Lincoln

Rating:
Summary: A Lincoln for "Godfather" fans
Review: Not that there's any serious resemblance between Puzo's main character and Vidal's, but I make the comparison to suggest how Vidal has broken the mold on the plaster Lincoln, and revealed him as the brilliant and cunning manipulator of dramatic and violent events that he had to be-- rather than as the Huck Finn-like saintly bumpkin he is usually portrayed as being. This is Lincoln as a great politician in the thick swamp of a highly politicized historical moment; all around him swirl those who underestimate him and think they will control him and seize the reins of power-- until the book's true climax, when William Seward realizes, with a kind of ravishment, that Lincoln has always been far stronger, far more visionary, and far more ruthless than he could ever have been. (That puts Seward well ahead of Salmon P. Chase, who never figures it out and whom Lincoln plays like an old fiddle.)

Historians quibbled with aspects of the book-- but Vidal doesn't say Lincoln had syphilis and gave it to his wife; he says Billy Herndon said so, which is something else entirely. Give him license to interpret the historical record his way, and what you are left with is a Lincoln novel that for once is alive to the reality of politics, and-- our cynical age should be reminded-- to the way a truly great politician can use all the tricks of his trade to appeal to the better angels of our natures and achieve greatness and great things.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best book on Lincoln I've ever read.
Review: People who prefer their presidents -- especially the "great" ones -- wreathed in hagiographical haloes had better look elsewhere for a view of the president who re-founded the United States. Vidal's portrait of this most interesting (and, given the sum of his achievements, our greatest) president accurately renders the Lincoln that I have come to know through a close reading of many of "Father Abraham's" own writings.

That being the case, be forewarned that this novel came under fire from the academics who, having failed in their self-appointed task of shaping American history to fit their own political agendas, sought to discredit an artist who took Lincoln as he (and the historical record) found him. (For a complete discussion of this controversy from Vidal's perspective, see his wonderfully entertaining "United States.")

From Lincoln's 1838 address to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield (when he spoke of ambitious men who would eschew the path laid out by the country's founders, in order to carve for themselves an equal or higher niche in the pantheon of fame, whether it be by freeing the slaves or enslaving free men), to his farewell address to his fellow citizens of Springfield, we have historical evidence that this was a man with his eye on more than just a political office. So much so that one fair interpretation (such as Vidal's) could be that he did (and said, especially in his "House Divided" speech) more than a little of his own to bring on our nation's bloodiest war.

This kind of thinking, of course, does seem to rattle the hagiogaphers of the Ken Burns school, who would have us think that the Civil War was about slavery. Period. End of sentence. End of thought.

About slavery it certainly was; but there were other issues (labor and capitalism,for instance)that, for a variety of reasons, the hagiographers do not touch. Is it because by raising the question of "slaves without masters," to quote the pro-slavery apologi! st George Fitzhugh's critique of Northern capitalism, we remind ourselves of the very precarious economic world that we still inhabit, a world that the South fought to keep at bay as long as it could? To keep from asking such questions, modern-day mandrakes endeavor to divert our attention from the hard questions raised by the Civil War (and by Lincoln's own conduct and words) and keep our vision focused on the horrors of slavery, and the sainthood of the man responsible for ending it.

Abraham Lincoln deserves his due as a great man, a great president, and a genius to boot. He did indeed supplant Washington in our minds, and it is fitting that he did: for the Old Republic that people thought they were getting in the time of Washington is no more. Perhaps it was inevitable that it died; certainly it is true that a polity based upon human exploitation and bias towards the big money men deserves to die. But that raises the question of what we have got in return. This book is a magnificent portrait of the man who, for better or for worse, ushered in the new ages of gild, industrialism, and imperialism, the ages that, as Gideon Welles said upon his death, he now belongs.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best book on Lincoln I've ever read.
Review: People who prefer their presidents -- especially the "great" ones -- wreathed in hagiographical haloes had better look elsewhere for a view of the president who re-founded the United States. Vidal's portrait of this most interesting (and, given the sum of his achievements, our greatest) president accurately renders the Lincoln that I have come to know through a close reading of many of "Father Abraham's" own writings.

That being the case, be forewarned that this novel came under fire from the academics who, having failed in their self-appointed task of shaping American history to fit their own political agendas, sought to discredit an artist who took Lincoln as he (and the historical record) found him. (For a complete discussion of this controversy from Vidal's perspective, see his wonderfully entertaining "United States.")

