DOC The Women In Lincoln's Life by H. Winkler in History

Review

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good book.By tea drinkerExcellent read. Purchased one for a gift. Better to read this book than see the movie. I have passed it on.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Revisionist HistoryBy star itI have lately been reading books by Carl Sandburg;Paul Angle;Whipple; Barton; Randall; Wilson; and Holland; all of these are reputable Lincoln historians. Most are written in the early 20th C.; and most are concentrating on the women in Lincoln's life and their effect on him. Most without a doubt believe Herndon's biography to be colored miserably by his dislike of Mary Lincoln. All indications show that Ann Rutledge's death was indeed a factor in Lincoln's meloncholy; but it was not the cause. Although Mary and Abraham had completely opposite personalities; and indeed Mary's was volitile and Lincoln's sanguine; they both honored each other; complemented each other; comforted one another and were at least attracted enough to one another to have conceived 4 children.To the contrary; I find that Mr. Winkler is too apt to color his writing with great predjudice because of his connection to the Rutledge family. Often before or after using a dirct quote from those who knew Lincoln; he makes a great leap of opinion into what he believes Lincoln's emotions or reactions would have been. I believe one must look at the actual actions of Lincoln over time instead of interpolizing from statements made out of context.Example: From Lincoln's description of his birth mother 'want of teeth and weather-beaten appearance'; Mr. Winkler says that Lincoln was "ashamed" of his mother. Also he states that Lincoln's description was "callous". I believe it to just be factual. Lincoln was truthful to the point of lack of political correctness. By all accounts Lincoln loved and was loved by Nancy Hanks.Example: Mr. Winkler has attached a 'sexual intent' on the part of Matilda; Lincoln's step sister. The account was very accurate. She did follow the big brother she admired; and played a trick on him by jumping on his back; which resulted in an injury; and a lesson to her by her "big brother" to always tell the whole truth.Mr Winkler prefaces this account with the words "Abe and his stepsister Matilda ...developed a frisky interest in each other when she was 13 and he was 16" No one else ever put that connotation on the event; and frankly I find it offensive.There is way too much opinion and projection in this book for me to read it as a biography. It idolizes Mr. Winkler's family perhaps to make them more important than they were and give them more importance than they deserve in the unfolding history of Abraham Lincoln.Now I have imputed motive possibly unfairly to Mr. Winkler. But then; I am not attempting to write a history; merely an opinion.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Biased Misrepresentation of FactsBy Tiffany BowlesWhile this book's lengthy bibliography gives it the appearance of being well-researched; it quickly becomes apparent to the reader that the author is twisting facts to tell his own version of a very important story. Mr. Winkler states in the book's introduction that he is a descendant of Lincoln's supposed first love Ann Rutledge; and unfortunately Mr. Winkler is not able to put aside his biases against the woman who turned out to be Lincoln's life-long love: Mary Todd Lincoln. Basically this book tries to paint Mary Todd as a selfish woman who made President Lincoln miserable for his whole life. Mr. Winkler even makes the ridiculous assertion that Mary's contrary personality somehow played a part in President Lincoln's assassination. While there is evidence that Mary sometimes exhibited a difficult personality; there are also countless sources relating to Mary's good nature and to the happiness that she and President Lincoln experienced as a married couple. If the negative sources are the only sources you cite; as this author did; then you paint a skewed picture of how things actually were. This author did not tell both sides of the story--only the side that would make Ann Rutledge look like the perfect woman who would have made Lincoln so much happier had she lived to become his wife. I do not recommend this book.