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Seth Grahame-Smith
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Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Library Binding – April 1, 2012

by Seth Grahame-Smith (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 3,255 ratings
Goodreads Choice Award nominee
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Reveals the hidden life of the sixteenth U.S. president, who was actually a vampire-hunter obsessed with the complete elimination of the undead, and uncovers the role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of the nation.
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  1. Print length
    433 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Turtleback Books
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    4.25 x 1.25 x 6.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0606264507
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0606264501
  8. Lexile measure
    960L
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Turtleback Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2012
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 433 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0606264507
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0606264501
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1.25 x 6.75 inches
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 960L
  • Best Sellers Rank: #9,693,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 3,255 ratings

About the author

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Seth Grahame-Smith

Seth Grahame-Smith

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Seth grew up in Connecticut reading Stephen King from a way-too-early age and forcing his friends to be in homemade horror movies. He’s written three New York Times Bestselling novels (and another one that kind’ve flopped but got good reviews). He occasionally writes or produces movies. The ones you like the most are probably THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE and IT. He's currently working on a GREEN LANTERN series for HBO Max. Please stop asking him when it comes out. He’s a partner in Katzsmith Productions, a film and television company based in Los Angeles. He has a lovely wife, two fine sons, and two comically dumb dogs. Visit him at: sethgs.com

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
3,255 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining and well-written, appreciating how it melds historical fact with fantasy, with one customer noting it reads like a biography. The concept receives positive feedback for its originality and thorough research, though some find it deadly boring. The pacing and humor receive mixed reactions, with some finding it fast-paced while others say it's slow going, and while some find it very funny, others note it's not as silly as expected.

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EnjoymentStory qualityWriting styleAccuracyCreativityPacingHumorPlot
697 customers mention "Enjoyment"697 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and engaging, with one mentioning it kept their attention throughout.

"...It's a fun read, good for any vampire/Lincoln lover, or aficionado of alternate history...." Read more

"Great book-Could NOT put it down. Going to read it again and again. Honest ABE and vampires in the same story- Just dose not get any better then this!" Read more

"...I suppose that is the power of this book. It was overall a good read, exceptionally written...." Read more

"All in all its a great book that blends history and fiction quite well with a nice amount of macabe humor..." Read more

565 customers mention "Story quality"506 positive59 negative

Customers praise the book's quality, appreciating how the author skillfully blends historical facts with fantasy elements, creating an interesting twist on history with a nice mix of American history and vampires.

"...The book is a quick and fantastic read. It is a weird mixture of fact, fiction, and fantasy...." Read more

"What a great story... I saw the movie but as usual the book leaves it in its dust. Anyone interested I History with a twist will love this book...." Read more

"...The story is a unique blend of history combined with horror and fantasy that makes for an entertaining read." Read more

"...Great story and looking for a second." Read more

221 customers mention "Writing style"193 positive28 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting it reads like a biography with engaging action scenes, and one customer highlights the author's talent for both writing and research.

"...A vampire hunter? What a concept! The book was well written and thoroughly researched to make it as realistic as possible...." Read more

"...I was pleasantly surprised that I couldn’t put the book down. Well written and well done." Read more

"...like reading US history but this book was fun, interesting, and a quick read...." Read more

"Very well written and researched book. I very much enjoyed reading it...." Read more

139 customers mention "Accuracy"117 positive22 negative

Customers appreciate the book's accuracy, noting how it blends fact with fiction, and one customer mentions it's more detailed than the movie adaptation.

"...It is also well researched...." Read more

"...found the film moderately entertaining because it began with an interesting concept, fairly well executed, although--as such a film would have to be..." Read more

"Interesting premise. The book is written well." Read more

"This novel offers a new and Interesting point of view on the fight against slavery in our country...." Read more

121 customers mention "Creativity"121 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creative concept, noting its originality and well-thought-out approach.

"Give Seth Grahame-Smith credit for spinning a clever and entertaining yarn in "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," a frivolous romp that you know has..." Read more

"...Aside from that, it was a fun read. Very creative the way he works history into a fictitious alternate story line." Read more

"Creative, fun story! Good, fast read! Recommended to history and vampire buffs alike :)..." Read more

"Interesting idea, well executed...." Read more

100 customers mention "Pacing"52 positive48 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it very fast and a quick read, while others say it's slow going.

