Carl sandburg, celebrity poet and biographer of abraham lincoln. Mencken called carl sandburg indubitably an american in every pulsebeat. Jan 01, 1984 carl august sandburg was an american writer and editor, best known for his poetry. The war years, and the third in 1951 for complete poems. Meserves and carl sandburgs the photographs of abraham lincoln. The final four volumes were published together in 1939, and won the 1940 pulitzer prize for history. Sandburg won three pulitzer prizes for his works, the complete poems of carl sandburg, cornhuskers, and for his biography, abraham lincoln.
Sandburg, like lincoln, was a son of the illinois prairie and he harbored a lifelong fascination with the sixteenth president. Originally published in six volumes, sandburgs abraham lincoln was called the greatest historical biography of our generation. The prairie years, sandburg turned to lincoln s life after 1861, devoting 11 years to research and writing. During his lifetime, sandburg was widely regarded as a major figure in contemporary literature, especially for volumes of his collected verse, including chicago poems 1916. He would regularly take a shortcut through nearby knox college in galesburg where, on october 7, 1858, abraham lincoln and stephen a. Abraham lincoln the war years volume iv by sandburg, carl. The prairie years covering the first five decades of lincolns life. The prairie years and the war years is, for better or worse, the bestselling, most widely read, and most influential book about lincoln. Sandburg grew up in the knox county neighborhoods with which lincoln was familiar. Abraham lincoln the war years carl sandburg 4 vol set cpr 1939, printed 1960. Bicentennial celebration, sandburg s lincoln consists of six episodes. The small house where sandburg was born and lived as a child has been restored and is a state historic site.
Before becoming known as a poet, he worked as a milkman, an ice harvester, a dishwasher, a salesman, a fireman, and a journalist. Carl sandburg, celebrity poet and biographer of abraham. Details about abraham lincoln biographer carl sandburg birthplace home 1977 fd on postal card. For many americans of the mid20th century, carl sandburg and lincoln were somewhat inseparable. The prairie years and the war years 186164 by carl sandburg and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Collecting abraham lincoln the prairie years by sandburg, carl. In february 1959, carl sandburg gave an address on the occasion of abraham lincoln s 150th birthday before the joint session of congress. Douglas had met for the fifth joint debate in the famous senatorial contest. Sad figure, laughing original airdate 12 february 1975 lincoln. Carl sandburg was an american writer and editor, best known for his poetry.
Libraries for thirty years and more i planned to make a certain portrait of abraham lincoln. It was said that carl sandburg was the man who probably knew more about the life, the times, the hopes and the aspirations of abraham lincoln than any other human being. Carl sandburg american poet and historian britannica. The war years, fourvolume biography by carl sandburg, published in 1939. Tribute to carl sandburg at seventyfive, special edition of the journal of the illinois state historical society, abraham lincoln book shop, 1953. The war years was a monumental effort which earned sandburg. Octavo, original brown cloth, lincolns signature giltstamped on front covers, dark brown morocco spine labels, top edges gilt, uncut and largely unopened. The thick pair of volumes of the personal memoirs, he wrote, used to stand, like a solid attestation of the victory of the. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. It would sketch the country lawyer and prairie politician who was intimate with the settlers of the knox county. The first two volumes, published in 1926, cover lincolns birth through his inauguration as president.
After the success of sandburg s 1926 biography, abraham lincoln. The first two volumes, published in 1926, cover lincoln s birth through his inauguration as president. For 30 years and more i have planned to make a certain portrait of abraham lincoln. It was awarded the 1940 pulitzer prize for history. Abe lincoln grows up by carl sandburg 9780156026154. Dec 29, 2014 shown on nbc in the years leading up to the u.
It was said that carl sandburg was the man who probably knew more about the life, the times, the hopes and the aspirations of. The prairie years and the war years is, for better or worse, the bestselling, most widely read, and most influential book. Carl sandburg was awarded three pulitzer prizes in his lifetimethe first in 1919 for his poetry collection corn huskers, the second in 1940 for his biography abraham lincoln. Abraham lincoln by carl sandburg seller thalia street books published 1926 1939 condition near fine all vols. He studied at lombard college, and then moved to milwaukee, wisconsin. The speaker of the house introduced sandburg to the president, vicepresident, justices, senators, and congressmen, and other dignitaries. Realising that people might not want to read something that long, he pared it down to a 1 volume book of about lincoln. Carl sandburgs sixvolume abraham lincoln is a monumental work on a monumental theme. A true story of slavery and restitution in america, by w.
Taking the total achievement, there is nothing in historical literature that i know quite. With hal holbrook, sada thompson, michael cristofer, james carroll jordan. Meanwhile, sandburg set out to become an authority on abraham lincoln see vol. In his youth, he worked many odd jobs before serving in the 6th illinois infantry in puerto rico during the spanishamerican war. American poet carl sandburg was born less than 70 years after lincoln, the son of a wealthless immigrant in a rural america that was different from lincolns, but much closer to lincolns country life than we are today. As a young boy growing up in galesburg, illinois, carl sandburg often listened to stories of oldtimers who had known abraham lincoln.
