The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln

One of the finest Lincoln scholars provides an excellent examination of Lincoln's many-faceted personality. Burlingame consulted a wide variety of information sources and used them well. His thoroughly documents his narrative.

The organization of this book is not presented in a chronological time scale as most books are. Instead, the author breaks up facets of Lincoln's emotions and personality traits, and then takes us through his whole life, examining the influence of each facet. Only thinking in this manner do I clearly imagine myself in his shoes, feeling what he felt, and in awe of the strength required to break the rebellion, and provide a land where each man's hand could feed that own man's face.

Finally a work comes out that eschews the sugar-coated lies we have been spoon fed since grammar school regarding the fairy tale life of our 16th President. Mary Todd Lincoln is spared all revisionist attempts at painting her neuroses in a charming, adorable light and she is revealed for what she really was - a monstrous, chilidish, shrew of a woman! Great work, and I shall introduce it to my students as the defining truth of the Lincoln marriage and White House.

The author uses not only "the tools of psychobiography" but also solid research and clear exposition in this stimulating reexamination of the psychology and character of one of our most complex and enigmatic leaders. Utilizing such themes of Lincoln's midlife crisis, the roots of his hatred of slavery (which should, but probably will not, correct much uninformed opinion), his tragic family life, and his famous depression, Burlingame brings an acute understanding to the mysteries of the past, to shed light where darkness reigned, in the best tradition of history writing. This is a work which should be on every Lincoln bookshelf, and is of more than passing interest to the general reader as well. Highly recommended. (The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This review does not "score" books.)

The author uses not only "the tools of psychobiography" but also solid research and clear exposition in this stimulating reexamination of the psychology and character of one of our most complex and enigmatic leaders. Utilizing such themes of Lincoln's midlife crisis, the roots of his hatred of slavery (which should, but probably will not, correct much uninformed opinion), his tragic family life, and his famous depression, Burlingame brings an acute understanding to the mysteries of the past, to shed light where darkness reigned, in the best tradition of history writing. This is a work which should be on every Lincoln bookshelf, and is of more than passing interest to the general reader as well. Highly recommended.(Please note this review refers to the hardback edition.) (The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This review does not "score" books.)