David Herbert Donald was an eminent historian and Pulitzer Prize winner whose engaging prose and fascination for biographical portraits brought "Lincoln" to life for millions of readers.
Donald’s biographical study of Abraham Lincoln took the reader from from his obscure birth in 1809 to the epic events at Ford’s Theater in April 1865. It was a monumental work, twice the length of the average biography and drawing on over a hundred large volumes of primary source material to offer readers a complete and entertaining story of Lincoln’s life.
Donald was first and foremost a storyteller. He brought to life Lincoln's inner circle with insightful descriptions of his contemporaries, his struggle to reconcile his soul with his politics, and even his private conversations. He emphasized the tentative nature of Lincoln’s personal and political relationships in the context of the larger national struggles.
Donald’s contemporary lens was distinctive because he was a living historian. He made connections between the past and present that other historians failed to make. This was evident in his vivid storytelling and the commonalities between Lincoln’s struggle with the Civil War, slavery, and the long-lasting legacy of Reconstruction in America.
Donald’s extensively researched years’ long journey of discovery reveals much more than a mere linear narrative of a man’s life. Through detailed analysis of source material, Donald crafted an analysis of Lincoln’s character in a way that few other biographers have done, offering insightful explanations of Lincoln’s behavior and demonstrating just how remarkable his career was.
He capably addressed how Lincoln’s controversial political decisions were actually determined by his beliefs, in part by examining introductions and conclusions to Lincoln’s speeches. He was also highly critical of the divisive politics and myths about Lincoln, a sharp contrast to many previous works. Donald took a fair and balanced approach to biographical interpretation.
The core of “Lincoln” is its examination of the historic peaks and valleys that the pre-eminent president experienced during his tenure. His triumphant milestone moments--epitomized by the Emancipation Proclamation and the Union victory in the Battle of Gettysburg--were tempered by personal loss and sadness.
At the moment of his death, Lincoln had moved away from his earlier strict interpretation of the Constitution, becoming a Progressive leader with vast legislative accomplishments. Donald summed up Lincoln's approach in his final words: "Identify the right, and pursue it steadfastly."
The sheer power and ambition of Donald’s life work was an asset to the public perception of Lincoln. Donald offered a rich, “warts and all” picture of a humanitarian leader who carefully navigated some of the most divisive and challenging issues in the nation’s history. By offering historical context to Lincoln’s actions and contributions and praising his morality, Donald’s “Lincoln” provided an influential frame for a growing appreciation of Lincoln’s legacy.
