Peculiar interest attaches to the character of Lincoln’s early reading and especially to the small number of books that were accessible to him.  In these days of cheap and plentiful literature it is hard for us to realize the conditions in pioneer Kentucky and Indiana, where half a dozen volumes formed a family library and even newspapers were few and far between.  There was no room for mental dissipation, and the few precious volumes that could be obtained were read and re-read until their contents were fully mastered.  When Sir Henry Irving was asked to prepare a list of the hundred best books he replied, “Before a hundred books, commend me to the reading of two, the Bible and Shakespeare.”  Fortunately these two classics came at an early age within the reach of Lincoln and the frequency with which he quotes from both at all periods of his career, both in his writings and in his conversation, shows that he had made good use of them.  The boy Lincoln not only read books, he made copious extracts from them, often using a smooth shingle in the absence of paper and depending upon the uncertain light of the log fire in his father’s cabin.  Such use of books makes for intellectual growth, and much of Lincoln’s later success as a writer can be referred back to this careful method of reading.

Lincoln’s later reading shows considerable variety within certain limits.  He himself once remarked that he liked “little sad songs.”  Among, his special favorites in this class of poetry were “Ben Bolt,” “The Lament of the Irish Emigrant,” Holmes’ “The Last Leaf,” and Charles Mackay’s “The Enquiry.”  The poem from which he most frequently quoted and which seems to have impressed him most was, “Oh, Why Should the Spirit of Mortal be Proud?” His own marked tendency to melancholy, which is reflected in his face, seemed to respond to appeals of this sort.  Among his favorite poets besides Shakespeare were Burns, Longfellow, Hood, and Lowell.  Many of the poems in his personal anthology were picked from the poets’ corner of newspapers, and it was in this way that he became acquainted with Longfellow.  Lincoln was especially fond of humorous writings, both in prose and verse, a taste that is closely connected with his lifelong fondness for funny stories.  His favorite humorous writer during the presidential period was Petroleum V. Nasby (David P. Locke), from whose letters he frequently read to more or less sympathetic listeners.  It was eminently characteristic of Lincoln that the presentation to the Cabinet of the Emancipation Proclamation was prefaced by the reading of the latest Nasby letter.