With Malice Toward None
Books | Biography & Autobiography / Presidents & Heads of State
4.4
Stephen B. Oates
New York Times–Bestseller: “The standard one-volume biography of Lincoln.” —The Washington PostThe definitive life of Abraham Lincoln, With Malice Toward None is historian Stephen B. Oates’s acclaimed and enthralling portrait of America’s greatest leader. In this award-winning biography, Lincoln steps forward out of the shadow of myth as a recognizable, fully drawn American whose remarkable life continues to inspire and inform us today.Oates masterfully charts, with the pacing of a novel, Lincoln’s rise from bitter poverty in America’s midwestern frontier to become a self-made success in business, law, and regional politics. The second half of this riveting work examines his legendary leadership on the national stage as president during the tumultuous and bloody Civil War years, which concluded tragically with Lincoln’s assassination.“Certainly the most objective biography of Lincoln ever written.” —David Herbert Donald, The New York Times Book Review“A masterful work.” —Chicago Sun-Times“Superb . . . thoroughly researched.” —Milwaukee Journal“Here, in these pages, Lincoln is still alive.” —Los Angeles Times
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Author
Stephen B. Oates
Pages
727
Publisher
Harper Collins
Published Date
2009-06-23
ISBN
0061952249 9780061952241
Community ReviewsSee all
"It was a very good book but not an easy read. Obviously, one doesn't read a Lincoln biography to do a little light reading. Because of that, it took me several months to read it, and at times, I could only read about 15 minutes at a time before needing to put it down. The subject matter of course covered Lincoln's childhood and early life, his early career as a lawyer and politician, the political climate of the US leading up to the war, slavery, Lincoln's presidential campaign, the long, drawn-out war, the Emancipation Proclamation, the end of the war and Lincoln's death. I'm worn out just typing that sentence!
What strikes me most is that Lincoln wasn't even the best man for the job, necessarily. He wasn't an experienced politician, he wasn't a military man, and he trusted some of those yahoos he had as generals too much. But Lincoln was the man in the job, and he faced it head on. Other men who could have been president during that time would have caved when Lincoln stood firm. In the end, he was the person who had to be there, and aren't we all grateful he didn't run from that destiny.
Oates' book is very fine and I recommend it. Just be sure to read something light on the side so you don't get too overwhelmed while tackling such dark subject matter."
Jenni Gilmer