A Short Life of Abraham Lincoln 1902 John G. Nicolay | Century Co. 578 Pages Condensed Biography Civil War President Antique Hardcover

A Short Life of Abraham Lincoln by John G. Nicolay is a substantial early 20th-century biography published by The Century Co., New York, in 1902. This large hardcover volume spans 578 pages and measures approximately 6” x 8.5”, offering a condensed version of the monumental multi-volume work Abraham Lincoln: A History, co-authored by Nicolay and John Hay, both of whom served as close associates of Lincoln during his presidency.

John G. Nicolay (1832–1901) was Abraham Lincoln’s personal secretary in the White House and later co-author, with John Hay, of one of the most important historical accounts of Lincoln’s life and presidency. Their original ten-volume biography, published in the 1890s, is considered a foundational scholarly source on Lincoln and the Civil War era. This condensed edition was created to make that extensive historical work accessible to a broader reading audience in a single-volume format.

The book provides a detailed narrative of Lincoln’s life from his frontier upbringing through his rise in Illinois politics, the Lincoln–Douglas debates, the 1860 election, the Civil War presidency, and his assassination in 1865. Because it is derived directly from Nicolay and Hay’s authoritative research, it remains one of the most historically significant early Lincoln biographies published in the post-Reconstruction period.

Condition notes: This copy features a beautiful, visually striking cover with strong aesthetic appeal. The book is in very good condition for its age, with solid binding and well-preserved pages throughout. Interior text remains clean and fully readable.