Book description
Winner of the Abraham Lincoln Institute Book Award
Women to whom Lincoln proposed marriage, political allies and adversaries, judges and fellow attorneys, longtime comrades, erstwhile friends--all speak out here in words first gathered by William H. Herndon, Lincoln's law partner, between 1865 and 1890. Historian David Herbert Donald has calledā¦
Why read it?
1 author picked Herndon's Informants as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
William Herndon was Lincolnās law partner and knew and worked with him from the early 1840s until 1861 when Lincoln left for Washington. After Lincolnās assassination in April 1865, Herndon tirelessly interviewed many of Lincolnās family and neighbors from his childhood and youth. As I noted many years ago, Herndonās project was the first oral history in American literature. His vast collection was long disdained by scholars. I used the records extensively myself and in the 1980s and 1990s those in the Lincoln field realized the letters and interviews were a priceless source. Doug Wilson and his colleagues did anā¦
From Charles' list on The best books about Abraham Lincoln from a historian and psychoanalyst.
If you love Herndon's Informants...
December on 5C4
Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa storiesāall reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!
On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argueā¦
Want books like Herndon's Informants?
Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Herndon's Informants.
Share your top 3 reads of 2026!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
181
readers submitted
so far, will you?
š If you like Herndon's Informants, you might also like...
Child of Vanris
At five years old, Kasiel was found with the pointed ends of his ears cut off. Despite that brutal start, heās lived twelve peaceful years with the man who took him in. Keeping his hair long over his mutilated ears helps him hide the fact that he is Vanrian, aā¦
Almost Home
Almost Home is a fictional retelling of the last great tragedy of the Civil War.
In late April 1865, almost 2,000 newly freed Union prisoners of war are packed onto the steamer Sultana, in poor repair and with a listed capacity of 376 passengers.Ā Among them are four Indiana soldiersā¦
