Lincoln: A Novel is a 1984 historical novel, part of the Narratives of Empire series by Gore Vidal. The novel describes the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and extends from the start of the American Civil War until his assassination. Rather than focus on the Civil War itself, the novel is centred on Lincoln's political and personal struggles. Though Lincoln is the focus, the book is never narrated from his point of view (with the exception of several paragraphs describing a dream Lincoln had shortly before his death); Vidal instead writes from the perspective of key historical figures. He draws from contemporary diaries, memoirs, letters, newspaper accounts, the biographical writings of John Hay and John Nicolay (Lincoln's secretaries), and the work of modern historians.
Style, plot, and themes
Style The novel is part of Gore Vidal’s ‘Narratives of Empire’ series and joins his other works; Burr (1973), 1876 (1976) and Washington D.C. (1967) as chronicles of America. In the series, Vidal offers works of historical fiction that reinterpret American history starting from the American Revolution to beyond World War II. The book is never narrated from Lincoln’s perspective. Rather, the reader views Lincoln through the eyes of his enemies, friends, political rivalries and even those who sought to kill him. Significant characters include Lincoln’s cabinet secretaries; William Seward, Salmon Chase as well as Kate Sprague, John Hay, Mary Todd Lincoln and David Herold. Much of the writing is presented through dramatic, flamboyant dialogue. Vidal favours this over narration or observational writing, attempting to convey his wit and charisma through his characters. The novel is not simply a work of historical fiction, but with Lincoln's personal and political development it is also a Bildungsroman. Lincoln's development starts with the slow mobilisation and unification of his inner Cabinet, climaxes with his military victory and political restoration of the Union and is completed with his assassination
Plot The novel commences on February 23, 1861 as Lincoln, the president elect, is traveling to Washington for his inauguration. It is in Washington where the majority of the novel is set. Washington is depicted as turbulent and deteriorating with infestations of pests, poor infrastructure, a Capitol building without a dome and an incomplete Washington Monument. The novel comprises Lincoln’s two terms of office through the American civil war. It offers a detailed and extensive narrative, with the book totaling over 650 pages. It focuses on Lincoln's efforts to unite and mobilize political adversaries and military strategists to win the war. It is through the various perspectives of other characters that Vidal portrays an ambitious visionary who struggles with an unstable marriage, physical ailments and the failing trust of his fellow cabinet members. The novel also explores Lincoln’s growth as he overcomes these personal and political burdens to triumph and preserve the union. Vidal completes the novel with President Lincoln’s assassination.
Themes The central thematic development is the reinterpretation of the idealistic, sentimental ‘Honest Abe.’ Vidal depicts a politically cunning, dictatorial leader whose primary motivation was not the liberation of African American slaves nor adherence to the Constitution, but the preservation of the Union. Vidal even goes far enough to contend that Lincoln held an unshaken belief of white superiority and was willing to 'bend the Constitution,' although this has been significantly criticised. Vidal believes that it was Lincoln's willingness to act unilaterally and suspend democratic principles such as habeas corpus that allowed him to succeed in his unflinching pursuit of unification. He jailed hostile newspaper editors, political opponents and even employed the Secret Service to inspect private communications.
Vidal follows the complex politics of the cabinet and congress. Initially, Lincoln faces political opponents who constantly doubt and undermine his leadership. Indeed, many characters describe Lincoln as mild-mannered and weak. However, as the novel progresses, they and the reader come to understand that Lincoln purposely and cleverly masks his true emotions and intentions. Vidal contends that Lincoln's greatest leadership quality is his introverted nature. Dealing with treacherous politicians, arrogant generals and critics, Lincoln was shrewd and cunning to masterfully navigate the United States to unification as a Republic. Despite the incompetent military strategists and petty, squabbling politicians, Lincoln was aware that his primary goal was to hold the North together for as long as possible. This was because the battle was one of attrition and Lincoln knew that the South's smaller population would be exhausted first.
Ultimately, even Lincoln's political rivalries come to respect his leadership. William Seward, once a fierce opponent and underminer of Lincoln transforms into a devoted servant.
There were also shortcomings of Lincoln. He is depicted as hopelessly naive in dealing with the remarkable costs of financing the war and dealing with the US Treasury. He also struggles as a father. His son, Robert, confides in Hay and reveals that he feels neglected. He comes to resent his father's political ambition that caused him to be so preoccupied and distant. His wife's mood swings and insatiable spending further challenge Lincoln's stoicism; whilst the marriage is turbulent, the two seem to share a strong bond.
With frequent light-hearted ‘outlandish’ anecdotes and humour, Vidal sought to explore the human side of Lincoln. Vidal perceived Lincoln's humour as a necessity for dealing with his many great burdens.
Characters
Mary Todd Lincoln Lincoln deeply loved his wife and struggled greatly with her mental collapse. She is depicted as a vulnerability in Lincoln's political tactics, frequently clashing with Congressman.
Nonetheless, Vidal's representation of Mary is mostly positive. She is seen as an intelligent and decent person who unfortunately succumbs to fits of insanity characterised by wild mood swings and insatiable spending.
John Hay John Hay was Lincoln's personal secretary. He is represented as a close friend and confidant of Lincoln. He was a young man at the time of Lincoln's presidency and was energetic and high-spirited, even through the more challenging times of the war.
