Review: I Am Abraham: A Novel of Lincoln and the Civil War – Jerome Charyn

Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Liveright (February 3, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0871404273
ISBN-13: 978-0871404275
Order book here:

amazon

Order E-book here:
amazon

Characters:

Abraham Lincoln – Sixteenth President of the United States.
Mary Todd Lincoln – First Lady.

Synopsis:

Lincoln’s life told from a first person perspective and in the form of a historical novel.

Review

Jerome Charyn is mostly known by me for his Isaac Sidel police novels. This one was a great change of pace, and was about one of my own personal heroes. The novel covers Lincoln’s life from working in a general store all the way up through his election and subsequent assassination.

History unfolds through the eyes of Lincoln and the reader gets a chance to see into Lincoln’s head as he reacts to the events going on around him. We get to witness the death of his sons, his wife’s descent into mental health, and the struggles he dealt with in trying to hold together the republic. The reader also gets a glimpse into the seldom looked at element of Mr. Lincoln and that is his struggles with depression. This aspect of the novel really gives him a humanity and brings the character to life, and is very relatable to the reader.

I actually learned quite a bit about Lincoln while reading this. For example, I’d never heard of the Clarys Grove Boys until reading this. A lot of the information seemed consistent with historical fact, though I think the author may have taken some artistic license in recreating conversations.

Overall though, I found it very enjoyable and I think it would appeal to the history fans and those who are fans of historical fiction. So check it out, and be sure to drop back by and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

Jerome Charyn (born May 13, 1937) is an award-winning American author. With nearly 50 published works, Charyn has earned a long-standing reputation as an inventive and prolific chronicler of real and imagined American life. Michael Chabon calls him “one of the most important writers in American literature.”

New York Newsday hailed Charyn as “a contemporary American Balzac,” and the Los Angeles Times described him as “absolutely unique among American writers.”

Since the 1964 release of Charyn’s first novel, Once Upon a Droshky, he has published 30 novels, three memoirs, eight graphic novels, two books about film, short stories, plays and works of non-fiction. Two of his memoirs were named New York Times Book of the Year. Charyn has been a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. He received the Rosenthal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has been named Commander of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture.

Charyn was Distinguished Professor of Film Studies at the American University of Paris until he left teaching in 2009.

In addition to his writing and teaching, Charyn is a tournament table tennis player, once ranked in the top 10 percent of players in France. Noted novelist Don DeLillo called Charyn’s book on table tennis, Sizzling Chops & Devilish Spins, “The Sun Also Rises of ping-pong.”

Charyn lives in Paris and New York City.

Jerome Charyn’s web site:
http://www.jeromecharyn.com/

Jerome Charyn’s Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/jerome.charyn

Jerome Charyn’s Twitter:
http://twitter.com/jeromecharyn

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out Nicole at Tribute Tours for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

20 Responses to “Review: I Am Abraham: A Novel of Lincoln and the Civil War – Jerome Charyn”

  1. Tina Roberts Says:

    This looks amazing. Definitely adding to my reading list!

  2. Tribute Books Blog Tours Says:

    Thanks Rick! :)

  3. Tribute Books Says:

    Rick, thanks for being a devoted fan of Jerome’s work. I’m glad you enjoyed his personal take on Lincoln. We appreciate your glowing review of his latest release :)

  4. lenoreblog Says:

    GRATEFUL THANKS for this and for being a fan of JC’s Isaac Sidel noir crime novels, too. He writes in many genres, but as you stated, they are all great reads. I loved that you found this book perfect for those who read history and those who take their history in novel form.

    The author himself has said: Fiction often has a greater truth than most historical texts. I think of Napoleon, and I read War and Peace to get a sense of that particular time. Novelists see history as a story. We’re not burdened by “inaccuracies.”

    — Lenore

  5. Carol L Says:

    This is definitely gong to be my next read. I enjoy anything Lincoln but the reviews have been wonderful and I look forward to reading I Am Lincoln by Jerome Charyn. Thanks for this opportunity.
    Carol L

  6. band Says:

    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!

  7. Rhodes Review Says:

    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]

  8. Rhodes Review Says:

    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]

  9. Rick Rhodes Says:

    Rhodes Review said:
    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:44 am on February 22, 2014]

  10. Rick Rhodes Says:

    Rhodes Review said:
    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:44 am on February 22, 2014]

  11. Rhodes Review Says:

    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:44 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:56 am on February 22, 2014]

  12. Rick Rhodes Says:

    Rhodes Review said:
    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:44 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:56 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 8:25 am on February 22, 2014]

  13. Rick Rhodes Says:

    Rhodes Review said:
    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:44 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:56 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 8:25 am on February 22, 2014]

  14. Rick Rhodes Says:

    Rhodes Review said:
    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:44 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:56 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 8:25 am on February 22, 2014]

  15. Rick Rhodes Says:

    Rhodes Review said:
    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:44 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:56 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 8:25 am on February 22, 2014]

  16. Rhodes Review Says:

    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:44 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:56 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 8:25 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 9:06 am on February 22, 2014]

  17. Rick Rhodes Says:

    Rhodes Review said:
    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:44 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:56 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 8:25 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 9:06 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 9:57 am on February 22, 2014]

  18. Rick Rhodes Says:

    Rhodes Review said:
    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    Rick Rhodes said:
    Rhodes Review said:
    band said:
    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:41 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:44 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 7:56 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 8:25 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 9:06 am on February 22, 2014]
    [Comment imported from RhodesReview.com at 9:57 am on February 22, 2014]

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