"...This is a fast read and one that I could not put down!!! If you're lucky you will get a sneak preview of the sequel The Last American Vampire...." Read more

"...Perhaps a bit romanticized, of course, but we all romanticize Lincoln. It's hard not to...." Read more

"...Overall, the story that Grahame-Smith puts together is a quick, entertaining read...." Read more

"Starts off a little slow and is surprisingly entertaining. One of the best books I've read in a long time...." Read more

65 customers mention "Humor"45 positive20 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's humor, with some finding it very funny and witty, while others note it's not as silly as expected.

"...I expected the same here, but was pleasantly surprise. It was funny and entertaining...." Read more

"...Pride & Prejudice and Zombies" was witty, it was fun, and it was...for a lack of a better term... completely deranged...." Read more

"...against vampires is filled with this same, ultimately predictable, choppiness...." Read more

"...If you're a fan of historical novels, scifi, and dark humor this book will suck you right in." Read more

124 customers mention "Plot"4 positive120 negative

Customers find the plot of the book dull and unsatisfying.

"...Don't believe the hype. This is a bad book." Read more

"Okay, the movie was terrible! I would love to see this novel done well as a TV series--hint, hint...." Read more

"...Of all the books I read last year, this was the best. I was very disappointed in the movie. It lacked the coolness of the book...." Read more

"...The plot was dull, dull, dull. I read 40% of the way through, but I had to quit because it was going nowhere very slowly...." Read more

I was unhappy with the condition of this book. The cover and spine has a stickiness to it.
1 out of 5 stars
I was unhappy with the condition of this book. The cover and spine has a stickiness to it.
I intended to donate this book to a library, but because of the condition, I decided not to. It did not come in the condition in which I believed it should have come in. Very dissappointed.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Karen K.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Clever Idea, Brilliantly Executed (but NOT the movie)
    Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    If you're like me, you've avoided reading Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. The idea of the novel seems positively laughable, a cheeky piece of gimickry designed to cash in on the vampire craze. I once thought the same thing and I could not have been more wrong. This is a brilliant bit of fiction, darkly thrilling and completely engrossing. Waiting so long to read it was one of my bigger book mistakes - thank goodness I read it before I saw the absolutely terrible film. The movie shares the title, but it's significantly different from the book and not in a good way, either.

    Had Thomas Lincoln been a man of a more stalwart nature, his son might never have become the sixteenth President of the United States. Thomas, however, was neither ambitious nor stalwart and he did nothing to prevent his wife's death at the hands of a vampire money lender. Indeed, as Mr. Grahame-Smith indicates, it could be argued that Thomas virtually handed his wife over to the vampire who killed her. It was this, his mother's death and his father's failure to protect her, that led Abraham Lincoln to a career as a vampire hunter. And it was this singular career that propelled him into his extraordinary life in politics. Without vampires, or more correctly, without his abiding hatred of them, Mr. Lincoln might have remained a humble midwest farmer or a small town lawyer. But with the vampire menace threatening the very fabric of a blissfully ignorant nation, Abraham Lincoln rose to become the greatest President America has ever known.

    There are so many ways this novel could have failed, could have been reduced to a one-line joke. It is a testament to Mr. Grahame-Smith's skill and imagination that Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter not only does not fail, it succeeds brilliantly and on every level. At it's core, this novel is a better than average biography of the President, albeit with some fangy extras thrown in. It is entirely due to the author's extensive research, inventive plot and not inconsiderable skill with the written word that - were it not for the the implausibility of vampires - it would be very difficult to separate fact from fiction in this outstanding novel. Don't make the same mistakes I did: read Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter as soon as you can, but don't waste your money on the movie.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Janyaa
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Spoonful of Vampires Helps the History Go Down
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Before I start reviewing this book, I have a confession to make. I started out really biased against this book. I first heard about this title while sitting in a theater and watching the trailer for the movie that is coming out based on the book.

    My initial impression was that someone must have chosen randomly drawn topics out of a (top)hat and decided to write a novel about it.

    The fact that it was based around Abraham Lincoln made me feel even worse about it. Abraham Lincoln! A vampire hunter?! It just felt so irreverant and disrespectful towards such a wonderful man. A man who had done so much to contribute to our way of life in this country.

    I thought, surely he must be rolling in his grave at this very moment. Needless to say, I had no intention of reading the book OR watching the movie.

