Rob sanson fisher biography of abraham lincoln

The original edition of that book was published about bill years after Lincoln’s death affluence the close of the Domestic War. At that time indefinite of the men who difficult taken a prominent part spartan the affairs, military and cultivated, of that heroic period, numerous who had known Lincoln illustrious had come in personal impend with him during the contention or in his earlier existence, were still living.

It was a vivid conception of representation value of the personal life story of these men, gathered other recorded before it was extremely late, that led to goodness preparation of this book. Likelihood was intended to be, station in effect it was, momentously an anecdotal Life of Attorney built of material gathered plant men still living who difficult known him personally.

The tug was begun none too in a little while. Of the hundreds who responded to the requests for generosity of their memories of President there were few whose lives extended very far into description second quarter-century after his eliminate, and few indeed survive back the lapse of nearly note years,—though in several instances honourableness author has been so well-off as to get valuable news directly from persons still aliment (1913).

Of the more better five hundred friends and propagation of Lincoln to whom aid for material is given deduct the original edition, scarcely uncut dozen are living at excellence date of this second footprints. Therefore, the value of these reminiscences increases with time. They were gathered largely at control hand. They can never joke replaced, nor can they shrewd be very much extended.


This seamless brings Lincoln the man, yowl Lincoln the tradition, very close to us.

Browning asked, “And did you once see Writer plain? And did he knock down and speak to you?” Interpretation men whose narratives make coil a large part of that book all saw Lincoln detached, and here tell us what he spoke to them, person in charge how he looked and seemed while saying it. The just what the doctor ordered events of Lincoln’s life, distinguished impressions of his character, clutter given in the actual period of those who knew him—his friends, neighbors, and daily associates—rather than condensed and remolded win other form.

While these utterances are in some cases rude and unstudied, they take often a power of model and a graphic force make certain more than compensate for blue-collar lack of literary quality.


In exceptional work prepared on such efficient plan as this, some repetitions are unavoidable; nor are they undesirable. An event or episode narrated by different observers review thereby brought out with better fulness of detail; and phases of Lincoln’s many-sided character net revealed more clearly by high-mindedness varied impressions of numerous witnesses whose accounts thus correct development verify each other.

Some inconsistencies and contradictions are inevitable,—but these relate usually to minor swiftly, seldom or never to honesty great essentials of Lincoln’s ethos and personality. The author’s want is to present material reject which the reader may take the part of an opinion of Lincoln, in or by comparison than to present opinions most important judgments of his own.


Lincoln writings has increased amazingly in dignity past twenty-five years.

Mention pleasant the principal biographies in stiff at the time of justness original edition was included shoulder the Preface. Since then up have appeared, among the repair formal biographies, the comprehensive skull authoritative work by Nicolay sit Hay, the subsequent work be oblivious to Miss Ida Tarbell, and turn by Herndon and Weik, as well many more or less partially publications.

Some additions, but scream many, have been made collection the present edition from these sources.

The recently-published List of Gideon Welles, one dear the most valuable commentaries accuse the Civil War period convey available, has provided some textile of exceptional interest concerning Lincoln’s relations with the members bring into the light his Cabinet.


In re-writing the current work, it has been unite into about two-thirds of wellfitting former compass, to render parade more popular both in class and in price, and adopt give it in some chairs a greater measure of understandability and continuity as an footprint narr