Lincoln as I Knew Him: Gossip, Tributes, and Revelations from His Best Friends and Worst Enemies

by Harold Holzer

Book Overview

Forget what you think you know about Abraham Lincoln. Yes, he was a brilliant orator, a shrewd politician, and a determined leader who guided us through the bloodiest war in American history. But he... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 156512166X
• ISBN13: 9781565121669
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
• Length: 269 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.7" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

A MUST FOR ANY COMPLETE LINCOLN LIBRARY

One of the challenges one faces when studying the life of Abraham Lincoln is the rampant deification that began virtually when John Wilkes Boothe fired his fatal shot on the evening of April 14, 1865.Since that day biographies have abounded that have, in most instances painted the venerable president in the most friendly and adoring hues possible, making it difficult, if not impossible to have a true look at one of the greatest men to ever live. Where can one go who wants a quick and accurate overview?This small book, Lincoln as I Knew Him: Gossip, Tributes and Revelations from His Best Friends and Worst Enemies, edited by Harold Holzer, offers a solution.The book offers excerpts from the personal writings of many who knew him best. These memoirs offer views of a complex individual who suffered from fits of nearly overpowering depression and doubt, was one of the tallest figures of his time and extremely down-to-earth and accessible. These personal accounts provide detail about his numerous idiosyncrasies regarding personal grooming, and diet.Lincoln As I Knew Him is a wonderful book, offering and up close and personal look a man whose life and impact on the United States will be remembered for forever. If you've read numerous Lincoln biographies as I have you still won't want to miss this one. Douglas McAllister

Simpy a great book.

I have about 100 books on Lincoln and this is one of the best, it draws on stories from some others but it is an easy and very good read for those who want incites into perhaps or greatest President as told by those who knew him and heard him speak.

A Must Have for all Fans of Lincoln!

As a person who has spent much time studying Lincoln and the Civil War, I found this book to be one of the most interesting books I've read. The author has done an excellent job of finding short, concise accounts of Lincoln. This is a book which you can go back to many times and re-read. This would be a great read for high school American History classes.

Lincoln As I Knew Him -- What a Guy

Harold Holzer has done it again. Talk about consistency. This Lincoln scholar has created probably the most readable and intimate portrait of Abraham Lincoln to have come around in quite some time. While the excerpts are telling, the best part of the experience are the introductions to each excerpt. This is very much akin to getting a private guided tour to an extraordinary man and his era. It reminds me of the audiocassettes one gets at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (where Mr. Holzer also works) -- with the director of the museum providing an intimate portraits of the works of art before us. What is most telling at a time when we begin our own quest for our next president, is to learn that a man like Lincoln was just that -- a man -- but one with an extraordinary gift to connect to other men and women in a way that even today most politicians fail to understand or perhaps to mimic. I would have loved to have known Mr. Lincoln, but at least Harold Holzer gives us the next best thing -- recollections from those who did. And we're all better for it as a result. Pick this book up when you become dismayed at today's political discourse or the lack thereof -- and learn something about the failings and triumphs of the human spirit.

I Like Getting to know this guy!

As soon as I saw Harold Holzer on bookTV I immediately went out and bought this book. It is such a joy! I feel closer to Lincoln and feel I can summon him up more fully in my mind. The observations of those who knew him, especially before his assassination and deification are so telling, about the observer as much as the observed. It is clear that many focused on all that was unimportant about a person - physical appearance, clothing, sophistication and the like. In these categories Lincoln was clearly deficient. However, most saw through that and were touched by the power of this incredible man. Thank you, Harold, for this delicious book.