The Life of Abraham Lincoln [Paperback]

Isaac N. Arnold (Author), James A. Rawley (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0803259247 | ISBN-13: 978-0803259249 | Edition: 4

Abraham Lincoln "was a tall, spare man, with large bones, and towering up to six feet and four inches. He leaned forward, and stooped as he walked. . . . There was no grace in his movements, but an expression of awkwardness, combined with force and vigor. By nature he was diffident, and when in crowds, not speaking and conscious of being observed, he seemed to shrink with bashfulness. . . . His forehead was broad and high, his hair was rather stiff and coarse, and nearly black, his eye-brows heavy, his eyes dark grey, clear, very expressive, and varying with every mood, now sparkling with humor and fun, then flashing with wit; stern with indignation at wrong and injustice, then kind and genial, and then again dreamy and melancholy."

Isaac N. Arnold's word picture owes everything to personal observation because he knew Abraham Lincoln well for a quarter of a century. Eventually an adviser to the sixteenth president, Arnold attended his inaugurations, heard his great speeches, visited him at the White House, and on a spring day in 1865 joined the procession that carried his slain body there. Twenty years later he published his biography giving a detailed sense of Lincoln the entertaining storyteller, the shrewd politician, the steadfast visionary.

Here is the story of Lincoln's rise from humble origins to the presidency, backgrounded by events leading inexorably to the Civil War. Boyhood in Kentucky and Indiana, legal and legislative experiences, marriage to Mary Todd, name-making debates with Stephen Douglas, struggles as president to end slavery and shore up the union, conduct of Northern forces as commander-in-chief, murder at Ford's Theater—all fuel the narrative drive of The Life of Abraham Lincoln.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Introducing this Bison Books edition is James A. Rawley, Carl Adolph Happold Professor Emeritus of history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and author of The Politics of Union: Northern Policies during the Civil War and Turning Points of the Civil War also published by the University of Nebraska Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 471 pages
• Publisher: Bison Books; 4 edition (September 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803259247
• ISBN-13: 978-0803259249
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,941,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Life of Abraham Lincoln was interesting and informative, April 28, 2000

By 

Joe Angelo (Mill Valley, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life of Abraham Lincoln (Paperback)

In Isaac Arnold's book, The Life Of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Arnold portyays Lincoln how he knew him. Isaac was aquainted with Abe Lincoln for over a quarter century, and that helped him in completing this wonderful biography. It does, however, lack several important facts that have now been discovered. Since Mr. Arnold wrote his book twenty years after Lincoln's death, the United States didnt have time to realize what an amazing and influential person Lincoln was. New data also shows that some of his facts in the book are proven to be wrong. Even with those minor details that are false, it doesnt take away from the intensity of the book. Being able to read his speeches and visualize Lincoln speaking is amazing and Mr. Arnold does a very good job of painting that picture.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars One of the better one-volume Lincolns, July 29, 2004

By 

pmdjn (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life of Abraham Lincoln (Paperback)

As stated elsewhere, this biography has the asset of being written by a personal friend and colleague of Lincoln. The personal reminscences and portrayal of Lincoln and his characteristics are very good. By knowing and working wth Lincoln during his Presidency as well as in Illinois, the book is much stronger on the Civil War years than HERNDON'S LIFE OF LINCOLN (and thus more knowledgeable of Lincoln's evolution). The book discusses Lincoln's work with Congress to pass the 13th Amendment (outlawing slavery) far more than other bios and though such detail may disinterest the general reader, this accomplishment by Lincoln surpassed the Emancipation Proclamation in results. Surprisingly, though heavier on the politics, the book covers the Civil War's fighting pretty well. Of course, almost all 1 volume Lincoln biographies are noticeably flawed, and in this one, there is a big flop by the book virtually ignoring discussion of Lincoln's family during the White House years (Mary is discussed sympathetically as a widow). But if it is Lincoln the Politician, President, or friend, that interests you, this is pretty good.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Life of Abraham Lincoln, April 19, 2009

By 

S. Siebert - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Life of Abraham Lincoln (Paperback)

If you like history and biographies and like to have them be real - such as, the person who wrote this actually knew the person he/she was writing about in real life and wasn't just presenting a biography that happened to fit with and promote their own worldview- then this is a great book for you. It's style, of course, is somewhat old-fashioned - but that, in itself, is entertaining. The content is great - full of amazing facts and anecdotes about President Lincoln's life, beliefs and worldview, etc. My husband and I both really enjoyed it!