Mr. Lincoln's Wars: A Novel in Thirteen Stories

This was quite possibly the most brilliantly written book I have ever read. From the moment I bought it and began reading, I was hard pressed to put it down. It is a collection of thirteen stories, written from different points of view: Lincoln himself, Mary Todd, and other Americans whose lives were touched in some way by Lincoln. Adam Braver does not sugar coat anything and takes risks. He was not afraid to show the harsh reality of the time period to his readers. He took one of history's most fascinating men and questioned what he must have gone through being the leader of a country, still just a toddler in it's development, that was trying to tear itself apart. How does a man deal with that on his conscience? These are the types of things Braver explores through his fiction. These are emotions and thoughts and experiences none of us can possibly know or understand as they truly occured. A novel like this could not be nonfiction. People looking for a 100% historically accurate account on the life of Abraham Lincoln may be disappointed. But people who will embrace this incredibly fresh and brilliant writing voice, and are curious about the trials this truly unique and amazing man went through will be blessed forever with the possession of this novel. Anyone not willing to face the "seething hell" (Walt Whitman) of this time period should not read this book. It's not light-hearted to say the least. But it explores Abraham Lincoln, how he became what he was and how he dealt with his world...his wars. I eagerly await the second novel of this truly gifted author. And I congratulate him for having the courage to take on such an incredible topic for his first publication.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Mr. Lincoln's Wars'. Adam Braver has depicted the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, and those around him, in a refreshing collection of short stories. The author's writing style is engaging and I eagerly look forward to the release of his second book.

"Mr. Lincoln's Wars" is one of the most moving books I have read to date. It shows Lincoln and the world around him in its most metaphorical sense -- a world haunted by sadness, confusion, and the human will to persevere. The stories revolving around Lincoln are often sadly poignant, showing the president at his most introspective. The book is also complemented by stories that show ordinary people and thier relationships to the "idea" of Lincoln. These stories make for a stark contrast to the world of Lincoln that is presented to us -- showing us the humanity in all people. I suspect that detractors may be missing the point: "Mr. Lincoln's Wars" is not a book for "learning" something new about Abraham Lincoln, instead it is about seeing the humanity of the confusing world that we still live in.

I loved this book! I loved how it managed to present the historic theme as contemporary literature. It takes you right into a world that is as familiar as the one we are living in. I devoured it in two hours on a six-hour flight.

These 13 connecting stories powerfully explore President Lincoln's humanity as he deals with his son's death, his wife's madness, and his personal agony over lives lost in the Civil War. Beautifully written historical fiction.