During the Presidential canvass of 1864, the author of this volume prepared a work upon the administration of President Lincoln.  That canvass resulted in the re-election of Mr. Lincoln, whose death occurred soon after his second inauguration.  As the editor of the New York Times, Mr. Raymond possessed at the time ample facilities to prepare such a book as was needed to interest the public in the life of one whose work was at once as great as it was successful.  Up to the day of its publication, this book was the best and most authoritative that had been published.  Twenty years have since elapsed, and in many respects it still maintains a just superiority and a historical value that cannot be questioned.  Its errors are of omission, rather than of commission; while its merits are so great as to render it indispensable to all future writers on the subject.  Every public speech, message, letter, or document of any sort of Mr. Lincoln’s, so far as accessible in 1865, will be found included in the volume.  The rapidly occuring events of the civil war, with much of their secret history, are tersely and graphically described.  The “Reminiscences” of Mr. Carpenter, covering about thirty pages, add interest to the volume.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN:  The True Story of a Great Life.  Showing the inner growth, special training and peculiar fitness of the Man for his work.  By William O. Stoddard.  Illustrated. 1 vol. octavo, pp. 508.  New York:  Fords, Howard & Hurlbert, 1884.

Mr. Stoddard was one of President Lincoln’s secretaries during the civil war, and very naturally his work ought to have strong claims upon the interest and attention of American readers.  His book is not of a profound or critical character; but a singularly honest and candid and strictly personal biography, simply written for readers of all ages and degrees of intelligence.  It sheds considerable light on the political history of the civil war and on the events which led to it.  With the military history, it deals but little.  Still its brief, vigorous and vivid sketches furnish an exceedingly fascinating bird’s eye view of the great struggle.  But its most valuable feature is the clearness with which it depicts Lincoln, the man,—­his sagacity and patience at critical moments, his keen perception of “popular” sentiment and disposition, his individuality, his distinctive fitness for the tasks and burdens which fell upon him.  This work, at once so accurate, so comprehensive, so discriminating and so well written, is one for all Americans, and particularly for younger readers.  It has in it a charm possessed but by very few biographies, and a fascination that but few novels can surpass.  To enjoy it and to profit by it, one need not always coincide with the author’s judgments of men and measures, or his criticisms of military leaders and policies.

  THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.  By Isaac N. Arnold. 1 vol. octavo,
  pp. 462.  Chicago:  Jansen, McClurg & Co., 1885.