Last updated:  May 21, 2009

A page dedicated to Abraham Lincoln.  Up until April 2009, I had never really studied Lincoln.  I am in the midst of a book titled 'Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer' by Fred Kaplan.  This page will serve as a reference tool for me for items mentioned in the book and  things to study and remind myself in the future.  Many of these items are studies and philosophies that Lincoln embraced during his life.  Charlie Munger has mentioned the following: "Admire and learn from those who are dead - as well as the living."  I will strive to study the influence and mentors of Lincolns life.

 

Lincoln was influenced a great deal by poetry, works of fiction and non-fiction.  The following were discussed by Kaplan,  as being influencers during Lincoln's life.

Robert Burns.ORG Vast collection of works of Robert Burns.  It is my understanding that Burns and Byron were constant influences of Lincoln.  You can search specific poems, works and philosophies of Burns at this site.  Listed as some of Lincolns favorites were  Tam O' Shanter , The Cotter's Saturday Night , Holy Willie's Prayer , A Wife As Willie Had  and Epistle To A Young Friend
Lord Byron Works of Byron
Abraham Lincoln Classroom. ORG Interesting collection
William Shakespeare This site is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.  If I am not mistaken, Hamlet was one of Lincolns favorites.  I think that Lincoln enjoyed the choices that man has to make during life.  He supposedly found many lessons of life within Shakespeare's writings.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. I will try to update this.  I have this listed as a reminder to me.
The Last Leaf Poem 'The Last Leaf'  by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. - A poem which was one of Lincoln's favorites
Edgar Allan Poe Kaplan cited 'The Raven' as one of Lincoln's favorites.
Benjamin Franklin I need to verify, but I believe that Lincoln enjoyed Franklin's Autobiography.   Here is a PDF as well in full
George Washington I linked a site titled, 'The Papers of George Washington.'  Interesting and in-depth site
Aesop's Fables It is believed that he actually memorized Aesop's Fables
Mortality Poem William Knox's Poem Mortality - Lincoln supposedly quoted this frequently
The Burial of Sir John Moore A poem by Charles Wolfe. 1791-1823 - Lincoln supposedly quoted this frequently
Speeches and Essay of Abe Lincoln A selection of some of Lincoln's speeches and essays
Pilgrims Progress - John Bunyan 1628- 1688 A book providing moral guidance through what it said and how it said it.  The language just as important as the substance.  The words transcend the ordinary.
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS - by Sir Richard Burton (1850) One of his few sustained engagements with fantasy
Henry Clay He enjoyed Henry Clay's speeches.  He would often recite them to friends and family. Henry Clay was Lincoln's hero.  Certainly something to consider studying.
Ralph Waldo Emerson - Representative Men Lincoln enjoyed these
Thomas Hood Here is a collection of many if not all of his poems.  He was one of Lincoln's favorites.
Oliver Goldsmith Here is a collection of many if not all of his poems.  He was one of Lincoln's favorites.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning Here is a collection of all of her poems.  Lincoln enjoyed the American Contemporaries, like Browning.
Thomas Dilworth Dilworth's Speller was an  early influence.  Kaplan claims it  formed him.  Thomas Dilworth's guide to the English Tongue was also enjoyed by Abe.
Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard  He memorized poems of loss and bereavement.  According to Kaplan, this was one of his favorites. Certainly a must read for me.
History of the United States By William Grimshaw It was discussed to be an early account of America and the expeditions leading to America.  A third of it is devoted to voyages of inquisitions and their importance. 
An Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce By James Riley "An Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce" By James Riley.  Kaplan claims this is  an account of sufferance of surviving officers and crew who were enslaved by wandering Arab's in the African  desert.  This book supposedly helped form his detestation of slavery.
William Scott - Lessons of Elocution William Scott - Lessons of Elocution. According to Kaplan, a substantial anthology of literary gems.
The American Spelling Book By Noah Webster The American Spelling Book , by Noah Webster.  Mentioned by Kaplan.
The English reader By Lindley Murray The English Reader - Lindley Murray.  Mentioned by Kaplan
The Life of Washington (The John Harvard Library) by Mason L. Weems Enjoyed the Biography  The Life of Washington (The John Harvard Library) by Mason L. Weems.  I could not locate the Google book.  this is the Amzon link.  George Washington was a hero to Lincoln.
Bound to Rise by Horatio Alger I may have transcribed wrong from Kaplan.  I thought he said, "Franklin's Horatio Alger Story gave value to Lincolns Ambition."   Franklin and Washington were his heroes. Here is a link to Alger's "Bound To Rise."  Perhaps this is the incorrect subject.
John Milton Reading Room John Milton -  Kaplan mentioned that Lincoln enjoyed Milton's poems
Edward Gibbon   "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" 
Alexander Pope - Wikipedia Page Alexander Pope and "The Great Chain of Being."  were discussed in Kaplan's book
Hugh Blair  1718 - 1800 Kaplan mentioned the influence of Hugh Blair  and Moral Philosophy
David Hume David Hume -  Author mentioned that Lincoln read Hume.
Joseph Addison Samuel Johnson's essay  on  Poet and essayist Joseph Addison 1672-1719.