Book Review: Abraham Lincoln: A Life (Volume 2) by Michael Burlingame

Abraham Lincoln: A Life (Volume 2)

by Michael Burlingame

To begin, I did not read Volume I because this was a research book for my current novel, Maelstrom, which is about Lincoln as president. I also did not read Volume II. I listened to it, so this is a review of the audio version. I think audio is a good test of writing style, and Burlingame has an excellent style that is so smooth and clear that I seldom rewound.

The content is exhaustive. Listening to only Volume II took me over six months. Abraham Lincoln: A Life was my walking companion for untold miles, and Burlingame made every one of those miles enjoyable and educational. Despite voluminous detail, Burlingame made it all interesting. I especially liked all the quotes from newspapers and personal letters, which gave me a sense of the time and public mood.

I began to think of Burlingame as a talkative friend who made me look forward to my daily exercise routine. I identified the narrator's voice as Michael Burlingame's to such a degree that I was startled to hear his actual voice during a lecture at the Abraham Lincoln Association.

I'll tell you how much I liked the book. After Maelstrom is published, I will listen to Volume I just for fun.

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