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Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and The War Years Paperback – November 1, 2002

by Carl Sandburg (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 371 ratings
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  1. Pulitzer PrizeWinner, 1940
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Originally published in six volumes, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Carl Sandburg’s Abraham Lincoln was called “the greatest historical biography of our generation.” Sandburg distilled this work into one volume that became the definitive life of Lincoln.

By gleaning every possible reference from history, literature, and popular lore, Sandburg successfully captures not only the legendary president, but also Lincoln the man. He reveals exactly who Lincoln was, and what forces in his life shaped his personality.

More than 100 black-and-white historical photographs and linecuts show Lincoln himself, the places he went, and the people who knew him.
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  1. Print length
    800 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Clarion Books
  4. Publication date
    November 1, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.31 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0156027526
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0156027526
  8. Lexile measure
    1170L
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Originally published in six volumes, which sold over a million copies, Carl Sandburg's 'Abraham Lincoln' was praised as 'the greatest historical biography of our generation.' Sandburg later distilled this monumental work into this one-volume edition that critics and readers alike consider the author's crowning achievement and the definitive life of Lincoln. Sandburg's extraordinary portrait brings fully to life the young country lawyer as well as the president who became the central figure in the wildest storm that ever shook the American Republic.

About the Author

Known as The Poet of the People, Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) lived to become a Pulitzer Prize winning poet and biographer of Abraham Lincoln, novelist, journalist, children's author, and troubadour of American folk songs.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clarion Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2002
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 800 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0156027526
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0156027526
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.31 x 9 inches
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1170L
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 371 ratings

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Carl Sandburg

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
371 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and consider it one of the best studies of Lincoln ever written. They describe it as fascinating and interesting, with one customer noting it provides a deep look at Lincoln's early years. The book's physical quality receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting its lovely hard cover. However, customers express disappointment with its length, noting that the text is only 18 pages long.

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ReadabilityResearch qualityEnlightened contentSturdinessLength
44 customers mention "Readability"38 positive6 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, describing it as a great masterpiece worthy of Mr. Sandburg's work.

"...This is a great biography, beautifully written...." Read more

"...To that extent he has an excellent book. An in-depth study of Lincoln from his boyhood to his final days." Read more

"...Well written and very entertaining." Read more

"So easy to read. In these days of a divided people I am reading about a country about to divide. Once was enough with casualties that were huge...." Read more

16 customers mention "Research quality"16 positive0 negative

Customers praise the research quality of the book, describing it as one of the best studies of Lincoln ever written, with one customer noting its extensive collection of anecdotes.

"...To that extent he has an excellent book. An in-depth study of Lincoln from his boyhood to his final days." Read more

"...But at the end of the day, this is truly a great and historic work...." Read more

"...The research is amazing" Read more

"...I loved every chapter. This was also a well researched true history. I feel that I was am fortunate to have read it," Read more

12 customers mention "Enlightened content"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the content of the book very interesting and fascinating, with one customer noting it serves as a major research resource.

"super interesting reading, love this" Read more

"For anyone interested in Lincoln, this is an absolute must read. Interestingly, many of the same problems Lincoln faced are still with us today...." Read more

"...and everything to get ahead--was much new material for me and so enlightening." Read more

"One of the best books written about Lincoln ever. Tells a good story, well written and very easy to understand...." Read more

6 customers mention "Sturdiness"5 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the sturdiness of the book set, with one customer noting its well-constructed look and another mentioning the lovely hard cover.

"A well-constructed look at an era much like our own with growing dissensions and turmoil confronting the leadership. Very well written." Read more

"...The hard cover is lovely. This is more like a greeting 'card' for a person who admires Lincoln, but not a substantive historic text." Read more

"Book was in great condition. Was a great read!" Read more

"...with my purchase....gift set for my husband and he is so happy with the quality of the set." Read more

4 customers mention "Length"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the length of the book unsatisfactory, with multiple reviews noting it is only 18 pages long.

"My review is strictly on the physical book. It is nothing more than an 18 page hardcover pamphlet." Read more

"...The book is nothing of the sort. Its text is 18 pages long...." Read more

"None of the reviews refer to the actual item. This book is 18 pages of text, very large font, certainly less than 1000 words...." Read more

"Required reading!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Deborah J. Thomas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, interesting book on Abe. Loved it.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    super interesting reading, love this
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  • Amy Bettan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Everything Old Is New Again
    Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    So easy to read. In these days of a divided people I am reading about a country about to divide. Once was enough with casualties that were huge. Please,can’t we compromise and make our country strong and UNITED.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Shirley Ann-Holland Kingery
    4.0 out of 5 stars An Epic Biography of a Great Man
    Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024
    Format: Audible AudiobookVerified Purchase
    This book ended up being a conundrum for me. At times I really liked it, at times it drug on and at other times I did not care for it. This large volume is a condensation of a six volume set, which cannot be an esay task and I'm sure it suffered in some details as all condensations must. At times this resulted in certain details just being recited as bullet points on a list which did nothing for me. The language at times does tend to get flowery as you would expect from a poet, but did not juxtapose well with the horrific civil war subject matter, I felt. I was appalled at some of the re-enactments of slaves speaking in Brer Rabbit/Uncle Remus style dialects. I also did not appreciate the obvious bias favoring Lincoln, as if we must view every word and action of his in a positive light. Lincoln was a superb leader and a genius; but he was also human and not infallible and not without flaws. Likewise, I did not like the negative bias given to those who opposed Lincoln in any way. I, for one, don't think those who advocated for peace or for total and immediate abolition of slavery should have been cast in a negative light. Some of those portrayals really bothered me, such as with Sumner.

