Lincolns in the White House: Four Years That Shattered a Family Book

In 1861, the newly-elected Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by his wife, Mary, and their sons Willie and Tad, moved into the White House. Shortly after, the United States Civil War began. This is the story of the Lincoln family during their time in the most famous house in America.

I had put off reading this book for some time because I figured it was yet another Lincoln biography that encompassed the Civil War and Lincoln's entire life. I could not have been more wrong. This author assumes that you already know about Mr. Lincoln, what he stood for, and the circumstances surrounding his election. The author assumes this and therefore sees no reason to have to tell you yet again. So he starts his book with Lincoln's inauguration and the family moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He writes about how there was next to no White House staff and having to hire people. Mary Lincoln went on spending sprees around the country, spending more money than her husband could afford on "flub-dubs." At one point, the author describes Mary as a blackbird, with her affinity for pretty baubles. He also writes about Willie and Tad growing up in the White House and running around through important meetings, and playing with all kinds of animals indoors. He writes about the tragic death of Willie and later Abraham and Tad. He only vaguely mentions the Gettsyburg Address. Anyway, I liked this book because it provides a peek into the Lincoln family that you don't ordinarily get from other historical and biographical authors. You know the story, but not in this detail.