The prairie years, sandburg turned to lincolns life after 1861, devoting 11 years to research and writing. The biography is informed not only by the authors journalistic style but. Abraham lincoln by carl sandburg 4 volumes 1939 books. The war years volume one only by sandburg, carl and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Carl sandburg biography childhood, life achievements. This is a 1960 typed letter signed by noted american poet and historian carl sandburg clarifying an inquiry regarding his authoritative autobiography of us president abraham lincoln. Biography sandburg was born in galesburg, illinois, to parents of swedish ancestry.
Sandburgs lincoln within history university of michigan. Typed in black ink on stationery bearing the imprint of sandburg s connemara farms flat rock, nc estate, it reads dear jean. Abe lincoln grows up by carl sandburg, james daugherty. A twovolume labor of love by poet carl sandburg recalling lincolns years as a country lawyer and prairie politician. Carl august sandburg was an american writer and editor, best known for his poetry.
Abraham lincoln by carl sandburg, first edition abebooks. He eventually published an abridged edition of the lincoln biography, and also shorter books on lincoln for young readers. He won two pulitzer prizes, one for his poetry and another for a biography of abraham lincoln. Written by carl sandburg and published in 1939, it was published about a dozen years after sandburgs twovolume abraham lincoln. The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. In february 1959, carl sandburg gave an address on the occasion of abraham lincolns 150th birthday before the joint session of congress. This 1939 fourvolume hard back set by carl sandburg encompasses more than 2,000 pages covering the war years under president abraham lincoln. He won three pulitzer prizes, two for his poetry and another for a biography of abraham lincoln. Yannella, philip, the other carl sandburg, university press of mississippi, 1996. Although better known as an eminent american poet, sandburg was also a wellregarded biographer. Collecting abraham lincoln the prairie years by sandburg. Carl sandburg on abraham lincoln as civil war leader the. Known as the poet of the people, carl sandburg 18781967 lived to become a pulitzer prize winning poet and biographer of abraham lincoln, novelist, journalist, childrens author, and troubadour of american folk songs. Abraham lincoln by carl sandburg and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The prairie years is a twovolume biography of lincoln s early life written by carl sandburg and published in 1926. Before lloyd ostendorf, lincoln photographs used to be numbered by meserve number. Sandburgs lincoln carl sandburg home national historic site. First trade edition of the second of sandburgs landmark lincoln biographies, the profusely illustrated fourvolume the war years, inscribed on the half title of volume one by sandburg, jimmy cone, with good wishes, carl sandburg, 1940, coupled with a third printing issued the same year as the first of the twovolume the prairie years. Predominantly a history of the united states from the late 1700s through the end of the american civil war, abraham lincoln is also recommended for anyone interested in an understanding of lincoln, the man. Edmund wilson, in patriotic gore, writes of how grants memoirs used to grace american bookshelves. Carl sandburg 18781967 was twice awarded the pulitzer prize, first in 1940 for his biography of abraham lincoln and again in 1951 for complete. The war years encompasses volumes three to six of a sixvolume biography of abraham lincoln by carl sandburg. The prairie years is a twovolume biography of lincolns early life written by carl sandburg and published in 1926. Biography, history, lincoln, abraham, 18091865, presidents, united states civil war. Sandburgs lincoln within history um library digital collections.
Abraham lincoln the war years volume iv by sandburg, carl an apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Abraham lincoln volume 1 the prairie years carl sandburg. Carl sandburg 18781967 was twice awarded the pulitzer prize, first in 1940 for his biography of abraham lincoln and again in 1951 for complete poems. The citys carl sandburg community college was opened in. Frank and virginia williams collection of lincolniana mississippi state university. Carl august sandburg january 6, 1878 july 22, 1967 was an american poet, biographer, journalist, and editor. His exhaustive biography of the president, which took many years to complete, appeared as abraham lincoln. The war years is a fourvolume, 2,400 page biography focused on lincolns presidency and death. Jan 14, 2015 shown on nbc in the years leading up to the u. With these four volumes carl sandburg completes the life of lincoln begun in the prairie years.
The national park service is modifying its operations on a parkbypark basis in accordance with. Be sad be cool be kindremembering those now dreamdusthallowed in the ruts and gullies. Poet carl sandburg was born into a poor family in galesburg, illinois. The war years was awarded the pulitzer prize for history. Abraham lincoln by carl sandburg, first edition, signed. Sandburg s monumental sixvolume life of lincoln, which concludes with the war years, began with twovolume prairie years issued separately in 1926. Typed in black ink on stationery bearing the imprint of sandburgs connemara farms flat rock, nc estate, it reads dear jean. In 1957, sandburg recorded excerpts from the biography and some of lincolns speeches for caedmon records in new york city. Sandburgs lincoln carl sandburg home national historic. This alone should tell you this book is a pretty decent listen. The life of abraham lincoln is told in episodic parts. After the success of sandburgs 1926 biography, abraham lincoln. It is easy to see why carl sandburgs account of abraham lincoln is so beloved, since it focuses so much on lincoln the folk hero.