Lincoln [NOOK Book]

( 24 )

Overview

Lincoln is the cornerstone of Gore Vidal's fictional American chronicle, which includes Burr, 1876, Washington, D.C., Empire, and Hollywood. It opens early on a frozen winter morning in 1861, when President-elect Abraham Lincoln slips into Washington, flanked by two bodyguards. The future president is in disguise, for there is talk of a plot to murder him. During the next four years there will be numerous plots to murder this man who has sworn to unite a disintegrating nation. Isolated in a ramshackle White House...
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Lincoln

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More About This Book

Overview

Lincoln is the cornerstone of Gore Vidal's fictional American chronicle, which includes Burr, 1876, Washington, D.C., Empire, and Hollywood. It opens early on a frozen winter morning in 1861, when President-elect Abraham Lincoln slips into Washington, flanked by two bodyguards. The future president is in disguise, for there is talk of a plot to murder him. During the next four years there will be numerous plots to murder this man who has sworn to unite a disintegrating nation. Isolated in a ramshackle White House in the center of a proslavery city, Lincoln presides over a fragmenting government as Lee's armies beat at the gates. In this profoundly moving novel, a work of epic proportions and intense human sympathy, Lincoln is observed by his loved ones and his rivals. The cast of characters is almost Dickensian: politicians, generals, White House aides, newspapermen, Northern and Southern conspirators, amiably evil bankers, and a wife slowly going mad. Vidal's portrait of the president is at once intimate
and monumental, stark and complex, drawn with the wit, grace, and authority of one of the great historical novelists.
   With a new Introduction by the author.

From the Hardcover edition.

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Editorial Reviews

Library Journal
"The novel is masterfully constructed, right down to a shocking but logical surprise on the last page," said LJ's reviewer, who gushed further, adding, "The familiar figures and stock scenes when we encounter them here are fresh, new, and utterly absorbing. Vidal has made a century and a half seem but a heartbeat from today" LJ 11/1/73. With the world focusing on the current round of political shenanigans emanating from Washington, this should retain its popularity. Note that Modern Library is also releasing Vidal's Lincoln ISBN 0-679-60284-4. $21.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780307784230
  • Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 4/13/2011
  • Series: Vintage International
  • Sold by: Random House
  • Format: eBook
  • Pages: 672
  • Sales rank: 42,297
  • File size: 3 MB

Meet the Author

Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal
Unafraid to point fingers and assassinate characters, Gore Vidal has always been provocative, if not universally liked. A prolific essayist and acclaimed author of historical novels such as 1984's Lincoln, his talent for positioning history within a modern context is one thing about Vidal that remains undisputed.

Biography

As a prominent post-WWII novelist, socialite and public figure, Gore Vidal has lived a life of incredible variety. Throughout his career, he has rubbed shoulders and crossed swords with many of the foremost cultural and political figures of our century: from Jack Kennedy to Jack Kerouac, Truman Capote to William F. Buckley.

From his early arrival on the literary scene, Vidal's fascinations with politics, power and public figures have informed his writing. He takes his first name from his maternal grandfather, Thomas Pryor Gore, a populist Senator from Oklahoma for whom neither blindness nor feuds with FDR could prevent a long, distinguished career (Incidentally, T.P. Gore belonged to the same political dynasty into which Al Gore was born). Vidal's best-received historical fictions, like Julian, Burr, and Lincoln, re-imagine the personal and political lives of powerful figures in history. In his essays, he frequently chooses political subjects, as he did with his damaging assessment of Robert Kennedy-for-President in an Esquire article in 1963.

At the same time, Vidal's assets as a writer have made him a dangerous public figure in his own right. His sharp wit has discomposed the unrufflable (William F. Buckley) and the frequently ruffled (Norman Mailer) alike, and did so terrify his congressional campaign opponent J. Ernest Wharton that the latter refused to engage Vidal in debate. Even since he's left his aspirations as a politician behind, Vidal's attraction to controversial political issues continues in his provocative essays and public appearances.

Author biography courtesy of Random House, Inc.

