Throughout the book, Vidal makes clear that Lincoln (alternately referred to as the Tycoon or the Ancient) was not an abolitionist in any respect, but was opposed to states leaving the union above all (as un-constitutional), which led him to his famous proclamation freeing the slaves (in the South, that is), as a 'military necessity'. The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Politi... Lincoln's Secret Oath (Matt Hawkins Series Book 4), The Diplomat of Florence: A Novel of Machiavelli and the Borgias, Mr Keynes' Revolution: A Novel about John Maynard Keynes, "Superb . Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Lincoln, the surprise victor of the presidential race faced a mostly confederate-leaning city (the capitol dome was being constructed) and everyone expected the raw-boned Midwesterner to fail. They often thought him a naive, backwoods simpleton who knew nothing about politics and governing. --Harold Bloom. And people of morality should influence the Pulitzer sheep to go back and award Vidal for Burr and 1876. Vidal, Gore. I came to Vidal through his essays, which I read nonstop for an entire week before I started to feel like I was reading the same thing again and again. Along with "Team of Rival" and the movie 'Lincoln' this is truly the most interesting and entertaining Lincoln novel I have read. Wildly entertaining, Gore really brings to life Washington DC in 1860, when our nation truly was on the threshold of (near certain) dissolution. To the charters in the story, the ending is not at all inevitable. It opens early on a frozen winter morning in 1861, when President-elect Abraham Lincoln slips into Washington, flanked by two bodyguards. But it is never to late to do the right thing.... if you have a sense of shame and decency, a moral compass, and any clue of writing artistry.... enough is enough! ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH his 1984 novel Lincoln, Gore Vidal has the notoriously long-legged and honest US president spring an all-timer of a trap. . Classic book. Great History, Great Politics, Great Novel, Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2002, Andrew Delbanco says of this novel: "This novel will, I suspect, maintain a permanent place in American letters." It covers the period from Lincoln's election as President of the United States to the time of his We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Vidal draws a vivid picture of 19th century Washington - a city built on a swamp, with rudimentary facilities, but with grand aspirations. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. . In visiting Japan 25 years ago, I learned that they call Washington the father of the United States and Lincoln the mother. Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2014. However, the events and characters were all real. Vidal came from a distinguished political lineage; his grandfather was the senator Thomas Gore, and he later became a relation (through marriage) to Jacqueline Kennedy. His tone reminds me of Robert Graves (with perhaps a little of Alfred Duggan) and after a while I begin to forget that this is a novel. Rather like Sir Alec Guiness' Charles I in "Cromwell" I suspect when I think of Lincoln from now on it will be Vidal's version that occupies my mind. A paperback book. Raven's sweet smile and sugary treats don't stand a chance against Trey's foul mouth and dirty moves. Lincoln is presented as a man of brilliant lawyerly talents, a pragmatic strategist rather than an idealistic opponent of slavery. It is listed as fiction, because it is written in novel form, with dialogue that isn't quoted from specific historical documents. After reading Team of Rivals, I have become obsessed with all things Lincoln Administration, and I began reading Vidal's novel the day before the great literary icon passed away. Arguably the best historical fiction book every written beating out even notables like Shaara's Killer Angels. The author himself, in an afterword, makes it known that, while he stayed true to historical pieces of information as much as possible, he has taken liberties as well. A great insight into his wife Mary Todd Lincoln also. This is a novel, y'all, and it's important to know the difference. Gore Vidal (1925-2012) was an American writer and public intellectual. He was also known for his patrician manner, Transatlantic accent, and witty aphorisms. I have memories of when this book came out. Adding to your cart. If Lincoln was a dictator, Vidal argues, it's what the situation warranted: in any case, he was at keast less hypocritical about exercising power than most presidents. Gore Vidal should have won a Pulitzer for this work. Absolutely yes, in the topsy-turvy world of Gore Vidal's richly entertaining new novel, Lincoln. But very much worth the read if you have any interest in the American Civil War or President Lincoln. I also found the ending of the book disappointing; I really didn't need John Hay in Paris speculating about plots involving Congress and Stanton and others. by denying there is any real basis for Vidal’s intimation that Lincoln had syphilis, [Stephen] Oates “shows,” according to Vidal, “that,…Mr. Gone is the stereotypical