This is probably the most intimate life of Lincoln ever written. The book, by Lincoln’s law-partner, William H. Herndon, and his friend Jesse W. Weik, shows us Lincoln the man. It is a true picture of his surroundings and influences and acts. It is not an attempt to construct a political history, with Lincoln often in the background, nor is it an effort to apotheosize the American who stands first in our history next to Washington. The writers knew Lincoln intimately. Their book is the result of unreserved association. There is no attempt to portray the man as other than he really was, and on this account their frank testimony must be accepted, and their biography must take permanent rank as the best and most illuminating study of Lincoln’s character and personality. Their story, simply told, relieved by characteristic anecdotes, and vivid with local color, will be found a fascinating work.
“Truly, they who wish to know Lincoln as he really was must read the biography of him written by his friend and law-partner, W. H. Herndon. This book was imperatively needed to brush aside the rank growth of myth and legend which was threatening to hide the real lineaments of Lincoln from the eyes of posterity. On one pretext or another, but usually upon the plea that he was the central figure of a great historical picture, most of his self-appointed biographers have, by suppressing a part of the truth and magnifying or embellishing the rest, produced portraits which those of Lincoln’s contemporaries who knew him best are scarcely able to recognize. There is, on the other hand, no doubt about the faithfulness of Mr. Herndon’s delineation. The marks of unflinching veracity are patent in every line.”—New York Sun.
“Among the books which ought most emphatically to have been written must be classed ‘Herndon’s Lincoln.’”—Chicago Inter-Ocean.
“The author has his own notion of what a biography should be, and it is simple enough. The story should tell all, plainly and even bluntly. Mr. Herndon is naturally a very direct writer, and he has been industrious in gathering material. Whether an incident happened before or behind the scenes, is all the same to him. He gives it without artifice or apology. He describes the life of his friend Lincoln just as he saw it.”—Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
“A remarkable piece of literary achievement—remarkable alike for its fidelity to facts, its fullness of details, its constructive skill, and its literary charm.”—New York Times.
“It will always remain the authentic life of Abraham Lincoln.”—Chicago Herald.
“The book is a valuable depository of anecdotes, innumerable and characteristic. It has every claim to the proud boast of being the ‘true story of a great life.’”—Philadelphia Ledger.
“Will be accepted as the best biography yet written of the great President.”—Chicago Inter-Ocean.
“Mr. White claims that, as a portraiture of the man Lincoln, Mr. Herndon’s work ‘will never be surpassed.’ Certainly it has never been equaled yet, and this new edition is all that could be desired.”—New York Observer.
“The three portraits of Lincoln are the best that exist; and not the least characteristic of these, the Lincoln of the Douglas debates, has never before been engraved.... Herndon’s narrative gives, as nothing else is likely to give, the material from which we may form a true picture of the man from infancy to maturity.”—The Nation.