
Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Volume One
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Narrated by:
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Sean Pratt
In the first multivolume biography of Abraham Lincoln to be published in decades, Lincoln scholar Michael Burlingame offers a fresh look at the life of one of America's greatest presidents. Incorporating the field notes of earlier biographers along with decades of research in multiple manuscript archives and long-neglected newspapers, this remarkable work will both alter and reinforce our current understanding of America's 16th president.
Volume 1 covers Lincoln's early childhood, his experiences as a farm boy in Indiana and Illinois, his legal training, and the political ambition that led to a term in Congress in the 1840s. In Volume 2, Burlingame examines Lincoln's life during his presidency and the Civil War, narrating in fascinating detail the crisis over Fort Sumter and Lincoln's own battles with relentless office seekers, hostile newspaper editors, and incompetent field commanders. Burlingame also offers new interpretations of Lincoln's private life, discussing his marriage to Mary Todd and the untimely deaths of two sons to disease. But through it all - his difficult childhood, his contentious political career, a fratricidal war, and tragic personal losses - Lincoln preserved a keen sense of humor and acquired a psychological maturity that proved to be the North's most valuable asset in winning the Civil War.
This landmark audiobook establishes Burlingame as the most assiduous Lincoln biographer of recent memory and brings Lincoln alive as never before.
©2016 Michael Burligame (P)2016 Gildan Media LLCListeners also enjoyed...




















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I found the psychoanalyzing incredibly annoying at times ("Lincoln may have mistrusted women because of his abandonment issues following his mother's death" and such) but the author's use of direct quotations and citing of first and secondhand sources throughout the book really makes it stand out among other well-regarded biographies.
Fantastically in-depth
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Exceptionally entertaining and moving
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Quite thorough, a little dry
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This one ends with him boarding the train for Washington, DC in Springfield. The narrator is especially talented in delivering the various voices and comments from the various people in his life with accents north and south male and female accurately rendered.
History at its most detailed Best
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1) Given it's so long and detailed, it would have been helpful if there was a little more reference here and there to who individuals were. Ex: Senator Bob (who he lived with after we bought that blue unicorn) more important people may even include something like this (discussed in chapter 5 page 200 / minute 36), but maybe there is something like that in the written version?
2) He frequently makes reference to things like "probably written by Lincoln" without giving reason for why he / history believes that Lincoln was the author. The assumptions feel lazy, and out of place in a book that clearly includes a lot of research.
3) He makes a lot of statements giving his assumptions about Lincoln's thoughts and feelings on various matters. Most without any real backing, and therefore come across more like the authors opinions than Lincoln's. He did this on other matters as well (most notably in the beginning when talking about Lincoln's mother / depression / her reputation) but most frequently surrounding Lincoln's thoughts. It felt sloppy and inappropriate.
4) There are many old time sayings or stories that a modern day explanation would have been helpful to include, as they didn't always make sense to me.
Going into it, you have to decide how much backstory you want on his life and circumstances surrounding events, because this gives a lot. If you're looking for less backstory and are more interested in covering important people and events, you'll likely find this a bit dry and slow. If you want details, this gives an impressive amount. I have suggested it to others who I felt would also appreciate it.
Very detailed
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Fantastic content
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his humility
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The most comprehensive Lincoln biography ever
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highly recommended
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In-depth Telling of a Man’s Journey
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