Book Review: Lincoln, A Novel by Gore Vidal

I’m not a Gore Vidal fan. I thought Burr was a hash, especially from a historical perspective. Lincoln is a better novel, though still blemished, primarily because of Vidal’s penchant for showing off. A novel is a story, and the cardinal rule of storytelling is to never jerk the reader out of the story. Yet, Vidal continuously interrupts his characters mid-scene to take a bow, with witty asides, overly clever dialogue, and meaningless period gossip. Vidal also focuses on the trivial when the reader yearns for the big picture.

The absence of transitions is jarring. Vidal goes from one scene to another with a different cast of characters without even a “by your leave.” It's like, “Hey, I veered off over here, catch up or I’ll leave you behind.” And you do … but it takes rereading several sentences, and poof, the magic is gone.

The book is titled Lincoln, but Ol’ Abe comes across as a side character, explained by countless others who surround the supposed protagonist. Most of these characters, however, come across as untrustworthy narrators. Characterization is not Vidal's strong suit. Everyone seems similar, and each carries a dose of Vidal’s rapscallion nature. Vidal has an affinity for rogues, scoundrels, and outright villains, and ascribes his characters' motivations to humanity's dark side.

Some historians have questioned the historical accuracy of Lincoln. As a historical novelist, I’m aware that strict adherence to facts presented in their proper order does not lend itself to good storytelling. In this reader’s opinion, Vidal’s may skew events and people, but, for the most part, his violations are inconsequential. Lincoln is a well-researched book, and Vidal’s relaying of events, large and minuscule, is generally accurate for the genre.

If you prefer history presented as a story, Lincoln is the best available novel about Lincoln ... until I publish Maelstrom.

Comments

Book Review: Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War by Thomas B. Allen & Rodger MacBride

Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War: How the North Used theTelegraph, Railroads, Surveillance Balloons, Ironclads, High-Powered Weapons,and More to Win the Civil War Thomas B. Allen & Rodger MacBride Long title and a bit of a misnomer because this book also deals with the use of technology by the Confederate States of America. Granted, the Confederacy was limited by its scarce industrial capability, but it focused what it had on its navy, including the first ironclad in combat and the first submarine. Both were effective when let out of the barn, but neither lasted much beyond their first engagement. That’s the way it goes with military innovation; failures often precede a workable design. Most people view the American Civil War as a series of bloody battles fought with muskets and cannons. It all looks so backward from a modern perspective. In truth, the American Civil War changed warfare dramatically through technological advances. Before the Civil War, Napoleon de...

Short Story: Another Time, Another Place

A gush of air ruffled my hair. Was that a bullet whistling past my head? Where am I? What the heck is happening? My eardrums throbbed with piercing pops and massive explosions. The stench of rotten eggs and burning charcoal seared my nostrils. Soldiers yelled orders, screamed in pain, or shouted insults at the opposition. Beyond clear-cut fields, I saw countless flashes made dim by smoke and distance. I wondered what the flashes represented until I heard sharp thuds and saw wood splintering. They were gunshots coming toward me at a frantic pace. The entire encounter was unreal. Standing on a sturdy parapet eight feet above the ground, I overlooked a raging gun battle. The relentless noise dazed me. To my left and right, soldiers returned fire, and deafening blasts of cannon fire made it nearly impossible to think clearly. I should have felt a desperate urge to escape, yet I sensed no such need. I was not afraid. Something told me that I was not a participant in this drama. As I glanced...

The Shut Mouth Society

I wrote The Shut Mouth Society , so this is a description plus critiques from other reviewers. This modern-day thriller is a typical chase novel à la Robert Ludlum . The Ludlum formula for this genre involves a man and woman with an “odd meet” (rather than a “cute meet”). The couple is accused of a crime and then chased by good guys and bad guys until they save themselves by unraveling a mystery that threatens the social order. In The Shut Mouth Society , the mystery is a secret society formed after the Civil War that threatens to take control of Mexico. A chase is launched when a small-town police Commander and a renowned professor assess the validity of a pre-presidential document in Lincoln's hand. Abe Lincoln is interwoven throughout the story as they must examine his life and motivations to solve the mystery. The Shut Mouth Society is a work of fiction, but I did extensive research on Lincoln to craft an exciting, historically accurate story. The novel was a finalist in ...

A blog by James D. Best

Abraham Lincoln is considered one of the most enigmatic presidents in American history. His law partner, William Herndon, described Lincoln as "the most shut-mouthed man who ever lived." Despite his constant pursuit of an audience, Lincoln rarely revealed his true thoughts. He often waffled, deflected questions, or told stories to avoid disclosing his plans. This tendency is one reason historians and critics can depict him as having seemingly contradictory opinions on various issues, conflicting motives, and a range of personal characteristics encompassing every imaginable human behavior. This blog will not attempt to resolve these contradictions. Instead, it will present them all to readers so they can draw their own conclusions. So, sit back, enjoy, and feel free to participate in the discussion. Additionally, this blog promotes Maelstrom , A Civil War Novel coming soon. American history is our story, and Maelstrom places you right in the middle of the action.

Book Review: The Truth of the War Conspiracy of 1861 by H W Johnstone

The Truth of the War Conspiracy of 1861 A Reassessment of Why the American Civil War Began by H W Johnstone This booklet was published in 1921 by a Civil War veteran. The author’s intent is to advocate for The Lost Cause and expose the “truth.” I’ve read several modern-day defenses of The Lost Cause, but I wanted to get the perspective of someone closer in time to the conflict. A participant was even better, although Johnstone served for only an unexplained eight months. Unfortunately, time and participation provided few novel insights. I shouldn't have been surprised because years earlier, Jefferson Davis had articulated the dogma of The Lost Cause in his two histories of the Confederate States of America. Johnstone argues that a duplicitous President Lincoln started the war by reinforcing Forts Sumter and Pickens, the last Union military presence in the seceded states. First, the duplicitous part. In his inaugural, Lincoln said, “The power confided to me will be used to...

Abraham Lincoln: The Enigmatic President

Search This Blog