self-educated, rail splitter who was born in a log cabin he helped his father build, replaced by an adroit, take-no-prisoners political creature, capable of doing the right things in the most efficient (yet sometimes illegal) ways... Eugene Luther Gore Vidal was an American writer known for his essays, novels, screenplays, and Broadway plays. In any case, he had a constitutional dislike of being told things that he did not know, as opposed to ferreting them out.”, “Seward appreciated the honest and open way that Stanton lied; it was the hallmark of the truly great lawyer, and demonstrated a professional mastery not unlike his own.”, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, Head to www.EverydayeBook.com for more eBook reviews, West African Culture Meets Feminist Magic in Debut YA Fantasy. Lincoln is the cornerstone of Gore Vidal's fictional American chronicle, which includes Burr, 1876, Washington, D.C., Empire, and Hollywood. I read his CREATION once a year and never fail to enjoy it. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. —-Book Series In Order » Authors » Gore Vidal. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! February 15th 2000 In Lincoln, Gore Vidal tones down his usual insouciance for a fine-grained, occasionally profound portrait of power. This is the first book I've read by Gore Vidal, and now I want to read more. But he was wily and had an animal's instinct with people, keeping his veneer carefully sculpted and his ultimate strategies hidden. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. To see what your friends thought of this book, As I write my review I am within the last hundred pages and last few months of Abraham Lincoln's life. Shogun: The Epic Novel of Japan (Asian Saga, book 1) (Asian Saga, 1). . Vidal draws a vivid picture of 19th century Washington - a city built on a swamp, with rudimentary facilities, but with grand aspirations. It shows a complex, nuanced version of Lincoln. In the morning President Lincoln anticipated defeat. Wierd parallels with current happenings... A book that complicates and challenges and deepens your understanding of Lincoln while also telling a fantastically entertaining story. I have always been fascinated by the American Civil War (I'm English - we had one too) for reasons that I don't understand. But he was wily and had an animal's instinct with people, keeping his veneer carefully sculpted and his ultimate strategies hidden. Learn more about the program. Gore Vidal, Actor: Gattaca. His victim: Salmon P. Chase, an accomplished former governor of Ohio, who served as Lincoln’s Secretary of the Treasury. A stunning portrayal of the man within his times, and those times being seen through the lucid, discriminating eye of Mr. Vidal, a master wordsmith who effortlessly transports us into the mind of Lincoln and the times which formed him. To most Americans, Abraham Lincoln is a monolithic figure, the Great Emancipator and Savior of the Union, beloved by all. Author Gore Vidal was born in 1925 in West Point, New York, and recently passed away in July of … We in America know so very little about ourselves. For example, I hungered for the true-life scene of Stanton weeping in his office after Lincoln's death. It is listed as fiction, because it is written in novel form, with dialogue that isn't quoted from specific historical documents. What is it about Abraham Lincoln that so attracts authors and readers? The author himself, in an afterword, makes it known that, while he stayed true to historical pieces of information as much as possibl. That they didn't make awards those years, when those works were so incredibly worthy, is just damning of the franchise and just points to how politicized this world has always been. A second thing historical fiction can provide is a sympathetic frame to historical events by following characters (real or made up) through historical events, the writer can provide a window for the reader to become emotionally involved in historical events, in a way that a non-fiction treatment might fail to do. It is remarkable for the relationships of politics to the war and how Lincoln and differnet political factions felt about slavery. In other words, Good Friday 1865 is on the horizon and both President and Mrs. Lincoln are set to go and see "Our American Cousin" at that now-fated Washingtonian landmark Ford's Theater. A lot of historical events and controversies seem impenetrable, pointless, or trivial to modern readers, which can make it very difficult to really understand the passions of the times. