Book Description
Originally published in six volumes, Sandburg’s Abraham Lincoln was called “the greatest historical biography of our generation.” Sandburg distilled this work into one volume that became the definitive life of Lincoln. Index; photographs.
Customer Reviews:
A joy to read.......2007-09-13
Sandburg took criticism for filling in some blanks with his imagination, but so what? His biography of Lincoln was not intended as a scholarly treatise. Think of the mystic atmosphere of a campfire at night, with an elder telling about the greatest person in a tribe's history. That is Sandburg's accomplishment, making Lincoln live again among us, at least while we are surrounded by Sandburg's mesmerizing account. No one interested in Lincoln or in the meaning of America should miss the experience of these volumes.
A lyrical, poetic biography of Lincoln.......2007-03-18
This is a biography of Lincoln by the esteemed poet Carl Sandburg. I was born just up the road, US Route 34 (in Kewanee), from his home town of Galesburg, Illinois. Thus, I have always had a soft spot for this version of Lincoln's life
As a poet, Sandburg's version tends to be more epic and mythical--and less critical--in its examination of Lincoln. For all of that, the book still works well. The first part, "The Prairie Years," recounts Lincoln's youth and early career before he attained the presidency. The story, of course, starts with his family settling in Kentucky, where Lincoln was born in 1809. Later, he moved with his family to Illinois. Lincoln began in New Salem and later moved to Springfield. Sandburg's depiction of his development, to becoming a practiced attorney, his political ambitions, his brief time in the militia, lays out the standard treatment of Lincoln, written extraordinarily well. Many anecdotes dot the volume. We see his doomed relationship with Ann Rutledge and his rocky courtship of Mary Todd. The discussion of his famous debates with Stephen Douglas in the Senate Campaign that brought him national visibility (and rendered him viable as a potential presidential candidate) is well told.
Then, the work goes on to explore his place in the Civil War. The volume speak poignantly of the family tragedy that he experienced (the death of a child is always difficult), the strained relationship with his wife, the challenges of orchestrating the Union's war effort.
In a sense, this is a poetic, lyric, romanticized view of Lincoln. It could scarcely be anything else, I think, given Sandburg's perspective. Nonetheless, for that, this is still a compelling work and worth a read.
A Poetic Life of Lincoln.......2006-03-30
Sandburg was a poet, and this is a poetic biography of Lincoln. Is that an asset or a liability? In today's climate of "facts, facts, facts," most would probably say the latter. But, in this instance, I would disagree. There are occasions when great poets hit, with their prose, closer to the mark than the historians. It's like the story of the spirit of one of the Russian aristocrats, going through the history books and saying, "My secret is safe." Then, he reads Tolstoy's War and Peace and shakes his ghostly fist, crying, "How did he know?" This is a great work by a great writer. If you are looking for more than a biography of Lincoln, if you are looking to be transported, this is the book for you.
Worth Reading.......2006-02-27
For anyone that has an interest in American History and enjoys Biographies, this book is worth reading. Carl Sandburg is an excellent writer and sprinkles anecdotes from people who knew Lincoln to really add reality to this reading.
Lincoln was a fascinating person who led the US in a critical time in its history. This book captures what he was like and reinforces why he is so revered in this country.
A bit too impressionistic.......2006-02-22
This biography is a must-read simply because it is by Sandburg and thus a thread of the national literary fabric. However, Sandburg tends to fictionalize or fill in the blanks of Lincoln's boyhood to the point where it sometimes becomes embarrassing. The narrative picks up speed and credibility, however, when it gets to the documented period of Lincoln's life; and ironically, the folksiness now works in its favor by evoking a very human and real portrait of Lincoln, unlike the current revisionist history drivel about his being gay, manic-depressive, or pro-slavery.
Book Description
Civil War and history buffs--as well as all lovers of fine writing--will delight in the detail and accuracy of Carl Sandburg's definitive, best-known biography of "Honest Abe". Representing a lifetime of study by the great American poet, Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and The War Years distills Sandburg's monumental six volume set into a single one-book edition. By gleaning every possible reference from history, literature, and popular lore, Sandburg successfully captures not only the legendary president, but also Lincoln the man. He reveals exactly who Lincoln was, and what forces in his life shaped his personality. More than 100 black-and-white historical photographs and linecuts show Lincoln himself, the places he went, and the people who knew him.
