Great read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC. This was an excellent portrait of The Lincoln Family, as seen through the eyes of household help. It’s unquestionably the most sympathetic portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln I’ve ever come across. I was interested to learn of the history of the Portuguese community in Springfield-hadn’t a clue about that population’s inclusion and influence. Ms. Horgan displays great sensitivity, knowledge and talent in her writing, especially with the character development. I didn’t want this book to end, it was that engaging.

Ana, a Portuguese immigrant, is the main narrator in this compelling work of historical fiction. She worked in the Lincoln household prior to Lincoln’s presidency. Ana had a deep affection for Mr. Lincoln as well as Mary and their three young boys. Mr. Lincoln always encouraged Ana to further her education and secured her a position with a wealthy widow who would financially help her as well. Although Ana’s employment with the Lincoln’s ended prior to his presidency, Ana stayed true to the Lincoln family and followed news about them always.

Another narrator is Spencer Donnegan, a free black man. He is an African Methodist Episcopal minister as well as a barber. Spencer and his brother, William, helped runaway slaves escape through the Underground Railroad. He was friendly with Lincoln, as his barber and as a friend. They had a mutual respect for each other.

Mary Todd Lincoln was the third narrator, though I mostly found her a sympathetic voice in the story. She suffered many tragic deaths in her family, and lost others through political divides. She was devoted to her husband always and encouraging of his political aspirations. In the end, Mary’s life was filled with sadness and heartache.

I thoroughly enjoyed furthering my education on some of the events that Ms. Horan discussed in this book, such as colonization, black laws, the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation and even, later, the Springfield Race Riots. This book is much more than a personal profile on Abraham Lincoln, it’s a look at racial hostility and political tension.

The House of Lincoln is a well researched, beautifully written novel. This book easily deserves 5 stars and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmarks for the advanced copy.

Our protagonist, Ana, is a Portuguese immigrant. Ana has secured a job in the Lincoln household helping Mary Lincoln with the boys and other entertaining duties.

Ana has a front-row seat to something very few people acknowledge today, Lincoln had quite a few racist and intolerant beliefs. She sees him struggle and evolve. I wish there was more of this.

We see Ana encounter the underground railroad and see how this practice is ruining families. I was glad the 1908 race riots were included as well.

While I enjoyed the Ana/Lincoln interaction, a lot of it felt like retelling events of the war. The characters were a bit stiff.

NetGalley/ June 06, 2023, Sourcebooks

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It isn't from just one perspective but tells the story of more than just the Lincoln family. It never felt too weighted down by the different perspectives. It is the story of the rise and fall of Lincoln, before and after his nomination to president and his subsequent death. It was interesting and informative. There were times it felt a bit dry, as history can be, but I was always pulled back into the story. I found Ana in particular to be such an interesting character and seeing history play out through her eyes was such a treat.

The House of Lincoln by Nancy Horan is a remarkable work of historical fiction that offers a unique perspective on the life and presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Through the eyes of a young asylum-seeker named Ana Ferreira, readers are transported to Springfield, Illinois, where Lincoln rises from a humble lawyer to become the president who would ultimately lead the nation through the Civil War and emancipate the slaves. Ana is a captivating narrator, and her observations of Lincoln, his wife Mary, and their family are insightful and moving. Horan skillfully weaves together historical fact and fiction, drawing on extensive research to create a vivid and immersive portrait of the era. The novel also grapples with the issue of slavery, both through Ana's experiences and through the Springfield race riot of 1908, which serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing legacy of racism in America. Overall, The House of Lincoln is a thought-provoking and beautifully written work that will appeal to both history buffs and fans of literary fiction.

The House of Lincoln is the story of the Lincolns in Springfield. Ana, a Portuguese immigrant teenager, gets a job in the Lincoln household looking after the children. She meets Abraham Lincoln and follows his life from Springfield to the White House and beyond. The story is told from Ana's viewpoint and others in Springfield.

For me, this story moved slowly. It is history but does not really draw you into the lives of the people of Springfield. The story also skips time periods which causes you to adjust, at times, in the next chapter. It was not a book for me. I found it slow and wondered if I should stop reading but I did read to the end. I do not like to abandon books as they may improve the longer you read. For me this was not one of them. It makes me sad to give this review as I had high hopes for this book.

Thank you to #netgalley, #NancyHoran, and #SourcebooksLandmark for a copy of this book.
#TheHouseofLincoln

I loved the setting of this novel: Pre-Civil War Springfield, viewed (mostly) through the eyes of a young girl, Ana, who is an immigrant from Madeira and ends up working in the Lincoln household.

