful, vigorous president.
Lincoln by david herbert donald 1996 after reading this book my opinion of abraham lincoln has been greatly diminished. Reflection on the economic, military, diplomatic, political, and social reasons the south lost. He twice won the pulitzer prize for biography for earlier works. Publication date 2001 topics lincoln, abraham, 18091865, united states politics and government 18611865 publisher. In the bestselling tradition of truman, twotime pulitzer prizewinning biographer david herbert donald offers a new classic in american history and biographya masterly account of how one mans extraordinary political acumen steered the union to victory in the civil war and of how his soaring. This book is written by david herbert donald, two time pulitzer prize winner and author of the book lincoln. Buy lincoln by david herbert donald online at alibris. Goodwins argument that lincoln was a political animal draws on excellent biographies by david herbert donald and william e. He was a research assistant to david herbert donald for his prizewinning biography, lincoln, and he is a contributor to the journal of the abraham lincoln association and the readers companion to the american presidency. Not until david herbert donald s universally acclaimed lincoln was published in 1995 did oatess biography relinquish its prominence. He describes lincolns intense desire to escape the life of hard manual labor lived by his father, despite the later depiction by his political backers as a railsplitter who did not shirk hard work. A thoughtful, nuanced portrait of abraham lincoln that finds his legendary political strengths rooted in his most personal struggles. If there is a sparknotes, shmoop, or cliff notes guide, we will have it listed. David herbert donald, a leading american historian of abraham lincoln and the civil war who won pulitzer prizes for his biographies of the abolitionist statesman charles sumner and the novelist.
When lincoln reconsidered was first published it ushered in the process of rethinking the civil war that continues to this day. David herbert donald, charles warren professor of american history emeritus, harvard university and author of lincoln. In a significant contribution to lincoln scholarship, distinguished historian and pulitzer prizewinning biographer donald harvard. So it is high praise that whites effort is often described as the best singlevolume lincoln biography since david herbert donalds lincoln was published in 1995. Why the north won the civil war book by david herbert. What happens at the beginning of lincoln by david herbert. Download pdf lincoln reconsidered essays on the civil war. Lincoln when approached for information about his life, abraham lincoln warned a wouldbe.
At the outset, miller is clear on the study of this book, which examines the moral performance of abraham lincoln in. Lincoln comes off more like one of our current politicians instead of the great. David herbert donald 19202009 perspectives on history. Lincoln summary and analysis like sparknotes free book notes. David donald is the author of many books on the civil war era, including the classic text the civil war and reconstruction, written in collaboration with j. Abraham lincoln and civil war america paperback william e. This is a fine intro for new browsers through the lincoln bookshelf, though david herbert donald s work remains the definitive bio to date. In david herbert donald s view, lincoln was a dogged and wily man, with a sense of humor and shrewdness not equaled by any of his contemporaries. It was edited by the prizewinning lincoln scholars david herbert donald, the author of the biography lincoln, and harold holzer. Professor donald talked about his recent book, lincoln, published by simon and schuster.
Feb 19, 2006 it was edited by the prizewinning lincoln scholars david herbert donald, the author of the biography lincoln, and harold holzer, the author of lincoln at cooper union. The lincoln that donald gives us is an inexperienced, illprepared, and essentially passive man who nonetheless quickly grew. David herbert donald american historian britannica. In the bestselling tradition of truman, twotime pulitzer prizewinning biographer david herbert donald offers a new classic in american history and biography a masterly account of how one mans extraordinary political acumen steered the union to victory in the civil war, and of how his soaring rhetoric gave meaning to that agonizing struggle for nationhood and equality. Read why the north won the civil war by david herbert donald for free with a 30 day free trial. Pulitzer prize, any of a series of annual prizes awarded by columbia university, new york city, for outstanding public service and achievement in american journalism, letters, and music. Lincoln by donald, david herbert, 19202009, author. This newberry award winner is written for a younger audience, but remains an excellent distillation of lincolns life. More than half a century after david herbert donald noted the tendency of americans to get right with lincoln, scholars still are trying to get right with himand to get him right.