From Lincoln's 1838 address to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield (when he spoke of ambitious men who would eschew the path laid out by the country's founders, in order to carve for themselves an equal or higher niche in the pantheon of fame, whether it be by freeing the slaves or enslaving free men), to his farewell address to his fellow citizens of Springfield, we have historical evidence that this was a man with his eye on more than just a political office. So much so that one fair interpretation (such as Vidal's) could be that he did (and said, especially in his "House Divided" speech) more than a little of his own to bring on our nation's bloodiest war.

This kind of thinking, of course, does seem to rattle the hagiogaphers of the Ken Burns school, who would have us think that the Civil War was about slavery. Period. End of sentence. End of thought.

About slavery it certainly was; but there were other issues (labor and capitalism,for instance)that, for a variety of reasons, the hagiographers do not touch. Is it because by raising the question of "slaves without masters," to quote the pro-slavery apologi! st George Fitzhugh's critique of Northern capitalism, we remind ourselves of the very precarious economic world that we still inhabit, a world that the South fought to keep at bay as long as it could? To keep from asking such questions, modern-day mandrakes endeavor to divert our attention from the hard questions raised by the Civil War (and by Lincoln's own conduct and words) and keep our vision focused on the horrors of slavery, and the sainthood of the man responsible for ending it.

Abraham Lincoln deserves his due as a great man, a great president, and a genius to boot. He did indeed supplant Washington in our minds, and it is fitting that he did: for the Old Republic that people thought they were getting in the time of Washington is no more. Perhaps it was inevitable that it died; certainly it is true that a polity based upon human exploitation and bias towards the big money men deserves to die. But that raises the question of what we have got in return. This book is a magnificent portrait of the man who, for better or for worse, ushered in the new ages of gild, industrialism, and imperialism, the ages that, as Gideon Welles said upon his death, he now belongs.

Rating:
Summary: Brings Lincoln to Life
Review: The historian seeking to give life to his subjects, particularly those who lived before the 20th century, can often run into problems due to the lack of available source material. No man in American history has been more studied than the great AbrahamLincoln but how hard it is to bring him to life. The value of good historical fiction is its ability to make history both lively and interesting and to place it into the context of everyday life. Vidal's book is a great piece of literature. Brilliantly written it is also histirucally accurate. The book is essentially a character study of Lincoln from his inaugeration to his death four years later. Although a number of characters narrate the story through the omniscent device, Lincoln does not. With the exception of a historically verifed dream of his own death Lincoln had shortly before the assasination, the reader never enters Lincoln's mind. Instead he is viewed through a series of characters who surround him. His secretary John Hay, his wife Mary, his rival Salman Chase, his secretary of State William Seward and the traitor David Herold who was hanged for his part in the assasination conspiracy. Through their eyes Lincoln is presented as he was, a folksy deceptively simple mid-westerner who was shrewd, politically brilliant and deeply morose about the horrible work he was pledged to fullfill. Ultimately Lincoln is really unknowable and this is as it should be because this was his character. The narrative uses the natural ups and downs of the great struggle to present a story of great suspense and pathos. Anyone not familiar with the Civil War will learn much from this novel while being entertained. To me, a history buff, the single stand out moment that really shows where Lincoln was at comes after he is given word from General Meade about the results of the Battle of Gettysburg. Lincoln, having heard that Lee was outnumbered and overextended had hoped that the rebel army could be destroyed once and for all. Lincoln received word from Meade that his forces had driven "the enemy from our sacred soil." Lincoln was in despair. After more than two years of war, his commanding General still did not even understand that ALL the soil of the United States was sacred soil, including the seceded states. More importantly, what hope was there of destroying the rebellion when the top General saw his job as driving Lee out of the North rather than invading and taking control of the South.?

I highly recommend this book to everybody. We owe it to Lincoln's memory to understand him beyond the cliches.

