The Story of Abraham Lincoln

Mary Agnes Hamilton (1884 - 1966)

In this biography for young adults, Mary A. Hamilton gives a British person’s perspective on the 16th President of the United States. A glowing tribute to “Honest Abe”, the author traces Lincoln’s ancestral roots and recounts his birth in Kentucky, his youth in Indiana, his adult life in Illinois and his years in the White House. She also provides a good background on the causes and course of the American Civil War.

Hamilton is not always historically precise. For example, she erroneously names Jefferson Davis as the Southern Democratic candidate for president running against Lincoln and Douglas in 1860 rather than John C. Breckinridge. However, overall “The Story of Abraham Lincoln” is a good summarization and interesting account of the life, values and politics of Lincoln.

Cautions: Chapter 7 contains a single use of an epithet for African-Americans in a quotation from a British magazine. Chapter 8 ends with an example of a stereotypical Southern black dialect which many may find offensive. (Summary by John Lieder.)

Genre(s): General, Biography & Autobiography

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Boyhood John Lieder
00:19:54
Play 02 The Young Backwoodsman John Lieder
00:17:29
Play 03 Slavery John Lieder
00:18:32
Play 04 Lincoln the Lawyer John Lieder
00:17:47
Play 05 Defeat of the Little Giant John Lieder
00:20:32
Play 06 The New President and Secession John Lieder
00:15:11
Play 07 The War John Lieder
00:19:59
Play 08 Victory John Lieder
00:13:52
Play 09 "Oh Captain! My Captain" John Lieder
00:13:09