Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard

[Susan Higginbotham]

I just finished this historical novel about the courtship of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd, complicated by Lincoln's friendship with Joshua Speed.

In promoting his book, the author has provoked a discussion of Lincoln's sexuality, and has mentioned C.A. Tripp's controversial book on the subject, but the novel handles the question much more subtly, leaving the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. The book that seems to have most heavily influenced the author, in fact, is Charles Strozier's "Your Friend Forever, A. Lincoln," about the friendship between Lincoln and Speed.

The quality of the writing is excellent, as are the characterizations of the three main characters (told in the third person, the book alternates between the viewpoints of Mary and Joshua). It was also entertaining to see what the author made of bit players in the story, such as Eliza Francis and Matilda Edwards. There are vivid descriptions of 1830's and 1840's Springfield and of Speed's Kentucky plantation.

This was a moving and at times quite humorous book that I would heartily recommend.

[LincolnMan]

Thanks Susan!

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Susan. Here is another positive review:

https://www.postbulletin.com/entertainme...84265.html

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks, Susan - usually I am not into fiction, but this sounds good.

[Gencor]

(04-28-2019 10:37 AM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  I just finished this historical novel about the courtship of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd, complicated by Lincoln's friendship with Joshua Speed.

In promoting his book, the author has provoked a discussion of Lincoln's sexuality, and has mentioned C.A. Tripp's controversial book on the subject, but the novel handles the question much more subtly, leaving the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. The book that seems to have most heavily influenced the author, in fact, is Charles Strozier's "Your Friend Forever, A. Lincoln," about the friendship between Lincoln and Speed.

The quality of the writing is excellent, as are the characterizations of the three main characters (told in the third person, the book alternates between the viewpoints of Mary and Joshua). It was also entertaining to see what the author made of bit players in the story, such as Eliza Francis and Matilda Edwards. There are vivid descriptions of 1830's and 1840's Springfield and of Speed's Kentucky plantation.

This was a moving and at times quite humorous book that I would heartily recommend.

Thanks, Susan. I just read the review of the book in my local newspaper and I am anxious to read it.

---

(05-01-2019 01:23 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Thanks, Susan. Here is another positive review:

https://www.postbulletin.com/entertainme...84265.html

This is the same review that I just read in my Sunday Newspaper. Now, I am really anxious to read the book!