Clearly, a lot of research went into the novel and I enjoyed all the details. I especially enjoyed the representation of Abraham and Mary Lincoln.

Although this book is tagged as 'literary', the prose is fairly plain. So if you prefer simple to flowery or poetic language, this book might be a good fit. Although it has a lot of chapters, they're pretty short and the book reads fast.

For me to LOVE this book, though, I'd need more characterization of the main character, Ana. That might have required slowing the pace, which is something I enjoy — but others prefer a faster pace. This is all very subjective! My star rating is a reflection of MY taste, not some kind of statement about the objective quality of the book. I'm glad to see so many others love it!

The House of Lincoln
By Nancy Horan

This is the story of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln and their family. It is also the story of Springfield, IL – their home, but also a microcosm of the state of our country leading up to, throughout, and after the Civil War.

Although this is historical fiction, many of the characters were real people who shaped the America of the times – Steven Douglas, the Little Giant; Frederick Douglas, the great black leader who fought for emancipation and against resettlement of black Americans in Africa, and other Lincoln contemporaries.

Many voices can be heard in this story: the southern slave owners and slave catchers; abolitionists; members of the underground railroad, both black and white; the copperheads who objected when the war to preserve the union became a war for emancipation. There are riots and killings told very graphically. And the saddest part of all is how little we have learned and how short we have fallen from Lincoln's "with malice toward none, with charity for all."

Ms. Horan has once again offered up a true and well-rounded picture of the troubles of those times.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. This book goes back and forth between Ana who is a helper in Mary and Abraham Lincoln's home (pre-Presidency) and William who is a part of the Underground Railroad in Springfield, IL. Ana and her family have immigrated from Portugal and the family issues settling into Illinois are very compelling. I know very little about Mary Lincoln and this book portrays her as a tour de force as she is forthright in her speech and political yearnings. It was nice to see some of the home life of Abraham before he became a household name. The parts with William and the Underground Railroad are fewer, but kept me wanting more. Towards the end of the book, the race riots are sickening and change the tone of the book to a bleakness that makes me wonder what it would really take for everyone to have equal acceptance in America.

This book by Nancy Horan is a fascinating study of Abraham Lincoln and especially his family and friends. We see Lincoln's interaction with Portuguese immigrants, black citizens in Springfield, Illinois, and Lincoln's wife Mary. This fictional account gives light to the phenomenon that was Abraham from the vantage point of those who knew him as a lawyer and then a politician, and finally as an American president. Horan is a master of bringing famous people to life in an intimate way.

A young immigrant finds a place in the home of the upstart lawyer Abraham Lincoln and gives readers an imagined glimpse into the shaping of the man's views and ambitions. Fans of historical fiction will devour it.

The House of Lincoln is a great story about the everyday people and political environment of Springfield Illinois before, during and after Abraham Lincoln's presidency. Told from the perspective of a Portuguese immigrant, who we first hear from as a child, and later works for the Lincolns, learning about the family and its politics, which really opens her mind to the going ons of the time, which greatly impacted her. The remainder of the story goes into Lincoln's presidency and familial relations while in the White House as well as the continuing story of life in Springfield. A satisfying conclusion comes with an epic historical event which I believe resulted in an equally epic creation/conclusion! A must read for those who love stories about Lincoln and stories about how the United States dealt with slaves/free blacks, the emancipation of slaves and the aftermath of all of it - this is the book for you!

THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN
NANCY HORAN





Seldom do you find an adult author who can assume the persona of a teenager with as much success as in this book. Ms. Horan tells a factually correct and exciting story from the interior of the Lincoln household. Emotions run high as she takes us through the early days of Lincoln's formative years to a period after the war between the states. Travel along with her as you gain a better understanding of the happenings and mind sets prevalent this time.


5 Stars

I have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Spencer Birt

Nancy Horan’s “The House of Lincoln” is a historical novel that focuses on race relations and the role of women during the period extending from the late 1850s into the early 20th century. Thoroughly researched and very well written, it’s a work I found more educational than entertaining.

Most of the novel takes place in Springfield, Illinois. Ana, a young immigrant from Portugal, secures employment as a childcare worker in the Lincoln home and is befriended by future First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Ana’s best friend, Cal, is a young African American woman whose relatives are involved in the Underground Railroad. Through the eyes of these characters, we view various historical events such as Lincoln’s senate and presidential campaigns, the Dred Scott decision, abolitionist John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, life in the Lincoln White House, the Civil War and its impacts on loved ones, Lincoln’s assassination and funeral, and various other post-Civil War events including the 1908 Springfield race riots.