Customer Reviews:
A Thorough and Artistic Teatment.......2002-10-08
Abraham Lincoln comes to life through the words of his devoted and talented biographer, Carl Sandburg. This edition is an excellent compromise between Sandburg's six-volume edition and the shorter, incomplete texts that abound regarding Lincoln. Take your time with this masterpiece and follow Lincoln from youth through the climax of his political career in Washington.
definitive Lincoln by one of America's best.......2002-08-24
Thousands upon thousands of Civil War books are available, as American readers seem to have a limitless appetite for that era. If you are looking for the best, read Sandburg on Lincoln. A major American poet takes on one of the best-known, best-loved, most tragic of American historical figures.
When I was a freshman in high school, our English teacher offered us a deal: Anyone who read Sandburg's biography (then in six rather daunting volumes) would not have to attend class for a semester. I took him up on that offer, and was blessed to find my way through Sandburg's gift to the American people. Here is the highly detailed, thoroughly researched, and articulately written story of Abe Lincoln's years among us.
If you have time to read only one of the Civil War books from that burgeoning genre, read this one. You will come to know, from the inside out, this prairie boy who became a towering figure in American history.
A Pulitzer Prize winner's master work........1999-10-28
I believe Sandburg is the only author to win the Pulitzer for both poetry and history. Originally a multi volume history taking decades to complete, this single volume work is an appetizer. I read it in the 1960's and went on with relish to the full multi volume work.
This single volume is insightful, laser like in it's detail yet painting the times of Lincoln in a broad and beautiful brush. Did you know that in 1860 tools could be honed to within one ten thousandth of an inch of accuracy? That magazines and newspapers said the world would change for-ever because of the new "instant" communication nation wide?
This is more than biography. It is a woven fabric depicting the times and life of Abraham Lincoln.
An American Classic on a Classic American.......1999-03-16
I collect old and rare books. My mother bought me a copy of Sandburg's one-volume edition published in 1954. Honestly, it was slow to start, but once it got to the 1850's, I couldn't put it down. Lincoln's deeds are so often trivialized in our history books. But Sandburg meticulously builds up the background in a way that forces his reader to appreciate the magnitude of the moment, and the importance of each decision--whether right or wrong--that President Lincoln made. It easily took three full weeks to read, but it was more than worth it. I closed the book thinking, "I can't believe it's over!" My advice: Read this book right away, and make someone else read it too. You'll need someone to talk to when you're through!
Lots of facts to chew on and not a book to be taken lightly........1999-03-12
This biography of lincoln is an unbiased look into the man's life. You'll find everything you would expect and much, much, more. This is not a book for the weak hearted reader. Many of the sections seem to be endless. This is not however a negative, the opposite is true. Sandburg's quest for a truly indepth redering of the Lincoln story creates these long spells and the pay off is just. Much of the humor in the book is dated and therefore will be lost on many readers. Once again, an outstanding book that gets an easy 5 stars.
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Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and the War Years
Carl Sandburg
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Presidents & Heads of State
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Lincoln, Abraham
| ( L )
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| Biographies & Memoirs
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ASIN: 0151025703 |
Customer Reviews:
6 volume masterpeice.......2004-04-07
If you manage to read all six volumes of Sandburg's labor of love, you will feel a great sense of accomplishment, and you will know Abraham Lincoln inside and out. At least as much as this rather secretive man allowed anyone to see. When I finished, I felt like an old friend had left my life. That said, at times Sandburg sorely needed a better editor. He would run on forever with newspaper accounts of basically the same thing, as if he had to hammer home the point. Each and every visitor that ever applied to Lincoln for anything is recorded. We get the picture 3 pages ago. The research must have been prodigious. The 1st volume was rather poetic in the beginning, not surprising from such a one as Sandburg. Mostly, my interest never flagged. Six months it took me to read it. And am very glad I did.
