This is a terrific biography of Abraham Lincoln (well, the first of three volumes). Some time ago, I read another fine biography of Lincoln, this one penned by David Herbert Donald. Several themes emerge in this portion of Lincoln's life (1809-1849): a more full blown discussion of his relationship with his father; his developing views on slavery, his struggle to make something of himself, his early interactions with Stephen Douglas, his marriage to Mary Todd, and so on.
His father, Thomas, lived a hardscrabble life. Living in the slave state of Kentucky, he was one of the white residents who had to work hard for very little money. He came to despise slavery and this led him to move to Indiana. He was hard on his son, and later, Lincoln made comments suggesting that his life was so hard that he felt something like a slave. His enmity toward the "peculiar institution" began early in life.
With a move to Illinois, Lincoln settled in a new community, New Salem, and later moved to Springfield. He began to try to make something of himself and began to become a visible part of the community. He edged into politics and became a lawyer. In the 1830s, he had his first encounters with Douglas, with whom he was fated to joust politically for many years. While Douglas' political star rose, Lincoln's was sporadic, some time in the state legislature and one term in Congress. He became a figure among Whigs, often working behind the scenes, as he had seldom been in office.
Of course, his on and off courtship of Mary Todd is rightly discussed at length. She was keenly interested in politics and she and L>incoln were partners in a number of respects. She was very ambitious for his success. She came from a leading family in Kentucky, so, as they say, Lincoln had married "above himself."
The book provides great detail on this part of Lincoln's life. The oft-told tale of his boat trip to New Orleans and his view of a slave society and treatment of Africans had a great impact on him.
One characteristic of this (and the next) volume is that at times the book leaves the narrative of Abraham Lincoln and spends time on the context in which Lincoln was growing up. The politics of the day, the leading political figures, the conflicts. . . . At times, I would think--'Where is Lincoln?" But, in the end, this embedded his life story within a larger perspective and enlightens the reading.
All in all, a very fine book on Abraham Lincoln. One of the best that I have read.
| ASIN | 147677725X |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster; 1st Edition (May 10, 2016) |
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 576 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 9781476777252 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1476777252 |
| Item Weight | 1.94 pounds |
| Dimensions | 6.25 x 1.5 x 9.25 inches |