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    1. Also Known As:
      Edgar Box (mysteries), Eugene Luther Gore Vidal (full name)
      Gore Vidal
    2. Hometown:
      La Rondinaia, a villa in Ravello, Italy; and Los Angeles, California
    1. Date of Birth:
      October 3, 1925
    2. Place of Birth:
      West Point, New York
    1. Education:
      Attended St. Albans. Graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, 1943. No college.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 24 )
Rating Distribution

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(16)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 24 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 20, 2009

    Lincoln comes alive

    I have to confess that when I purchased this book I didn't realize it was historical fiction. Nonetheless, this book delivers a unique view of the challenges that Lincoln's presidency faced and blows up stereotypes of the man. Once immersed, I couldn't help but wonder how much was based on historical fact and how much was conjecture on Gore Vidal's part. I longed for footnotes despite Vidal's assertion that "All of the principal characters really existed, and they said and did pretty much what I have them saying and doing..." Gore Vidal delivers a flesh and blood portrait of Lincoln in a way that a dry, biographical tome cannot.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 17, 2004

    Excellent, unmatched...

    In my opinion, this is the most accurate depiction of Lincoln, the man. Lincoln was truly one of the greatest Presidents America has ever had, besides Washington, and FDR.. No one has ever used the power of the presidency, like Lincoln, before or since his time. He keep the union together by means that were viewed as controversial, border line dictatorial in nature. Lincoln truly was a gifted insightful man, who drew strength from opposition, with a fortitude to face any challenge. Lincoln had a meek strenght that was not understood until after his death..

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 6, 2000

    here is the president

    The research for this book is incredible. I've read this book ten years ago. I still enjoy reading this book still after ten years. This is an absolute incredible book.I promise you will injoy reading this book

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 8, 2012

    This is a remarkably palatable alternative to the standard biogr

    This is a remarkably palatable alternative to the standard biographies one often trudges through. Thanks to historical sources, along with Gore Vidal's creativity, Lincoln is placed squarely in his own time period, where he is judged based on the norms of those days. At times, I found myself shocked that I was reading about the man on the bill in my wallet, but that starkness and realism is just the reason the 'real' Lincoln becomes much more accessible in this novel. I went from idolizing Lincoln, to being disappointed that he fell short of legend, and finally to idolizing him again.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 28, 2009

    Gore Vidal's "Lincoln" is a superb historical novel that is notable for literary merit and historical accuracy.

    While Vidal's "Lincoln" is a novel, it is excellent history that complements Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" with a fascinating account of Lincoln's mastery in leading his Cabinet as well as the Nation as the Union was preserved. This is the best of the Gore Vidal historical novels.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 21, 2005

    A Living Lincoln!

    Generally, I prefer my history in non-fictional form. However I have read Gore Vidal's take on Lincoln's war years twice now. To me, it is a tremendously enjoyable portrayal of Lincoln from a human perspective. I've also read various other nonfiction treatments, such as Carl Sandburg. Vidal's 'Lincoln' is fascinating because like most fine historical fiction, it brings the character to life.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 15, 2005

    Myth vs. 'Reality'

    I had mixed feelings about the book. I think it's very difficult to write a book about a man who is almost mythical (not a great word) to many Americans, and make him 'real.' I think we like to idealize him, make believe that he didn't have ordinary conversations, spoke to his wife playfully--in essence, do the things that everyone else does. I think Vidal had a good purpose, and I think it probably came across well (though I didn't get far in the book), but I couldn't get over my own ideas of Lincoln the President, the Emancipator, the War Leader, and Hero of the (then) Republican party. Having been a history major, I think I prefer to look at Lincoln through his own words.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 10, 2001

    One of My Favorites

    I first received this book from my mother as a Christmas gift back in 1984, when I was 15. I have read it 3 times since then, and still love it. This book shows Lincoln in all his humanity and greatness from dealing with his crazy wife Mary, to fending off political rivals such as Salmon Chase, and evolving from a committment to hold the union together to one ending slavery as well. An excellent compliment to David Donald's book on Lincoln

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 20, 2013

    Neavoda huffman neavodahuffmanpeace7@jouno.com

    I miss you i hope you can go to madisons even if i get mad and say i don't. You know me right i funny and stupied. By the way this is vicki ashley its not my mom ok. I whader what eli did to day that was sos bad i never thought he would do soom thing like that ever. And hopes he never does it again. I think its bad. I'm bord r you i know i'm talking to much and i'm over at my dads that i always talk about and i am talking to you on my nook frist time. That my dad got me for chirstmas is he alsome or what got to go bye. The end by vicki ashley-matics

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 4, 2013

    Abe

    I love Abe Linclon, he is one of my favorites. Read this book, stay free

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 30, 2011

    great book

    Great read. really enjoyed.

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    Posted January 19, 2013

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    Posted February 22, 2009

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    Posted June 25, 2011

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    Posted November 3, 2012

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    Posted October 27, 2008

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    Posted August 22, 2010

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    Posted April 20, 2009

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    Posted May 10, 2011

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