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Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and the War Years
Carl Sandburg
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Lincoln, Abraham
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ASIN: 0151006407 |
Product Description
Describes Lincoln's first days as President in America suffering with "heartache"...the terrible challenge of the Sputh...the early Union losses...Lincoln's dissatisfaction with his commanding generals...the great battles of '63 at Gettysburg and Vicksburg...the final emergence of Grant as Supreme Commander. Book two of a three-book series.
Product Description
History
Book Description
Poland was the first of the Allied nations to succumb to German aggression in the Second World War, but by the most tortuous of routes her army managed to remain in the field through all five years of bloody fighting. Polish soldiers fought in nearly every major campaign in the European theatre, and their tale is a complicated and tragic one. This richly detailed text by Steven Zaloga relates the story of the Polish Army during the Second World War, from the first wave of Stukas in 1939 to its eventual conclusion.
Customer Reviews:
Great Overview of the Polish Army throughout WW II.......2006-05-08
This a great introduction into the Polish Armed Forces that, not only fought in 1939, but fought through out the war. The author gives a good balance between breadth and depth. The war photos add good flavor to the text. The artwork is nice too. I would recommend this book to any one wanting to gain a basic understanding on how involved the Polish armed forces were during WW II.
Good Starting Point.......2004-07-26
I bought this book hoping to find a quick guide to uniform ranks and insignia and was not disappointed.
As with all MAA series titles, this has a comprehensive amount of information in an easy to read format; covers the Polish Army of 1939, and the various exile forces that came later as well as forces in Poland under German occupation.
Sidebars include Polish rank insignia in a nicely done monochrome chart, plus diagrams of Polish divisional insignia as worn by expatriate forces under Canadian and British command later in the war. Also a nice diagram of Polish and German divisions in the fighting of 1939.
The photos from the early war pariod are dark and murky, no doubt a problem with the originals themselves and no reflection on the quality of the publisher - the late war photos are nicely reproduced.
Colour plates by Richard Hook are extremely well done, on a par with Chappell; perhaps a little grainier than Volstad, the poses and general layout are on a par with the latter. Great variety in the facial expressions, too, nice touch.
Text deals with the history of Polish forces in general, and provides a list of sources. Unlike coverage of other forces, little is said of uniforms, insignia, weapons, or organization outside of the colour plate captions. Those interested in the more detailed historical treatment will enjoy this; those hoping for more detail on small unit organization, weaponry, etc. will be disappointed and need to look elsewhere.
Overview of various Polish armies of 1939-45.......2003-08-04
"The Polish Army 1939-45" by Steven J. Zaloga is a concise overview of the uniforms, equipment, and history of Polish armies during WWII. The book has eight full-page color illustrations by Richard Hook, which the author also discusses and explains. This volume is filled with black and white photos, includes a map, and has illustrations of rank and divisional insignia. The book is worth reading to get an insight into the Polish armies and their activities during WWII.
Book Description
Poland was the first country to stand up to Germany in 1939, and maintained an underground army during the years of World War II. The underground army was organized in occupied Poland in October 1939 and worked until April 1945, hoping to establish a legitimate authority in post-war Poland while liberating territory with the aid of Polish Forces from the west. This military history covers the attempts of General Wladyslaw Sikorski and his successor (General Kazimierz Sosnkowski) to integrate the Polish forces into Western Strategy, and trying to have their clandestine forces (the Armia Krajowa) declared an allied combatant and legitimized by the Western powers before the eyes of both Germans and Soviets who sought Poland's destruction.
The work opens with some general remarks on the inter-war period of 1919-1939, and then concentrates on the period of October 1939 through January 1945 and V-E Day. It covers such topics as Poland's part in the Norwegian and French Campaigns, the Battle of Britain, Polish Intelligence Services, Military Radio Network, Feluccas, the creation of the Polish Parachute Brigade, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Bomber Offensive, the Katyn graves, Polish air crews in RAF transport command, Tehran, Polish Wings in the 2nd Tactical Air Force, the Bardsea Plan, the invasion of Normandy, the Pierwsza Pancera, the Warsaw Uprising, Operation Freston, the disbanding of the Polish Home Army, and Yalta. A conclusion and several appendices (including a chronology, costs of the Polish forces based in the UK, list of Polish squadrons in UK, and the texts of Polish-British agreements) close the work.
