Swimming in Lincoln Books

Soon there will be some sort of list made into a book of the Top 1000 Lincoln Books of All Time with just the early years. Abraham Lincoln is one of the most written about people in American literary history. Honest Abe is some sort of keyboard catnip to historians, civil war buffs and general readers that compels aficionados to add to the collection of material, now probably comprising its own Lincolnesque vault in the Library of Congress.

Not even sure needing to write about Lincoln is treatable with a four score plan after folks pour years into buffing and polishing their works on everything from his migraines to his now publishing acceptable BFF, Frederick Douglass. See, even I am doing it here. The recent rediscovery of Frederick Douglass and his interaction with Lincoln is in time for a bicentennial that may herald a new presidency born of all that came after the Dred Scott decision. Senator Obama is aiming to be the third memorable Illinois connected politician to reside at the White House. Barack Obama shares much in common with Lincoln & Douglass.

There are many a book on Lincoln that are worth the time and expense. It doesn't mean everybody that writes about Lincoln gains entry into some mythical pantheon with verbal roses and golden pens strewn before them. Some of the best books in recent years about Lincoln are Doris Kearns Goodwin's take in Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln or David Herbert Donald's Lincoln. It would take years to write about the numerous and ponderous odes that have totally butchered Lincoln's biography for their own ends. Frankly, who wants to give more PR to the at best mediocre Lincolnphiles. Those who are without willpower or writing skill should review Douglass's words first.