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Audio is clear and video has a look similar to O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? In Gore Vidal's Lincoln we meet Lincoln the man and Lincoln the political animal, the president who entered a besieged capital where most of the population supported the South and where even those favoring the Union had serious doubts that the man from Illinois could save it. I read Gore Vidal's biography of President Lincoln several years ago, after watching and In Depth interview on C-Span Books TV. (I found myself checking out biographies of Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln from the library. Truly a magnificent book. But as Barbara Gannon often says in her Civil War class at University of Central Florida, you have to remember that this guy was a lawyer and knew exactly what he was doing. Gore Vidal's Narratives of Empire series spans the history of the United States from the Revolution to the post-World War II years. One of my all-time favorite books. We’d love your help. Lincoln, also known as Gore Vidal's Lincoln, is a 1988 American television miniseries starring Sam Waterston as Abraham Lincoln, Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Todd Lincoln, and Richard Mulligan as William H. Seward. Please try again. He sat up all night with the president, serving as the rock everyone needed. Hell this is probably one of the top 5 books on the Civil War period. I loved this book SO MUCH, I am sure my review will not do it justice. Please try again. Lincoln, Burr and 1876 should all have won Pulitzers and are all worth reading and sharing. For as much as I cannot stop raving about the film. I cannot heap enough praise on Vidal for his ability to present history in a readable format. Lincoln is presented as a man of brilliant lawyerly talents, a pragmatic strategist rather than an idealistic opponent of slavery. Sign in to check out Check out as guest . To Audra, her world seems repetitive and boring, and empty of anything resembling substance. A young diplomat learns that few can be trusted when he is sent to thwart the ambitions of an ambitious and ruthless warlord. In my day nothing was taught about the US in history lessons and information - before the internet - was sparse. It was directed by Lamont Johnson and was based on the 1984 novel of the same name by Gore Vidal. This man of low birth, erratic education, unstable marriage, embarrassing physical ailments and a weakness for evasive, stemwinding anecdotes also possessed an innate political genius, a vision for America that transcended his shortcomings and guided it through its defining crisis. In Gore Vidal’s Lincoln we meet Lincoln the man and Lincoln the political animal, the president who entered a besieged capital where most of the population supported the South and where even those favoring the Union had serious doubts that the man from Illinois could save it. And what was it about Gore Vidal, the famously acerbic author who died on July 31, 2012, that brought out so much intensity in the obituary columns? Far from steadfast in his abhorrence of slavery, Lincoln agonizes over the best course of action and comes to his great decision only when all else seems to fail. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. I've read Burr and Lincoln and both are excellent. Brilliant biography of an exceptional leader. One-hundred-year-old Murray McBride is looking for a reason to live. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Owner underlined, starred, and bracketed periodically through the books. ), A model of a historical novel, on one of the greatest subjects of all time, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2015. Here was a major American intellectual taking on one of our greatest American sacred cows. Suffice to say, I have the "Lincoln Bug" and I feel that it is here to stay (at least for a while). But as Barbara Gannon often says in her Civil War class at University of Central Florida, you. As there's a deterioration disclaimer before the main menu, this antique effect is … For as much as I cannot stop raving about the film itself I do actually have a few issues with it, albeit this is not the forum to bring those issues to fruition. by Vintage. First read as a summer assignment in American high school and have re-read it numerous times since. Gore Vidal's "Lincoln" is a superb historical novel that is notable for literary merit and historical accuracy. Sam Waterston's savvy, almost hippie-like Lincoln is not at all the "great ape" that many of Lincoln's detractors claimed. Lincoln: A Novel is a 1984 historical novel, part of the Narratives of Empire series by Gore Vidal. There's a problem loading this menu right now. Gore Vidal's Lincoln. Gore Vidal's well-written (is anything he has done not well-written) diatribe against academic historians in general and Dr. Gore Vidal on Lincoln - Los Angeles Times It opens early on a frozen winter morning in 1861, when President-elect Abraham Lincoln slips into Washington, flanked by two bodyguards. So even though we know (spoilers) the north wins the war, slavery is abolished, and the USA becomes a single country again, the characters in the story don't know that. It is not a book you can skim through, even though it is historical fiction - all the events and as much of the dialog that can be reconstructed from letters and speeches is accurate. It will steer her down the road to a personal awakening. No, there is no existing Wasserman report or its equivalent. The period covered is 1860-186. He is like the true Abraham Lincoln. And the dialog is magnificent! A good historical writer can let you get into the heads of people a bit to understand why they would care so deeply about an issue that seems silly today. Gore … The genius and berth of Gore Vidal's knowledge is on full display with Lincoln. As the Civil War ravages his nation, Lincoln must face deep personal turmoil, the loss of his dearest son, and the harangues of a wife seen as a traitor for her Southern connections. Unable to add item to List. For weeks Chase had been duplicitously … As I write my review I am within the last hundred pages and last few months of Abraham Lincoln's life. Also, it's just great to read a novel written more than twenty years ago, before we all got so damned anxious all the time. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2011. Bought this particular book to give as a gift. It is obvious that Gore read all he could get his hands on (in fact, in my youth I had often cast my eyes over the last days of Lincoln and the hanging of his assassins and conspirators so was familiar with the plot to kill him and his secretary of state). Or do they? If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. What a joy it was to re-read this novel twenty years after my first time. I have been immersing myself in all things Lincoln/Civil War in the last few months as a result of the new Spielberg film and my already having seen it twice. Please try again. The idea for The Gilded Ones came to author Namina Forna in a dream. Start by marking “Lincoln” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. He certainly displayed a great loyalty and sacrificial lifestyle for this country. This is probably #103 of the books I've read on the (last) Civil War, and one of only a handlful of novels (like Pale Horse at Plum Run, etc. . The novel describes the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and extends from the start of the American Civil Waruntil his assassination. ―Erin Keane, Salon. Lincoln, the surprise victor of the presidential race faced a mostly confederate-leaning city (the capitol dome was being constructed) and everyone expected the raw-boned Midwesterner to fail. Spanning the American Civil War, the novel's told from various perspectives: Lincoln's ambitious cabinet secretaries, William Seward and Salmon Chase (and Chase's daughter Kate Chase Sprague, a force in her own right); his personal secretary, John Hay (whose flirtations with Kate Chase come to naught, and whose visits to a bawdy house provide the story's only vulgar notes); his long-suffering, neurotic wife Mary Todd Lincoln (conjured by Vidal with a mixture of sympathy and aggravation); and David Herrold, who joins several plots to assassinate him. ), and it really fleshes out the characters of Lincoln and the people around him. I found this an engrossing read, despite the Vidal-isms and some forgivable tics that were admittedly annoying (the overuse of the word "mischieviously" and some of the more obvious add-ons to scenes where subtlety would have worked better for me). The links beside each book title will take you to Amazon, who I feel are the best online retailer for books where you can read … Until I'd read this book, I knew only that he was related to Jackie Kennedy Onassis and and Lee Radziwill and that he was a guest on many talk shows of the 70s & 80s where other well-known guests frequently found his opinions profoundly upsetting. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 7, 2020. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. The man is an expert at his craft, he has an incredible mind, and he renders that world in a way that ensures understanding. Shipping: FAST 'N FREE. Ships from United States. It's not a flattering portrait, with Lincoln agonizing over slavery and race to reconcile the South while acting in highhanded, often dictatorial fashion towards his cabinet, Congress and other rivals. The future president is in disguise, for … Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Chattanooga Daily Times. It was intriguing to read of how disrespected Lincoln was, especially by people in his own cabinet. Guaranteed by Wed. Feb. 10 | See details . One of my all-time favorite books. Vidal's far less interested in Lincoln the Great Emancipator than Lincoln the Tycoon (in Hay's phrase), a crafty politician-statesman who forges a newly resilient United States. As I recall, it was an event, something heralded in bookstores and written about in places beyond the book review sections. I loved this book SO MUCH, I am sure my review will not do it justice. “Only by living at the edge of death can you understand the indescribable joy of life.”. I have been immersing myself in all things Lincoln/Civil War in the last few months as a result of the new Spielberg film and my already having seen it twice. Buckeye Road: Some roads lead to the beginning of the end (The Fruit of Passion Lie... GENT: An Enemies to Lovers Standalone Romance (#BitterSweetHeat Book 1), Naked Truth: Or Equality, The Forbidden Fruit: A Novel. A plausible and human Lincoln, of us and yet beyond us." The item Lincoln : a novel, Gore Vidal represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Indiana State Library. Refresh and try again. So good to read a serious book while getting away from the current nonsense in DC, Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2021.
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