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- The Warsaw Uprising, and a Mini-Encyclopedia of the Polish Underground in WWII
- Underground Warrior's Memoirs
- Unforgettable, Fact-Packed Story of the Polish Resistance
- Thrilling Account of WWII Guerilla Warfare
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Secret Army
T. Bor Komorowski
Manufacturer: Battery Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Forgotten Holocaust: The Poles Under German Occupation 1939-1944
ASIN: 0898390826 |
Customer Reviews:
The Warsaw Uprising, and a Mini-Encyclopedia of the Polish Underground in WWII.......2007-10-01
Tadeusz Bor-Komorowski was, after the capture of Grot Rowecki by the Germans, the head of the entire AK guerilla movement. Bor includes a detailed account of underground life and an impressive list of Polish sabotage actions against the German occupant (pp. 152-154). The AK was careful to calculate maximum benefit from its actions for the cost in German terror reprisals, but the Communist AL had no such scruples (p. 171)
German despoiling policies had turned the Polish countryside into anarchy: "...there grew up a new category of `forest folk'. They were wild bands of all sorts of refugees living by robbery, and were a terrible plague to people in the neighborhood, who were visited nearly every night by bandits, who gradually deprived them of their last belongings...I issued orders to the regional Home Army commanders to undertake the defense of the population against the violence of disturbing elements." (pp. 171-172). It is easy to see how fugitive Jews would fall victim to these bandits and, to the extent that they themselves engaged in banditry, would be targeted by the AK.
Having been its commander, Bor gives full details of the betrayed Warsaw Uprising: the frightful German atrocities, the barricades, the child messengers, the struggle against starvation, the overwhelming German firepower (e. g., the Nebel Werfer ("roaring cow", p. 254), the improvised hospitals, the massive evacuations through sewers, etc. The Communist AL fielded 5 platoons compared with over 600 participating AK platoons (p. 259). One of the successes of the Uprising was the freeing of 350 Jews from a prison and the execution of their Nazi tormentors (p. 245)
Soviet perfidy was consistent, dooming the Uprising. First the Soviets complained that the AK wasn't interested in fighting the Germans, then they urged the Varsovians to rise up, then they denied the existence of any Warsaw Uprising, then they called the Uprising a criminal adventure, etc. They then toyed with the Poles by belatedly taking Praga, while intercepting and disarming AK units marching towards Warsaw to assist the Uprising. The Red Army positions and those of the AK came within 250 yards (230 meters) of each other (p. 341, 354); the width of the draught-shrunken Vistula. Previously, the Red Army had readily crossed the thaw-widened lower Dnieper, three times the width of the Vistula River (p. 341), but, this time, wouldn't budge until long after the fall of the Uprising and the subsequent complete destruction of Warsaw by vindictive Germans.
Token Soviet airdrops were eventually undertaken--but without parachutes so that the goods would be useless. Towards the end of the Uprising, once its doom was certain and very little of Warsaw was still held by Poles (so most airdrop supplies were certain to fall into German hands), Stalin finally allowed western airplanes to refuel on Soviet-held soil after dropping their supplies.
When Masses were said during the Warsaw Uprising, both priests and parishioners were oblivious to the bombs and shells exploding around them (p. 335). Now, if the Easter masses performed during the earlier Warsaw Ghetto Uprising had signified Polish callousness towards Jewish suffering (as portrayed in Holocaust materials), then, using the same logic, what were these Masses supposed to have signified?
Finally, Bor's own experience adds to the refutation of the silly "No Polish Quisling because the Germans never wanted one" argument. After surrendering to the Germans, Bor was repeatedly approached by German officials intent on him creating a collaborationist army (pp. 374-375, 380-381, 383, 386-387). He steadfastly refused.
