Lincoln: A Photobiography

Great book for young readers. Honestly, I usually dislike any type of biographies, but this was different. The photos and drawings not only broke up the text and made the reading more inviting, but they were quite interesting in their own right. The many facts, especially direct quotes, of Lincoln were intriguing and some funny. Slavery was a “monstrous injustice.” It was a “cancer” threatening to grow out of control “in a nation originally dedicated to the inalienable rights of man.” Lincoln agreed with others that he was rather homely referring once to his “poor, lean, lank face.” When a rival called him “two-faced” during a political debate, Lincoln replied: “I leave it to my audience If I had another face, do you think I’d wear this one?” Some of the letters included reveal a man of great penmanship and great words. What struck me most throughout the book was the ending. He seemed to be aware that he would die by assassination, and accepted such. “If I wore a shirt of mail, and kept myself surrounded by a bodyguard, it would be all the same. There are a thousand ways of getting at a man if it is desired that he should be killed.” And later he had a dream that he was wandering through the White House but no one was around until he reached the East Room, where a wake was held. When he asked “Who is dead in the White House?” the answer was “The President, he was killed by an assassin.” At that point he woke in his dream. In all, a fascinating look at an ordinary man who lived a more-than-ordinary life, devoting it to leading his loved country. “…I have no other so great (ambition) as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem.” This book reads more like an adventure than a biography, but contains everything one could hope to learn from a biography.

Purchased it for my Grandson’s Wax Museum Project.

Very educational and age appropriate for 6th grade American history. Great historical photos included. Not just for kids, I learned alot from this book as well. Enjoyable read.

would have liked a little more substance and information

Ordered this book for my son to read for school. He has read a little bit and likes it. I think he likes it because he knows Lincoln was a real person and that this is actual history!