    Then, one day, I was talking to my local barista. (I have a Starbucks habit that keeps them in business and their stockholders happy.) He happened to mention that he had just finished the Hunger Games trilogy.

    I didn't know he was a reader, so when I found out, I recommended the Molly Fyde series by Hugh Howey as a follow-up. Especially if he was looking for something somewhat similar and equally satisfying.

    While he seemed happy to take my recommendation, he mentioned that he'd already started another book, which just happened to be Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

    I'll admit, my first thought was one of disdain. It's not something that I'm proud of, but I find that I can be a bit of a book snob. Not openly, of course! I was polite. However, my inner nose turned up a bit at the mention.

    So, I just smiled and nodded, grabbed my coffee and went on my way.

    Well, the very next day, Hugh Howey (the very same author that I had been recommending to my barista friend) posted a link to Enphy's blog review of his Wool book. I happily followed the link and found that we had both been equally impressed with Howey's book.

    This made me want to see what else he had read recently, and wouldn't you know it? Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter was the most recent review. Not only that, but it was pretty positive.

    Now I'm thinking I might have to check it out, because it's already been established that we have similar taste in books. So, I started toying around with the idea of reading it. However, I wasn't wholly convinced.

    Later that week, I came back from another one of my coffee jaunts, and happened to mention to my co-worker that my barista recommended this book (as a continuation of our previous conversation.)

    Now, my co-worker and I don't have a lot in common, but the one thing we DO have in common is we're both readers and tend to gravitate towards the same kind of books. In fact, it was he that referred me to both the Hunger Games trilogy last year and Ready Player One. In turn, I recommended Wool to him (which he loved.)
    As I'm telling him about my follow-up conversation with my barista he says, "Oh yeah, actually, that book was pretty good."

    That was it, I made up my mind right then to read it, keep an open mind, and decide for myself what I thought of it.

    Almost despite myself, I found that I was captivated by the storyline. The introduction takes on the tone that this is a real accounting of events by the author. Similar to the tactic used in the Blair Witch Project.

    (Do you remember that movie? The whole lead up to the premier of that movie they tried to get everybody to believe the video was real footage taken by a couple of kids in the woods and was "discovered." I think it was the first time that method was used to promote a movie.)

    The history of Abraham Lincoln, and that entire time period, is so interesting on it's own, that the underlying vampire theme actually seemed superfluous at times. That being said, the author did a remarkable job weaving the two worlds (both real and fanciful) together.

    In fact, the amount of research and historical knowledge was so impressive that I found myself thinking, "Wow! I didn't know that!" on more than one occassion. It inspired me to do a bit of fact checking and searching on my own; whether it was to verify something, or just because my own curiosity was spurred to learn more.

    (Slight spoiler ahead; although I don't think it really counts as one, since we all know how Lincoln dies.)

    For example, one of the things I didn't know was that the body guard, John F. Parker, hadn't even been at his post the night that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Amazingly, he had left his chair to find a better seat in which to watch the play.

    Not only that, but he left the theater entirely during intermission and had actually gone over to the saloon next door to have a few drinks. No one knows for sure if he even returned for the second act! However, it is very clear, he was not sitting on his chair and guarding the hallway at the time Boothe went to assassinate the president.

    I thought this seemed so remarkable; surely the author was embellishing the story! So, I looked it up, and read an article on the the Smithsonian's website that confirmed it was true! Can you believe it?!

    Nowadays with how strict our security is surrounding the President, it seems almost preposterous that only one, drunkard guy would be in charge of Lincoln's safety. I don't know, maybe that's just illustrating my own deficiency in history.

    What I thought was brilliant is how Grahame-Smith weaves our nation's history of slavery and vampires together. The outcome of this struggle would decide the fate of our country and whether or not all of us (not just slaves) would be allowed to be free, independent humans- or a country of livestock for our vampire owners.

    Another thing I liked was that the vampires in this book were not the stereotypical, over-sexualized creatures that we've all come to expect. These were as varied as the humans they fed upon, but not romanticized in the usual fashion.

    Overall, the story that Grahame-Smith puts together is a quick, entertaining read. In the end, I couldn't help thinking- like a spoonful of sugar- if vampires can cause people to access more history, then I look forward to another installment!