Apr 05, 2014 critically hailed, it quickly gained a reputation as the standard lincoln biography, replacing benjamin thomass 1952 biography in that role. Why the north won the civil war book by david herbert donald. David herbert donalds biography of abraham lincoln is an outstanding work that emphasizes his most important aspect, his humanity. Abraham lincoln and his friends by david herbert donald and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Donalds lincoln will undoubtedly displace popular lincoln biographies by benjamin p. Lincoln came to the presidency with one of the skimpiest political resumes of any nongeneral in american history. Lincoln scholar david herbert donald does a masterful job of portraying this iconic figure of american history as what he in essence was. Donald brilliantly depicts lincolns gradual ascent from humble beginnings in rural kentucky to the everexpanding political circles in illinois, and finally to the presidency of a country divided by civil war. David herbert donalds biography of abra ham lincoln has been long anticipated as an opportunity for the american people to sit at the feet of a great lincoln and civil war. Focusing on the political, military, economic, social, and diplomatic reasons behind the union victory, this collection presents the most complete. For your reference, we provided these lincoln quotes with page numbers using the following version of the book. Find all available study guides and summaries for lincoln by david herbert donald. David herbert donalds lincoln is a stunningly original portrait of lincolns life and presidency. Why the north won the civil war details the overwhelming power the union armies and naval superiority, combined with the economic superiority of the northern states and many other reasons why the south would enevitatably succomb to the.
The american civil war has spawned hundreds of biographies of key. Abraham lincoln and civil war america a biography william e. Get an answer for what happens at the beginning of lincoln by david herbert donald. Donald s lincoln remains the definitive biography of the political lincoln, while gienapps abraham lincoln and civil war america is a highly readable short summary of lincolns political genius. Abraham lincoln sparknotes biography guide making the reading experience fun.
Donald, the grandson of a union cavalry officer, was a longtime history professor at harvard. Lincoln by david herbert donald is the fourth biography about an iconic president that ive read through the first sixteen. A masterful work by pulitzer prizewinning author david herbert donald, lincoln is a stunning portrait of abraham lincolns life and presidency. More than half a century after david herbert donald noted the tendency of americans to get right with lincoln, scholars still are trying to. In abraham lincoln and civil war america, historian william gienapp provides a remarkably concise, uptodate, and vibrant biography of the most revered figure in united states history. Donald brilliantly depicts lincolns gradual ascent from humble beginnings in rural kentucky to the ever expanding political circles in illinois, and finally to the presidency of a. The distinguished historian david herbert donald has produced by far the finest single volume on lincoln s life yetattempted, a work that is a monumental achievement in scholarship. The lincolndouglas debates also known as the great debates of 1858 were a series of seven debates between abraham lincoln, the republican party candidate for the united states senate from illinois, and incumbent senator stephen douglas, the democratic party candidate. A book both learned and accessible, lincolns greatest speech is going to have a wide impact on lincoln scholarship. Whether youre studying hamlet or hunger games, well make sure you get the big idea. Known as a narrative historian, catton specialized in popular history, featuring interesting characters and historical vignettes, in addition to the basic facts, dates, and analyses. Review of lincoln by david herbert donald my journey. Why the north won the civil war by david herbert donald book. His father was a farmer and his mother a former schoolteacher when david was born in 1920 in goodman, mississippi.
Oct 06, 1995 a masterful work by pulitzer prizewinning author david herbert donald, lincoln is a stunning portrait of abraham lincolns life and presidency. Briskly written, concise, and informed by the latest scholarship, it is destined to become a standard book in its field. David donalds lincoln is a political leader who suffered many more failures than successes and achieved political sainthood only after his assassination and death. Consistent with my expectations, this book provided a.
