Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Volume Two

By: Michael Burlingame

Narrated by: 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.

In volume 2, Burlingame examines Lincoln's presidency and the trials of the Civil War. He supplies fascinating details on the crisis over Fort Sumter and the relentless office seekers who plagued Lincoln. He introduces listeners to the president's battles with hostile newspaper editors and his quarrels with incompetent field commanders. Burlingame also interprets Lincoln's private life, discussing his marriage to Mary Todd, the untimely death of his son, Willie, to disease in 1862, and his recurrent anguish over the enormous human costs of the war.

©2016 Michael Burligame (P)2016 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

"A magisterial enterprise." (William Safire, New York Times)

In A Word: Thorough

Any additional comments?

(Disclaimer: I have not listened to Volume I). This is an excellent, IN DEPTH, expoloration of Lincoln's Presidency and his troubled, turbulent Times. As my one word summary suggests, this book is extremely thorough, at times a bit too much, but having guessed that this would be the case beforehand, I am still very satisfied with the outcome.

As a bonus, the reading performance is also excellent, and Mr. Pratt does a good job of keeping his voice acting consistent, believeable and entertaining.

In particular, I have been looking for a single source that delivers as much of Lincoln's actual words, written and spoken, as possible, and here, this book certainly delivers. I have learned many new and interesting tidbits, anecdotes and jokes emanating from our rather opaque but incredibly deep and gifted 16th President that I had not come across in other sources. This alone makes the book a worthy purchase, in my humble opinion.

As for those reviewers complaining of how detailed this volume is- when clocking in at almost 49 hours of material, I have just one question: what did you expect?

Of course, some information could perhaps be trimmed just a bit (for example, with each new public utterance from the president, the author seems determined to find every single public and private response they can dig up, which often takes up a lot of time (but which can also be easily skipped over once the reader gets the jist).

Additionally, the author often quotes newspaper editorials without giving any indication as to what partisan leanings that source had a reputation for in the past, which might have better informed the listener as to any background bias (for example, Abolitionist, Copperhead-supporting, etc.) and thus let the reader add or detract weight to the praise or condemnation being offered.

Overall, however, this is an excellent, detailed historical narration of Lincon as our nation's leader from his train journey into DC until well after his tragic death, and all the supporting cast and activities which made this period one of the most interesting and important in our American story.

Thank you for your scholarship, Mr. Burlingame.

Lincoln Bio vol 2 by M. Burlingame A Must Listen

Excellent in every way! Mary Todd Lincoln wins the crown for one of our worse First Ladies—a kleptomaniac, selfish, greedy, prone to public temper tantrums—akin to a recent ex-POTUS indicted for White House theft, Mary also looted the White House when she exited—but of silver, linens, china, etc.

A Magnificent and Important Book

This two-volume work is long. However, the investment of time and thought required to read it is well worthwhile. Burlingame's comprehensive biography draws on a remarkable quantity of contemporaneous documents; letters, diaries, newspapers and many other sources. The effect is to leave the reader with a clear sense of the evolving political, social, economic and cultural context in which Lincoln's life and work unfolded. Most important, this biography reveals the profound significance of Abraham Lincoln to our country and the world. I recommend it highly.

THE definitive narrative on Lincoln

...and the adio performance brought it all to live in dramatic audio color. The audio add on to the Kindle version never downloaded properly, and I wound up purchasing the audio books separately a second time, one for each volume. Apart from the expensive technical glitches, the work itself and the audio recordings are impeccable and thoroughly immersive.

I recommend

I loved listening to this although it was long, my one minor complaint is that it didn't move thru chronological esp in second book but more topically, maybe this was the best way to do it but it isolated his work on the war from his family life because it didn't deal with it together but touched on one and then retraced somewhat in time to touch on the other. But it worked and was an amazing way to learn about an amazing man.

Excellent biography

I listen to/read many biographies Chernow, Caro, Gwynn, Flexner … etc - these 2 volumes are among my favorite.

Encyclopedic Treatment of Lincoln's Life

This book is clearly a labor of love. Far more detail than in any other Lincoln biography that I've read. Don't be put off by its length. If you approach it as a collection of exhaustive monographs then you will be well pleased.

100 Hours of Excellence

I have just completed this second book and with it this excellent series by Burlingame. I have not read anything on Lincoln before and this biography managed to both generate in me, and satisfy my, interest with each chapter. A great book deserves a great narrator and Sean Pratt's deep catalouge of voices, tone, cadence, all add to the storytelling in just the right measure.

Exceptional

I object to having
15 words to describe such a book. WTH does that accomplish?

Outstanding!

I was glued to this presentation. And the narrator was superb. I told my husband that there is another man in my life and his name is Abraham Lincoln. I have never been more affected by the biography of anyone, as I have been with his story.