Review of Abraham Lincoln: A Biography by Benjamin P. Thomas

Abraham Lincoln: A Biography, by Benjamin P. Thomas, is generally considered one of the main texts about the life of Abraham Lincoln. This book chronicles the life of Lincoln from his early years spent in Illinois and nearby states, through his legal and political careers, to his assassination after the culmination of the Civil War. Throughout the book, Thomas frequently attempts to determine the veracity of the frequently reported events of Lincoln's life, and spends considerable time divining which events occurred, and which were fabricated stories. The end result is that the reader can be relatively certain that they are viewing a clear picture of Lincoln's entire life.

In general, it seems that there is little about Thomas' work to criticize. His careful examination of the evidence allows him to reveal where other authors have misrepresented or wholly fabricated tales of Lincoln's early life. Interestingly enough, Lincoln's presidency is not given an inordinate amount of space or attention, but receives space appropriate to its duration, relative to the other events of his life. Another highlight of this work is Thomas' insight into Lincoln's motives, as well as the motives of those who surrounded him. The brief sketches he presents of Lincoln's Cabinet members and some of the Civil War generals allow for a fascinating comparison with the actions and words of the main subject of his study. Additionally, Thomas' skillful maintenance of Lincoln as the central figure of the Civil War, which is only appropriate in a biography of Lincoln, provides an interesting contrast between this book and most other books written about the Civil War era, which are largely concerned with the action in the field, and only briefly mention the politics of the situation from the official standpoint. His writing style is fluid and easy to comprehend, making this book an excellent choice for both the scholar and the non-scholar.