William Seward Seward was the U.S Secretary of State and is depicted as a handsome, yet politically cunning rival of Lincoln. Initially Seward was a believer that the Southern States should be allowed to pursue their legal right of independence; however, under Lincoln's leadership he came to understand the importance of unification. He was an outspoken member of Lincoln's cabinet, and oversaw the war effort.
Salmon P. Chase Chase was Lincoln's Secretary of the U.S Treasury during most of his first term in office, and is depicted as being as interested in developing his candidacy for the 1864 presidential election as he was in his cabinet role. He, like many other politicians, doubted Lincoln's leadership ability, believing that only a more radical abolitionist than Lincoln (someone like Chase himself) would be able to guide the country through its time of great peril. Lincoln shrewdly neutralized Chase's insurgent candidacy for the Republican nomination in 1864 and Chase is left humbled and with limited prospects.
David Herold and John Wilkes Booth Herold and Booth are the co-conspirators who devised and successfully executed a plan to assassinate Lincoln.
Herold despises Lincoln's attempts at unification. He is depicted as unintelligent and frequently engages in debauchery, visiting brothels in Washington. He fantasizes about being a hero of the Confederacy and even poisoning the President through his job as a pharmacy clerk. He eventually finds a group of like-minded individuals who also seek to kill Lincoln, and it is here where he meets Booth.
John Booth is the assassin of Lincoln. Booth is not as incompetent as Herold, but is also a hate-filled enemy of Lincoln. He seeks to avenge the defeat of the South, and stalks Lincoln throughout the novel, swearing revenge. His narrative climaxes with the assassination of Lincoln and subsequent daring escape.
List of named characters The characters in Lincoln include dozens of historical as well as purely fictional figures. This list of named characters includes those that appear or are mentioned in the novel. They are listed in order of appearance or mention (mentions marked with an *).
Part 1 – Ch 1 Elihu Washburne – Congressman from Illinois Gautier – DC caterer, rumored to be the lost Dauphin William Seward – Senator from NY, Lincoln’s rival for Republican nomination Pinkerton – Detective, Lincoln’s bodyguard Abraham Lincoln – President elect, then President Ward Hill Lamon – Lincoln’s bodyguard, later Constable of DC General Winfield Scott – Commander of the US Army, victor of Mexican War Mary Todd Lincoln – First lady Robert Lincoln – Lincoln’s son Widow Spriggs – Lincoln’s DC landlady in the 1840s James Buchanan – Lame duck 15th president William Dodge – NY merchant Mike – porter at Willard’s Hotel Stephen Douglas – Northern Democratic presidential candidate, defeated by Lincoln John Breckinridge – Southern Democratic presidential candidate, defeated by Lincoln John Tyler – former president Zachary Taylor – former president Salmon P. Chase – Abolitionist, Senator from OH, Lincoln’s Treasury Secretary Edward Bates – Whig politician Gideon Welles – Democrat, Lincoln’s Secretary of the Navy Thurlow Weed – Publisher of the Albany Evening Journal
Ch 2 David Herold – Pharmacy clerk, Washington Wild Boy, former brothel handyman Annie Surrat – David’s friend Mrs. Surrat – Annie’s mother, owner of a Maryland truck farm John Surrat – owner of a Maryland truck farm, dying John Surrat – Son of Mr. and Mrs. Surrat, catholic, studying for priesthood Isaac Surrat – Son of Mr. and Mrs. Surrat, engineer Mrs. Herold – David’s mother, furniture store proprietress Jefferson Davis – president of confederacy Sarah “Sal” Austin – Madam Julia – Madam
Ch 3 James Polk – Former president when Lincoln was in congress Edward McManus – White House doorkeeper, “Old Edward” Harriet Lane – President Buchanan’s niece, de facto first lady the Other Edward – President Buchanan’s waiting room manager Edwin Stanton – Buchanan’s Attorney General, later special counsel to Secretary of War; later Lincoln’s second Secretary of War Mr Floyd – Secretary of War under Buchanan Robert E Lee – Army colonel Major Anderson – Union officer in charge of Ft Sumter
Ch 4 John Hay – Lincoln’s secretary, appointed to position at Treasury Dept John George Nicolay – Lincoln’s secretary William Herndon – Lincoln’s law partner in Springfield Tad Lincoln – Lincoln’s son (7) Willie Lincoln – Lincoln’s son (10) Charles Sumner – Senator from MA, abolitionist Sarah Helen Whitman – Providence poet, professor, one-time fiancée of EA Poe Henry Clay – Senator from KY William Cullen Bryant – Editor of New York Evening Post Horace Greeley – New York editor Henry Adams – Harvard student, friend of Robert Lincoln, son of Charles Francis Adams
Ch 5 Simon Cameron – Lincoln’s first Secretary of War The Blairs – Political family from MD John Brown – Abolitionist, hanged Reverend Garrison – Abolitionist, imprisoned Kate Chase – Chase’s daughter (20) and de facto hostess at his house Nettie Chase – Chase’s daughter (13) Alexander Stephens – Congressman from VA, VP of Confederacy Philip Barton Key – Murder victim, son of Francis Scott Key Dan Sickles – Congressman from NY, acquitted murderer of Key in a fit of jealous rage Elizabeth Grimsley – Lincoln’s cousin, “Cousin Lizzie” Eddie Lincoln – Lincoln’s son, deceased at 3 years of age
Ch 7