Gore Vidal's Lincoln: A Brilliant Work of Historical Fiction

This is simply the best book of historical fiction I have read - a brilliant work that is enthralling and utterly plausible.

I saw Gore Vidal's Lincoln on TV in the late 80s played by Sam Waterson and Mary Tyler Moore. At that time I remember thinking of it as a very interesting movie, but did not connect it to the American Chronicle series that Gore Vidal authored.

Reading this book, the TV movie comes better to light (and I am now quite urgently trying to dig it up!).

The book itself is characterized by several wonderful elements:
Firstly, Gore Vidal is a splendid writer. The way he scripts his words, the way he sets up the scenes and the psychological probing of his characters are all scintillating.

Secondly, the subject of this novel is so towering, that the reader can be forgiven for wondering if a novel can do him justice. Gore Vidal achieves that feat - he manages to present Lincoln foremost as a master politician, a leader for his times, a compassionate, wily, honest, determined and utterly human.

Finally, it is quite amazing how many of Lincoln's senior officers (Chase, Seward, McClellan) were gunning for his office. How Lincoln manages all these competing political forces is a compelling reading.

There is enough mythology sorrounding Lincoln, without having to have fiction written around him and circumstances of the civil war. But Gore Vidal's purpose is quite genuine and sincere - taking a fictional tack frees him up to probe Lincoln the man and all the characters and circumstances he had to deal with with much more freedom and creativity - the result is a plausible, yet utterly delightful account of America's arguably greatest President.

This book will be one my prized possesions on my bookshelf.