An examination of the historical context in which the person lived. From lincolns patchwork education to his contradictory interpretations of the constitution and the legacy of the founding fathers, david herbert donald reveals the legal mind behind the legend of the great emancipator. Michael vorenberg is an assistant professor of history at brown university in providence, rhode island. Donald tracks lincoln from his poor roots in kentucky to his young adulthood as a shopkeeper, surveyor, postmaster and finally lawyer in illinois. George saunders gets inside lincolns head the new yorker. Published in 1995, david herbert donalds lincoln is often considered the quintessential lincoln biography. Now david herbert donald, one of the most distinguished historians of our time, has added his name to the list of outstanding lincoln. An ethical biography, which focused on lincolns prepresidential life, considers the presidential years of abraham lincoln in this companion volume, president lincoln. Jun 23, 2018 david herbert donald october 1, 1920 may 17, 2009 was an american historian, best known for his 1995 biography of abraham lincoln. David herbert donald s lincoln is a stunningly original portrait of lincolns life and presidency. Freebooknotes found 10 important quotes from 6 key chapters of lincoln by david herbert donald. Donalds lincoln reveals the development of the future presidents character and shows how his private life helped to shape his public career.
Review of with malice toward none by stephen oates my. Lincoln reconsidered essays on the civil war era ebook by david herbert donald. However, each author also goes on to explain their botheration and disagreement with their opposition. Randall, and the pulitzer prizewinning biography charles sumner and the coming of the civil war, as well as the biography look homeward. While lincoln has probably been overwritten and overpraised. He also wrote nearly threedozen books and is a twotime pulitzer prize winner for his biographies of charles sumner and thomas wolfe. The purpose of this essay is to summarize each of the five arguments presented by richard n.
Giving shape to the deep depression that pervaded lincoln s adult life, joshua wolf shenks lincoln s melancholy reveals how this illness influenced both the presidents character and his leadership. After reading biographies of the founding fathers like john adams, benjamin franklin, and george washington. James madison sparknotes biography guide making the reading experience fun. Focusing on the political, military, economic, social, and diplomatic reasons behind the union victory, this collection presents the most.
Abraham lincoln sparknotes biography guide making the reading. While many viewers of spielbergs film on lincoln have purchased and read the excellent team of rivals by doris kearns goodwin, they may have missed out on a fuller biography of our 16th president. Lincoln summary lincoln by donald herbert davis is a biography of president abraham lincoln, who was born in february,1809 and assassinated in april, 1865. Victoria aveyard cassandra clare sarah dessen john green sarah j.
David herbert donald, author of lincoln professor whites book on the preparation, delivery, and influences of lincolns second inaugural address is a significant addition to civil war literature. Oct 28, 2012 in early 1962, my husband and i were invited to the white house by first lady jackie kennedy because she wanted the president who loved history to listen to my husband, david herbert donald. Sparknotes biography guides examine the lives of historical luminaries, from alexander the great to virginia woolf. Abraham lincoln sparknotes biography guide ebook by. He had less than a year of formal schooling, but a kind stepmother his mother died when he was quite young and a tolerant, if not always sensitive, father allowed him the time to read.
Abraham lincoln is considered to be the greatest american president. The prizes are highly esteemed and have been awarded each may since 1917. Lincoln by david herbert donald and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The civil war memoirs of alfred bellard by david herbert donald editor, alfred bellard online at alibris.
David herbert donalds untimely death on may 17, 2009, gives us an opportunity to reflect on the virtues of one of the most accomplished historians of his generation. David herbert donald, lincoln biographer and winner of the pulitzer prize, has revised and updated his classic and influential book on lincoln and the era he dominated. The civil war, the abolition of slavery, and the thirteenth amendment. Abraham lincoln and civil war america is the best brief biography of lincoln that i have read. David herbert donald s untimely death on may 17, 2009, gives us an opportunity to reflect on the virtues of one of the most accomplished historians of his generation. An examination of the historical context in which the person lived a summary of the persons life and achievements. He is also the most writtenabout person in american historyat about the rate of a book a week since his death in 1865.