Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and The War Years (three-volume set)

7/17/2012 Keith Davy

Classic biography; extremely well written. A joy to read. ( )

Fascinating read from beginning to end ( )

This book has been on my shelf for years and I've just never gotten around to it. I was not expecting much. I was very surprised. Joyfully surprised. To say this was better than I had hoped would be an understatement. After completing this book I feel like I know the man. It was also very cool to read about a distant relative of mine (Nancy Hanks).

The part leading up to the assassination through his death was incredibly well done. I found myself near tears a half dozen times over the course of the final 40-50 pages.

The sense of fatigue that Lincoln felt during his presidency was astonishing and after completing the book, David Locke's words remain in my mind.

"I saw him, or what was mortal of him in his coffin. The face had an expression of absolute content, of relief, at throwing off a burden such as few men have been called upon to bear - a burden which few men could have born... Wilkes Booth did Abraham Lincoln the greatest service man could possibly do for him - he gave him peace." ( )

Best book I have ever read. ( )