We also meet and learn the views of various historical figures including Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, her Southern family members sympathetic to the Confederacy, Stephen Douglas, Frederick Douglass, General Winfield Scott, and President Andrew Johnson. I was particularly impressed with Ms. Horan's treatment of Mary Todd Lincoln, truly a tragic figure.

Ms. Horan does a fine job describing the period. Her novel is filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of the various years she seeks to portray. She does an equally fine job explaining many of the issues affecting the lives of African Americans including slavery and escaping from it, the Underground Railroad, Illinois’s “Black Laws” prohibiting out-of-state African Americans from remaining in-state, the views of Free Blacks on returning to Africa, emancipation, and persistent white racism and fears of racial equality. In short, Ms. Horan’s work is a learning experience.

However, readers seeking a tale that’s mostly about Abraham Lincoln may be disappointed--as may those hoping for a “page-turner" filled with tension and suspense. Yes, the President has a principal role, but he’s more “actor-in-an-ensemble” than the “star of the show.” And, for me, the story moved slowly at some points and irregularly at others, moving back and forth amongst character groups and sometimes skipping entire decades.

Overall, however, I found "The House of Lincoln" to be a worthwhile read, one that I respected, even admired, more than I enjoyed.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Nancy Horan, and publisher Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.

The House of Lincoln is a historical novel whose main character, Ana, is a young immigrant girl from Portugal who becomes employed by Mary Lincoln to assist in the household. The novel is more complex than the cover synopsis describes. It really delves deeply into Lincoln's political run, the plight of free Blacks trying to find their foothold, runaway slaves utilizing the Underground Railroad, and the 1908 Springfield race riot. Overall, I found it a very interesting and worthwhile read. The dialogue didn't ring authentic to me, and I would have liked to have seen more character development. But I would recommend this book to historical fiction lovers. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an early copy of The House of Lincoln by Nancy Horan

The House of Lincoln does not offer many new insights into the personal and political life of Abraham Lincoln, but readers are treated to an in-depth, carefully-crafted look at Springfield, Illinois---its citizens, its culture and its changes during and after the life of Lincoln. Especially noteworthy is the culminating tragic story of the 1908 race riots, carried on in a city that more than any other exemplifies Abraham Lincoln.

Horan has included a most vibrant cast of characters including the narrator, Ana, an immigrant from Portugal,
Cal, the African-American girl who is denied Ana's friendship due to race, and the real-life African-American Donnegan family who lived in Springfield and whose family members aided the Underground Railroad through Illinois. The struggles of Ana and Cal are the struggles of the United States at its most dire time in history. Readers will find themselves immersed in both the big picture and the everyday events from newspapers, letters and speeches.

It is noted that one of the major factors leading to the race riots was an accusation by a white woman that an African-American man had come into her home and assaulted her. An innocent man was arrested and later the woman recanted the story. Images of the Emmett Till tragedy nearly a half century later questions how slowly the wheels of justice can turn.

Author Nancy Horan's research has resulted in a very readable account of one city's actions and reactions during times of struggle and change.

Many words have been written about Abraham Lincoln and his family, so it's hard to add anything fresh or trailblazing to the mix. Nancy Horan doesn't try to reinvent the historical fiction wheel with this book as much as have us look at the wheel from different perspectives and she pulls it off well.

Yes, The House of Lincoln is about the Lincoln family, but also not. It's about the times they lived in and how they viewed what was happening, along with the viewpoints of other people living in their world. Slavery is discussed, of course, but we also touch on immigration, women's rights, class disparity, and so much more. We see things from the view of a young Portuguese immigrant escaping religious persecution, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Mary Lincoln's sisters, and a variety of others. Solutions aren't simple, endings aren't always happy. But it is fascinating and you will learn things you didn't know.

I give this a solid four stars and highly recommend.

A history lesson wrapped in an incredible story. Great perspective on the characters that surround historical people and events.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I'm bucking the glowing reviews here but i this book failed to engage me. I found myself skimming the pages often. Yes, I learned things from the account but there was very little character development or plot. I feel that the summary given of the book gives it way too much credit - very little is included about Lincoln himself.

WoW! What a book! The House of Lincoln by Nancy Horan is a remarkable, fascinating and well written novel.
Nancy Horan’s words flow together so seamlessly. Her characters are full-fleshed, well-rounded individuals and her ability to draw attention to detail just made them seem all more real in my mind.
This storyline is engaging it flowed at a nice pace.
And held my attention throughout. I don’t think I’ve ever been so hooked or drawn to a historical fiction novel before like I was hooked to this one.
A stellar read for sure.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!