Underground Warrior's Memoirs.......2007-04-25
General Tadeusz "Bor" Komorowski provides his memoirs of leading the Polish underground resistance in 1943-44 in The Secret Army, published in 1951. The "Secret Army" refers to Poland's resistance forces known as the Home Army or AK, which Komorowski commanded in 1943-44. As war memoirs by senior leaders go, The Secret Army is fairly good, with plenty of detail about his wartime activities and insight into why things occurred. However, Komorowski had to write the book while in exile in England and did not have access to wartime records that might have aided the factual content of the memoirs. For example, there are several cases where the author includes inflated claims about the number of German tanks destroyed in the Warsaw Uprising that far exceeds the number available to the Wehrmacht in that part of the Eastern Front. Another factor that might influence the reader's opinion of the book or the author is that there is absolutely no mention of the author's life or career before the war and he is self-effacing to the point that he almost appears opaque at time. Komorowski survived five years of brutal German occupation by remaining out of sight and unfortunately, the real Komorowski is sometimes hard to see in this book, as well.
The Secret Army consists of only four chapters, covering the birth of the underground in Krakow, his role as deputy commander of the AK, then commander of the AK, and the Warsaw Uprising. About half the book is devoted to the uprising itself. As noted, opening chapter provides no insight into the author's pre-war career (but which the publisher provides on the back cover jacket), but starts with his avoiding German capture after the Polish military capitulation in 1939. Komorowski was soon involved in organizing anti-occupation activities in southern Poland in Krakow and it is apparent that he had a talent for organizing underground conspiracies. The author is very forthright (although not graphic as many later accounts would be) about German atrocities, and wryly notes that, "we in Poland never met the so-called `good Germans.'" The author also discusses some of the Polish sabotage operations carried out in 1941, stating that this reduced production by 30 percent in German factories in Poland. Like many claims in the book about the wider war, it is not clear how the author would know these kinds of numbers at the time, particularly since he was on the run or in hiding much of the time. At other points in the book, Komorowski introduces information about Soviet activities that he clearly learned about years later, but infers that he knew about them as they occurred. There is no doubt that the Polish resistance was able to maintain an effective intelligence network in Eastern Europe, but it is confusing for the reader to have post-war information mixed with wartime recollections.
After General Rowecki, the original head of the AK, was captured in 1943, Komorowski moved up to command the Home Army. One of the best parts of the book is the author's description of the AK's counter-terror campaign in 1943-44, culminating in the assassination of the head of the SS Police in Warsaw. The author spends considerable space detailing the planning and decisions that led to the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944. Actual combat operations in Warsaw were directed by "Monter," as Komorowski was still commander of all AK troops throughout Warsaw, not just the capital. The author shifts to a day-by-day structure in the Warsaw chapter, which provides better focus for the reader. While the author manages to convey the bitterness and anguish of the failed uprising, he manages to do so with excessive bitterness or rancor. He does clearly and deservedly point figures at the Soviets and British for failing to support the uprising, but without getting carried away. As Komorowski and his generation saw it (he died in 1966 while Poland was still under Communist occupation), the uprising was a military failure but a morale success because it demonstrated Poland's undying commitment to fight for its freedom and independence, no matter how great the odds.
The book has a couple of maps and 7 photographs, which is pretty sparse. About mid-way through the book the author provides a couple of organization charts on the structure of the resistance, but without names of who held these positions. I was also a bit disappointed about the lack of military detail about the training, structure and formation of AK combat units. Overall, this is an effective postwar memoir, but limited by the author's lack of access to more source material.
Unforgettable, Fact-Packed Story of the Polish Resistance.......2000-10-06
Komorowski was commander-in-chief of the "Home Army." He tells amazing, detailed stories of secret radio transmissions, attacks by the Polish Underground, and brutal Nazi reprisals. Half the book covers the Warsaw Uprising, which he commanded. He tells a vital, detailed story, and he critiques the Allies' "wishful thinking" and "concessions to Stalin." This book is a must.
Thrilling Account of WWII Guerilla Warfare.......1999-11-16
Little-known facts about guerilla warfare are described by Bor-Komorowski, the head of the Polish underground army. Learn of the heroic Polish struggle against the German conquerors and occupants of Poland. Unlearn the false stereotypes of Poles being essentially passive during the Holocaust.
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My life in the Red Army
Fred Virski
Manufacturer: MacMillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: B0007DYW8G |
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The Polish underground army,
Mark Valet
Manufacturer: The Library of Fighting Poland
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: B0007JKX1U |
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