    But at the end of the day, this is truly a great and historic work. It is in particular a collection of seemingly endless anecdotes of Lincoln, and ultimately I ended up truly feeling that I got a flavor for Lincoln, the person, through these anectodes he was nearly constantly telling. He had one for every occasion, it seems. Though it was relatively brief in this volume, I most enjoyed the portions covering The Prairie Years of Lincoln. I think I should have enjoyed the volumes devoted to just that subject quite a bit better than this condensation of Prairie Years and War Years. Of course, the War Years were just too depressing but there is much history here with list after list of battles and casualties and who won what, as well as strategy and military personnel turnovers.

    The end of the book covers Lincoln's assasination in detail.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Chris Sharp
    5.0 out of 5 stars Still the best study of Lincoln ever written
    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    And I have read a couple of other studies of Lincoln, including one written by a Pulitzer-Prize winning historian just recently. But this biography written by the great American poet Carl Sandburg from Lincoln’s state of Illinois many decades ago has prairie poetry in its blood.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Just A Buyer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln: 3 Volume Set [Mass Market Paperback]
    Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2012
    Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
    To me these wouldn't be a collectors set but some may feel differently. The are printed on the type paper that is used for modern novels. The printing on mine is dark and although smaller than most novels is very readable (I'm an older person and had no trouble reading them). They do have photo pictures as well . My purchase was listed as Good used in the box, still in the shrink wrap, 1975 edition. That means they were actually new with wear on the wrap only. So I was fortunate in receiving them in that condition at a very good price. The writing is excellent of course and I do recommend that, plus as books to read and pass on to siblings, or friends, they are fine. I have noticed these are offered by a number of sellers without cover or box pictures which may vary with the year published, but all are published by Del. This is probably not a great review but should give you a general idea of what to expect.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Jack Weddle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    For anyone interested in Lincoln, this is an absolute must read. Interestingly, many of the same problems Lincoln faced are still with us today. The research is amazing
    5 people found this helpful
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  • quiltcat6
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quiltcat
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Only a poet could have written this story as one beautiful long poem. I loved every chapter. This was also a well researched true history. I feel that I was am fortunate to have read it,
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Marjorie E. Johnson
    4.0 out of 5 stars "The Prairie Years"
    Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Mr. Sandberg did enormous amounts of research and he wanted his readers to know that he did! I learned a lot but because there was so much, I'm not sure what I remember. That said, I really enjoyed the book. Originally, I only wanted the volume, "The Prairie Years," but I received this combination of volumes instead. I hope I didn't miss out in the condensed version. Lincoln's early life--how he did anything and everything to get ahead--was much new material for me and so enlightening.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • GATTU
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on April 29, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    CarlSandburgcondensedhissixvolumeclassicintoone.Itsamasterpiece.Highlyrecommended.
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  • Carole Rouillard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Historical
    Reviewed in Canada on February 7, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Fascinating.
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  • JG
    3.0 out of 5 stars Recibi una version muy vieja
    Reviewed in Mexico on February 15, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Recibi una version que si bien es bonita tiene mas de 30 años, por lo que el libro huele y se ve como los que tenia mi abuelo, no lo he leido pero me preocupa que se vaya a romper. Es un pack de 3 libros el que recibí impreso en los 80s. con ese aroma y coloracion a humedad del papel
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  • Jim Bowen
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    90-some-odd years ago, Carl Sandburg published the first part of a 6 volume biography of Abraham Lincoln (the last part was published in 1939). Realising that people might not want to read something that long, he pared it down to a 1 volume book of about Lincoln. This is that books.

    The first third looks at Lincoln's pre-Presidential life, while the remainder looks at his presidency. This feels like a thorough book about Lincoln. You'll get a thorough feel for Lincoln. I didn't know a huge amount about him (beyond willing the Civil War, his assasination, and suspending habeas corpus), and it was well writen without feeling like the author wanted to impress us with the amount of research done.

    My one grumble would be that when you precis such a long work, you're going to repeat points, and that occurs here, especially when it comes to the stories Lincoln told.
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  • Donald N. Young
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cometh the hour, cometh the man
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Essential reading regarding Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Lucid and superb scholarship yet very readable. A beautiful binding that is a joy to read. Rapidly delivered by RMB Books it arrived in Australia in immaculate condition.
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