Rating:
Summary: Brings Lincoln to Life
Review: The historian seeking to give life to his subjects, particularly those who lived before the 20th century, can often run into problems due to the lack of available source material. No man in American history has been more studied than the great AbrahamLincoln but how hard it is to bring him to life. The value of good historical fiction is its ability to make history both lively and interesting and to place it into the context of everyday life. Vidal's book is a great piece of literature. Brilliantly written it is also histirucally accurate. The book is essentially a character study of Lincoln from his inaugeration to his death four years later. Although a number of characters narrate the story through the omniscent device, Lincoln does not. With the exception of a historically verifed dream of his own death Lincoln had shortly before the assasination, the reader never enters Lincoln's mind. Instead he is viewed through a series of characters who surround him. His secretary John Hay, his wife Mary, his rival Salman Chase, his secretary of State William Seward and the traitor David Herold who was hanged for his part in the assasination conspiracy. Through their eyes Lincoln is presented as he was, a folksy deceptively simple mid-westerner who was shrewd, politically brilliant and deeply morose about the horrible work he was pledged to fullfill. Ultimately Lincoln is really unknowable and this is as it should be because this was his character. The narrative uses the natural ups and downs of the great struggle to present a story of great suspense and pathos. Anyone not familiar with the Civil War will learn much from this novel while being entertained. To me, a history buff, the single stand out moment that really shows where Lincoln was at comes after he is given word from General Meade about the results of the Battle of Gettysburg. Lincoln, having heard that Lee was outnumbered and overextended had hoped that the rebel army could be destroyed once and for all. Lincoln received word from Meade that his forces had driven "the enemy from our sacred soil." Lincoln was in despair. After more than two years of war, his commanding General still did not even understand that ALL the soil of the United States was sacred soil, including the seceded states. More importantly, what hope was there of destroying the rebellion when the top General saw his job as driving Lee out of the North rather than invading and taking control of the South.?

I highly recommend this book to everybody. We owe it to Lincoln's memory to understand him beyond the cliches.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and believable
Review: This book had everything I look for in a historical fiction. It tells the tale of a pivotal time in U.S. History as it was presumably lived by Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet and staff. Instead of wallowing in Civil War statistics and data, we experience the spirit of the times through the people who lived them. Abraham Lincoln was very believably portrayed as a real human being with weaknesses and strengths we aren't told about in History class. It was fascinating to see inside the political machinations of that time and note that very little has changed. There were also interesting side plots to keep the reader's interest and provide a respite from the accounts of the war and affairs of state. Since I read historical fiction for education as well as entertainment, I feel I was well served on both counts. I look forward to reading other books of American Historical fiction by Gore Vidal.

Rating:
Summary: A Little Far Fetched (And Intended To Be).
Review: This book is a very entertaining.

Gore Vidal is an excellent author. However, this is not necessarily a good historical novel. It is quite long on conjecture and supposition, too much so. As a result, the history, the central topic that sells this book, is skewed, questionable.

But that is quite alright. It is why Mr. Vidal titled it, Lincoln: A Novel. There is no reason not to enjoy this work, it is good. Just understand that Vidal's book is more good, novelist conjecture than solid, factual history. It is an interesting and fun read, one to be enjoyed.

Rating:
Summary: a review from mango
Review: this is a great book. it gave a lot of unknown facts about this president and other people around him. it is not as good as burr though so you know burr is really good after you read this one.

Rating:
Summary: So Good!!
Review: This is a great piece of historical fiction by Gore Vidal, covering Lincoln's presidency, from the time he arrived in Washington on Feb 23, 1861 to his assasination by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865. This book gives you a knew perspective on history because instead of being an omniscient narration, we see the action from the perspective of Secretary of State, William Seward, Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase. We are introduced to the abolitionist politicians such as William Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens. And we see Lincoln emerge from all the doubts that people had about his capability to be president to become one of the towering figues in American history. In the final chapter, John Hay, one of Lincoln's former secretaries, says of Lincoln, after his death, "He was very sure of himself. From the beginning, he knew that he was the first man in the country, and that he was bound to get his way, if he lived" (pg 654). Hay is clearly a favorite of Vidal's and here is a reflection of Hay's as he stares at "The Ancient", as he thought of Lincoln, dead on the night of his assasination, "But then Hay realized that never again would the Ancient be reminded of a story. He had become what others would be reminded of" (pg 651). Gore is capable of writing beautifully, like in the two quotes above. And then there are Lincoln's own speeches such as the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural. There is also the beautiful and young Kate Chase, daughter of Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, and the object of much desire among the young men of Washington, D.C. at the time. "A grand entertainment", as Harold Bloom wrote in his review of the novel for "The New York Review of Books".
Greg Feirman...

Rating:
Summary: A Little Far Fetched (And Intended To Be).
Review: This is a very entertaining read. Gore Vidal is a very good novelist. But this is not necessarily a good historical novel. It is quite long on conjecture, too much so. As a result, the history, the central topic that sells this book, is skewed, questionable. This is no reason not to enjoy this work, it is good. Just understand that Vidal's book is much more good novelist conjecture than solid, factual history.