What are your favorite books about Mary Lincoln, and why?

If I was only able to have one book, I imagine it would be Jean Baker's book, which I think has pretty much been the standard. I still have a soft spot for Sandburg and Angle's book as well as Ruth Randall's book on the Lincoln marriage. Not that any of the more recent aren't good, but those are the ones I seem to refer to most often.

Best
Rob

I agree with Rob. I would add the 1932 biography by Dr. William A. Evans entitled Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, A Study of Her Personality and Influence on Lincoln. Because he was a medical doctor I think he includes some insights that are helpful in understanding Mary. The book is back in print with a foreword by Jason Emerson. High praise is given Evans' book in the Acknowledgments section of Mary Lincoln: Wife and Widow.

(10-08-2013 04:04 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  I agree with Rob. I would add the 1932 biography by Dr. William A. Evans entitled Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, A Study of Her Personality and Influence on Lincoln. Because he was a medical doctor I think he includes some insights that are helpful in understanding Mary. The book is back in print with a foreword by Jason Emerson. High praise is given Evans' book in the Acknowledgments section of Mary Lincoln: Wife and Widow.

Rob,

I agree completely with your choices of Mary Lincoln books to which I also refer. And, the Baker book is still my favorite. A good choice for MTL images is one adapted from an article from some years ago in the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society and entitled The Photographs of Mary Todd Lincoln.

See you Thursday,

Joe

Looking forward to it myself. Be nice to step away from the computer for a few days.

Best
Rob