![Book Cover of Abraham Lincoln: A History (Volume 6)](/image/book/abraham-lincoln-a-history-volume-6.webp)
Abraham Lincoln: A History (Volume 6)
'Abraham Lincoln: A History (Volume 6)' Summary
Early in his presidency, Hay and Nicolay requested and received permission from Lincoln to write his biography. In the first years after Lincoln's death, Hay and Nicolay were not encouraged to publish such a work—Representative Isaac Newton Arnold, a Lincoln supporter, had quickly published a substantial Lincoln biography, and publishers were not eager for another. Further, the permission of Robert Lincoln, who controlled his father's papers, would have to be gained. Lincoln's former secretaries decided to wait until they had sufficient time and money.
The often-dormant proposal to write the biography was given new impetus as they came to believe Lincoln's historical image was being distorted. Ward Hill Lamon in 1872 published a biography of Lincoln based on research by William Herndon, Lincoln's law partner. Lamon's book first made widely known many of the early accounts of Lincoln's life, such as those regarding Ann Rutledge, whom Lamon related Lincoln had loved and whose death devastated him. Without access to his papers, these early biographers focused on these episodes told of the young Lincoln, that fascinated the public. The Lincoln family believed some of these distorted or untrue, and in any event disrespectful. Also becoming popular were interpretations of the war that minimized Southern blame, with the bravery of the soldiers stressed in the name of sectional reconciliation. Popular fiction, such as that by Joel Chandler Harris, pressed a nostalgic view of the Old South.
By 1872, Hay was "convinced that we ought to be at work on our 'Lincoln.' I don't think the time for publication has come, but the time for preparation is slipping away." Robert Lincoln, Lincoln's surviving child, in 1874 formally agreed to let Hay and Nicolay use his father's papers; by 1875, they were engaged in research. Hay and Nicolay enjoyed exclusive access to Lincoln's papers, which were not opened to other researchers until 1947. They gathered documents written by others, as well as many of the Civil War books already being published. They at rare times relied on memory, such as Nicolay's recollection of the moment at the 1860 Republican convention when Lincoln was nominated, but for much of the rest relied on research. The research was so extensive that in their published work, Hay and Nicolay sometimes wrote that no records exist on certain points—statements that later proved to be premature.
Hay began his part of the writing in 1876; the work was interrupted by illnesses of Hay, Nicolay, or family members, or by Hay's writing of The Bread-Winners. When Hay was in Washington as Assistant Secretary of State in 1879–81, and after Hay returned to Washington in 1885, he and Nicolay (then the Marshal of the Supreme Court) would walk to each other's house with chapter drafts or research materials. In 1881, after his temporary service as editor of the Tribune in Whitelaw Reid's absence, he agreed to do unsigned Civil War book reviews for the Tribune, but when asked to do obituaries as well, refused, "I have not read anything this winter except what bears on one subject".
By 1885, Hay had completed the chapters on Lincoln's early life, and they were submitted to Robert Lincoln, Robert retained the right of approval of the text, and required a number of changes, for example, he felt the depiction of Lincoln's father Thomas showed him as too shiftless. Sometimes Hay and Nicolay alternated chapters, sometimes one took responsibility for an entire volume.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1890-01-01Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Author
![John George Nicolay image](/thumbs/image/author/john-george-nicolay.webp)
John George Nicolay
Germany, United States
John George Nicolay was a German-born American who served as private secretary to US President Abraham Lincoln and later co-authored a biography of the 16th President. He was a member of the German br...
More on John George Nicolay![John Hay image](/thumbs/image/author/john-hay.webp)
John Hay
United States
sman and official whose career in government stretched over almost half a century. Beginning as a private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln, Hay's highest office was Unite...
More on John HayDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
![Redburn: His First Voyage Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/redburn-his-first-voyage.webp)
Redburn: His First Voyage by Herman Melville
The book is semi-autobiographical and recounts the adventures of a refined youth among coarse and brutal sailors and the seedier areas of Liverpool. M...
![The Narrative of Sojourner Truth Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/the-narrative-of-sojourner-truth.webp)
The Narrative of Sojourner Truth by Olive Gilbert
Sojourner Truth (born Isabella Baumfree) was born into slavery in 1797 (or thereabouts) in Swartekill, Ulster County, New York. This narrative, as tol...
![Abraham Lincoln: A History (Volume 7) Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/abraham-lincoln-a-history-volume-7.webp)
Abraham Lincoln: A History (Volume 7) by John George Nicolay
Abraham Lincoln: A History is an 1890 ten-volume account of the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, written by John Nicolay and John Hay, who were his...
![Random Reminiscences of Men and Events Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/random-reminiscences-of-men-and-events.webp)
Random Reminiscences of Men and Events by John D. Rockefeller
A good book by the oil revolutionist of the 20th century. As they say "Men should listen to experience" and this book is all about the experience of t...
![Lives of the Presidents Told in Words of One Syllable Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/lives-of-the-presidents-told-in-words-of-one-syllable.webp)
Lives of the Presidents Told in Words of One Syllable by Jean S. Remy
This book presents a unique and simplified account of the lives and achievements of the Presidents of the United States. Written in easy-to-understand...
![Hero Tales from History Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/hero-tales-from-history.webp)
Hero Tales from History by Smith Burnham
This volume celebrates stories of great heroes from the pages of history from Moses and David through Clara Barton and Henry Longfellow. It is divided...
![Speeches of Prince Bismarck, Part 1 Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/speeches-of-prince-bismarck-part-1.webp)
Speeches of Prince Bismarck, Part 1 by Otto von Bismarck
Step into the resounding halls of history as you witness the brilliance and charisma of one of Europe's greatest statesmen. "Speeches of Prince Bismar...
![Chopin: the Man and His Music Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/chopin-the-man-and-his-music.webp)
Chopin: the Man and His Music by James Huneker
A biography of the Polish composer and virtuoso pianist Frédéric Chopin and a critical analysis of his work by American music writer and critic James...
![Abraham Lincoln: A History (Volume 1) Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/abraham-lincoln-a-history.webp)
Abraham Lincoln: A History (Volume 1) by John George Nicolay
Abraham Lincoln: A History is an 1890 ten-volume account of the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, written by John Nicolay and John Hay, who were his...
![The Chronicles of America Volume 14 - Washington and His Colleagues Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/the-chronicles-of-america-volume-14-washington-and-his-colleagues.webp)
The Chronicles of America Volume 14 - Washington and His Colleagues by Henry Jones Ford
Step into the corridors of power and witness the birth of a nation through the eyes of its visionary leaders in "Washington and His Colleagues," Volum...
Reviews for Abraham Lincoln: A History (Volume 6)
No reviews posted or approved, yet...