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Lincoln: A Photobiography Review

Lincoln comes alive as a compassionate, bold, and burdened President in this excellent nonfiction work. The book contains a wealth of photographs and illustrations from Lincoln's time. The text covers Lincoln's early life, passing over the well-known legends about his boyhood honesty and reading habits in favor of details that can be confirmed by the documentary record. It is this quality which makes this biography different from most. Freedman acknowledges the legends, but downplays them if they cannot be supported by contemporary evidence. The details about Civil War battles and decisions are kept to a minimum, and are all given from Lincoln's perspective.

The number of photographs of Lincoln included is astounding, given that most of his contemporaries were photographed once or twice in their lives, if at all. The print quality of these images is exceptionally good. One surprising bit of information from Freedman: Lincoln apparently had a high-pitched voice. The author mentions this twice, though without source documentation. Lincoln is commonly portrayed in re-enactments as speaking with a low, somber voice, one that matches his extreme height and lugubrious countenance. Perhaps someday the reality will influence the myth.

The book has three appendices, two of which are of limited use today, but one of which is timeless. The best is called "A Lincoln Sampler," and contains passages from his speeches, letters, and notes. Lincoln is justly famous for phrases from his Inauguration speeches and the Gettysburg Address, but Freedman here provides a glimpse of his writing in letters to friends and colleagues. One hears the same solemn tone, the same concern for the larger picture of what is right and just behind the details of governing. The other two appendices list books about Lincoln appropriate for young readers and places associated with him. The book list is somewhat useful, but the information provided for the historic places, such as the hours of operation and the phone numbers, is probably outdated by now.

This book would be appropriate for advanced middle school and high school students. It's a book meant to be looked at rather than read aloud, because of the pictures and because the details (dates, people and place names) come in rapid succession. His subject is complex and his available space short, so Freedman skips some exposition. For example, he talks about Lincoln's first two sons, Robert and Eddie, being born, then about Eddie dying. A few chapters later, while outlining Lincoln's days as a practicing lawyer, Freedman says, "Lincoln liked to take Willie and Tad to the office when he worked on Sundays." This is the first mention of Willie and Tad; a mature reader can infer that, though their births were not mentioned, they nevertheless are two other sons. Younger readers are still learning to make these leaps.

Lincoln: A Photobiography Feature

ISBN13: 9780899193809
Condition: New
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Lincoln: A Photobiography Overview

A description of the boyhood, marriage, and young professional life of Abraham Lincoln includes his presidential years and also reflects on the latest scholarly thoughts about our Civil War president. A Newberry Medal Book.

Lincoln: A Photobiography Specifications

This work is perhaps the most complete and enjoyable children's book ever written about one of the nation's most fascinating and important figures, Abraham Lincoln. Russell Freedman covers Lincoln's life and career in a balanced treatment that is enhanced by period photographs and drawings. The book won the Newbery Medal, the Jefferson Cup Award and the Golden Kite Honor Book Award, and earned a citation as School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.

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Customer Reviews

Lincoln in View - Judith Ann Kanne - Rensselaer, Indiana United States
This book is a favorite among students of all ages. I first used it in my Children's Literature classes, and the college students often chose this photobiography as their favorite of the semester reads. Recently, I read with fourth graders, and it again appears to be the best. The text is written well, and the photos are varied and rich. It is a win, win for all who purchase it and read the story of our American hero.

It was clear to me why this book won a Newberry medal - Charles Ashbacher - Marion, Iowa United States(cashbacher@yahoo.com)
In my opinion, no biography of Abraham Lincoln can be complete without including some pictures of him. He was a rawboned man of the frontier, which was clear in the earliest picture of him, taken in 1846 when he was thirty-seven. The most amazing aspect of the photo is the immense size of his hands and the relatively small size of his head. The length of his fingers on his right hand seems to be approximately the width of his head from ear-to-ear.
Other images in this book clearly show the strain the Civil War had on him, there is a two-page spread on pages 116 and 117 containing a series of photos for every year from 1861 through 1865. In the last one he looks so old that one wonders if he would have died of natural causes sometime in his second term.
While no book of approximately 130 pages could ever completely capture all of what Abraham Lincoln was, Freedman is very close to the best possible. Lincoln's use of humor to mask his frustrations and sorrow at what was happening to the country is made so clear. Also, Lincoln's goal of avoiding punishing the states of the Confederacy was such an admirable one, probably unachievable, but still a wonderful thought and one noted here. It is clear to me why this book won a Newberry medal.

Pages Fall Out - Kristy - Texas
It is too bad that such a wonderful book is so poorly constructed. Mine fell apart the first time I read it! The text and pictures are wonderful, but the book itself is a waste of money.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 07, 2010 18:29:04

Children's Books

Tuesday, September 7, 2010