Jon's Reviews > Lincoln

Often considered the quintessential single-volume Abraham Lincoln biography, David Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln” is a triumphant piece of scholarship. Donald, a Pulitzer prize winning author and historian, sticks closely to Lincoln from his ascendency from humble beginnings through to his final hour, ending precisely with War Secretary Stanton’s timeless remark “Now he belongs to the ages”.

Throughout “Lincoln”, Donald places less emphasis on the general history of the times and focuses almost solely on his subject, never steering too far from Lincoln’s viewpoint and actions. The greatness of this biography is that it removes any hagiographic adulation or mythic idolization of Lincoln. There is no overarching theory of greatness. The story is told as the story unfolded.

Utilizing mostly primary sources and Lincoln’s own words, “Lincoln” is not intended to be a dramatic page turning telling of Lincoln’s life. The prose is simple and informative. More so a point-by-point historical account through Lincoln’s eyes than a greater historical analysis.

I greatly enjoyed David Herbert Donald’s Lincoln and it should be a staple in every Lincoln library. Advanced students of Lincoln looking for a more nuanced view beyond Lincoln’s presidency-- as in analyses of internal confederate affairs, or more descriptive accounts of Civil War battles, or even a philosophical interpretation of say the Emancipation Proclamation-- should look elsewhere. But for those looking to get a better understanding of the man, his character traits, his unending ambitions, his life and rise, Donald’s Lincoln is a great place to start.