    George Washington the Werewolf, perhaps?
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Balwinder
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quality was very good
    Reviewed in India on December 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The product was received in very good quality, very happy with the service
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  • P.C
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
    Reviewed in Canada on January 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Another interesting book. Love his book. It’s a classic
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  • alberto a.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Avvertenze: spegnere il cervello prima dell'uso
    Reviewed in Italy on August 31, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Divertente variazione sul tema vampiresco, che si intreccia con la carriera politica di Honest Abe, la guerra civile americana e la conseguente l'abolizione della schiavitù. Visto come romanzo fantasy è tutt'altro che memorabile, ma si lascia leggere abbastanza bene e non annoia (quasi) mai.
    Mezza stella in meno per il finale, che riesce ad essere scontato e inconguente allo stesso tempo.
    Preso a 89c è stato un affare, a un prezzo diverso ci penserei 2 volte (nella sezione classici ci sono millemila libri di vampiri migliori).
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  • Ultraume
    5.0 out of 5 stars 事実とパロディの混じった不思議な話
    Reviewed in Japan on June 4, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    　なんとも奇妙な話である。アメリカ合衆国第十六代大統領はヴァンパイア・ハンターだった、というものである。もちろんこれはパロディではあるが、この本には実在の人達が多く出てくる。従って、歴史上の事実と著者による奇想天外な話が交互に記述されるのであった。

    　リンカンがヴァンパイア・ハンターになった動機と、その後の行動は衝撃的である（この話の核心を成す箇所なのでここでは書かない）。アブラハムは良いヴァンパイア（こういうヴァンパイアも居たそうである）の助力でアメリカに住み着いていた悪いヴァンパイアを退治するようになる。奴隷解放の動機の一つでさえ、この本ではヴァンパイアのせいにしている。それは、ヴァンパイアにとっては、奴隷の血であれば一般の人達のものよりも自由に吸うことができるからである。というような話なので、その馬鹿馬鹿しさをある程度許容しながら読む必要がある。
    　
    　一方で、なかなか感銘的で重々しい事実も書かれている。南部に支援されてアブラハムと戦う生涯の政敵、スティーブン・ダグラス、との討論において、彼の述べる、「黒人が投票権を持つことになって、あげくの果てには陪審員となって白人を裁くことになってもいいのか、」という演説に対するアブラハムの反論、「黒人は多くの点で我々白人とは違うが、我々と同じ人間である、」は、それが1858年８月に行われたものであることを考えると、それから間もなく奴隷解放宣言によって法律上の奴隷は居なくなったものの、100年経ってもまだ南部では黒人差別が続いていたことを思い起こさせ、奴隷解放に続く黒人差別の解消が長い道のりであったことに気づくのだった。

    　細部にこだわると筋書きとしては雑駁なところもあるが、読みやすいし、おもしろかった。それにしてもアメリカ人はヴァンパイアの話が好きなもんだ、前に読んだ「Twilight」もそうだったし、それもベストセラーになった本である。日本の怪談に匹敵するのだろうか。
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  • Logan Lady
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ein Präsident, der dem Biss ein Ende setzt
    Reviewed in Germany on October 5, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Was sagt mir Abraham Lincoln? Er war amerikanischer Präsident, Sklavenbefreier und ist heute noch auf der 5-Dollar-Note der USA zu sehen. Jetzt, nach Lektüre des Buches, weiß ich: er war auch Vampirjäger. Und zwar ein erfolgreicher.

    "Abraham Lincoln - Vampirjäger" ist mein erstes Buch von Seth Grahame- Smith und ich bin begeistert. Er verwebt sehr geschickt Wahrheit und Fiktion, lässt die Vampirjagd genau so real erscheinen wie die geschichtlichen Details.

    Der Stil des Autors ist flüssig zu lesen. Durch das Verbinden von Tagebucheinträgen und Erzählungen aus Sicht einer dritten Person wirkt die Erzählung locker und zugleich spannend. Ich hatte zu Beginn Bedenken, ob Grahame- Smith seine Grundidee des Vampirjägers durchziehen kann. Doch diese Bedenken waren unbegründet. Selten habe ich eine Geschichte gelesen, deren roter Faden so konsequent durchgezogen worden ist.

    Toll finde ich, dass sich der Autor auch dem Aufstieg des jungen Lincoln widmet, der einen Gegenpol zu seiner Arbeit als Jäger bildet. So ist die Geschichte ausgewogen und konnte mich bei der Stange halten.

    Fazit: eine geniale Buchidee, die auch noch sehr gut umgesetzt worden ist. Eine klare Leseempfehlung.
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