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Brian Willis's Reviews > Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times
Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times
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My personal pick as (non-fiction) Book of the Year 2020.
If you have read dozens of books on the Civil War, Lincoln, and the surrounding aspects, this is STILL a fascinating and revelatory read. Even having read the truly outstanding Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, a fly-on-the-wall look at Lincoln's Presidency/i.e. Civil War from the Cabinet Room, another truly outstanding book, this book will uncover and illuminate multiple aspects of Lincoln's life and likely thoughts than any other book out there.
This is a cultural history. Other reviewers here have pointed out that this aspect doesn't make this a biography of Lincoln.
I disagree.
The "cradle to grave" linear perspective is still here. You learn all of the timeline aspects of his life in a roughly chronological order. Indeed, it is surprising how linear the book is in this aspect.
The first several hundred pages (beautiful layout, largish print, deckle edged, so many great illustrations and photos - it really is an aethestically - and culturally - beautiful looking book to read and hold) covers the frontier years and the aspects of life that Lincoln would have referenced in his mind based on his knowledge of popular culture. The second section of his life focuses on how he emerged as a lawyer and political figure, and vigorously counters recent commentators on accusations of "racism" on his evolving positions on race (Reynolds strictly defends Abe on charges of racism here). The last couple of hundred pages deals with the Presidential years, and don't expect a chronological history of the Civil War when you get there. The assassination is grippingly told, though strictly chronological.
It's about the cultural references. The intersection between popular and educational reading, Blondin (read the book to learn about this daredevil type-rope walker as a common metaphor for Lincoln), and Harriet Beecher Stowe (a more obvious cultural reference). It's about the basic premise of this book, that rethreads the original cultural construct of Puritanism vs. Cavalierism here. In two spoiler free sentences, America saw itself during this period - as convincingly rediscovered here by Reynolds - as a nation in the aftershocks of the English Civil War. The North (Puritans) were seen as the strict, authoritarian, moralistic side of this conflict, and the South as the Cavalier, conservative, medieval, honor based society that was projected by their media. It's a forgotten aspect that makes much sense in the ensuing conflict. Of course it was about the traditional ideas of Unionism vs. Slavery; but those have been submerged in this book about the currents of that time. That the North and the South (to be so reductive as to be simplistic - yes, it was much more complicated) were ideologically and culturally diverse enough to be irreconcilable without a Civil War. That Lincoln was the Blondin who rode the tightrope of politics to portray moderatism while steadily moving towards abolitionism.
There is obviously so much more going on here. The main text is 930+ pages of pure bliss, with plenty of inset photographs and portraiture (no Civil War maps, and surprisingly fast to read for that page count because of illustrations and font size) that continue to illustrate Reynolds's main idea: that Lincoln was the main conciliator and compromiser despite turbulent times. Lincoln was the perfect person for this moment. And it was precisely because of his understanding of America's popular culture that he was able to inspire the Union cause and our hearts ever since his iconic assassination.
If you know a bit about the times, this is actually the perfect biography. Not because every literal aspect of his life is uncovered, but because the cultural MIND is uncovered and it reinfuses the narrative and scope with new vigor. This probably won't get the prizes it deserves (Lincoln and the Civil War? Too many great books in that era already - though a Lincoln Prize should be in the offing) but it should be recognized as an invaluable contribution to the understanding of our greatest - and certainly most legendary POTUS alongside Washington- leader in the most difficult times. The assassination almost reads like a newspaper version of the story and the reader feels saddened over the loss of this man all over again.
If you are a Lincoln superfan, ESSENTIAL reading. If you are not, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. There must be a dozen essential biographies of Abe, but only this one makes you feel like you could understand his humor and anecdotes. Read.
If you have read dozens of books on the Civil War, Lincoln, and the surrounding aspects, this is STILL a fascinating and revelatory read. Even having read the truly outstanding Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, a fly-on-the-wall look at Lincoln's Presidency/i.e. Civil War from the Cabinet Room, another truly outstanding book, this book will uncover and illuminate multiple aspects of Lincoln's life and likely thoughts than any other book out there.
This is a cultural history. Other reviewers here have pointed out that this aspect doesn't make this a biography of Lincoln.
I disagree.
The "cradle to grave" linear perspective is still here. You learn all of the timeline aspects of his life in a roughly chronological order. Indeed, it is surprising how linear the book is in this aspect.
The first several hundred pages (beautiful layout, largish print, deckle edged, so many great illustrations and photos - it really is an aethestically - and culturally - beautiful looking book to read and hold) covers the frontier years and the aspects of life that Lincoln would have referenced in his mind based on his knowledge of popular culture. The second section of his life focuses on how he emerged as a lawyer and political figure, and vigorously counters recent commentators on accusations of "racism" on his evolving positions on race (Reynolds strictly defends Abe on charges of racism here). The last couple of hundred pages deals with the Presidential years, and don't expect a chronological history of the Civil War when you get there. The assassination is grippingly told, though strictly chronological.
It's about the cultural references. The intersection between popular and educational reading, Blondin (read the book to learn about this daredevil type-rope walker as a common metaphor for Lincoln), and Harriet Beecher Stowe (a more obvious cultural reference). It's about the basic premise of this book, that rethreads the original cultural construct of Puritanism vs. Cavalierism here. In two spoiler free sentences, America saw itself during this period - as convincingly rediscovered here by Reynolds - as a nation in the aftershocks of the English Civil War. The North (Puritans) were seen as the strict, authoritarian, moralistic side of this conflict, and the South as the Cavalier, conservative, medieval, honor based society that was projected by their media. It's a forgotten aspect that makes much sense in the ensuing conflict. Of course it was about the traditional ideas of Unionism vs. Slavery; but those have been submerged in this book about the currents of that time. That the North and the South (to be so reductive as to be simplistic - yes, it was much more complicated) were ideologically and culturally diverse enough to be irreconcilable without a Civil War. That Lincoln was the Blondin who rode the tightrope of politics to portray moderatism while steadily moving towards abolitionism.
There is obviously so much more going on here. The main text is 930+ pages of pure bliss, with plenty of inset photographs and portraiture (no Civil War maps, and surprisingly fast to read for that page count because of illustrations and font size) that continue to illustrate Reynolds's main idea: that Lincoln was the main conciliator and compromiser despite turbulent times. Lincoln was the perfect person for this moment. And it was precisely because of his understanding of America's popular culture that he was able to inspire the Union cause and our hearts ever since his iconic assassination.
If you know a bit about the times, this is actually the perfect biography. Not because every literal aspect of his life is uncovered, but because the cultural MIND is uncovered and it reinfuses the narrative and scope with new vigor. This probably won't get the prizes it deserves (Lincoln and the Civil War? Too many great books in that era already - though a Lincoln Prize should be in the offing) but it should be recognized as an invaluable contribution to the understanding of our greatest - and certainly most legendary POTUS alongside Washington- leader in the most difficult times. The assassination almost reads like a newspaper version of the story and the reader feels saddened over the loss of this man all over again.
If you are a Lincoln superfan, ESSENTIAL reading. If you are not, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. There must be a dozen essential biographies of Abe, but only this one makes you feel like you could understand his humor and anecdotes. Read.
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