The House of Lincoln takes readers on a literary trip through the huge changes in America, from Abraham Lincoln being a traveling lawyer living in Springfield, becoming a politician, a member of the Republican Party, his debates with Stephen Douglas, being elected as 16th president, the confederate states succeeding, the Civil War, his tragic death and Ana experiencing the racial riots in 1908. A different take on the life of Abraham Lincoln. This story is told from the point of view of a young Portuguese refugee, Ana, who went to work for the Lincoln's as a Saturday girl. She not only looked after the children, but did some housework. As she aged she become more indispensable to Mary Todd Lincoln. The book moves through the well known life of Lincoln, almost as an after thought. It concentrates more on his private life and how that affected Ana, his home town of Springfield and his family life in the White House. Once assassinated the story moves more to Mary, but still remains on Ana and her adult life. Taking place in the 1840's to the 1890's the story depicts the Underground Railroad, the Springfield race riots, and the Civil War. With Illinois being my home state, I have studied a lot about Abraham Lincoln and believe that this historical fiction book was well researched. The slant of bringing in a house girl to tell the story was ingenious and made the reading from her point of view interesting. The House of Lincoln is a intricate, compelling, informative tale by Horan that does a wonderful job of highlighting her impressive research and knowledge of this complex, influential figure who strove during his short time in office to abolish slavery and give African Americans the civil and social freedoms they rightly deserved.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, the author and netgalley.

The House of Lincoln tries to link the story of The Lincolns with a lesser known story and the author only partly succeeds. The plot is a little confusing.

When I first started this book I didn’t find it to be the best written. The main character who ends up working in the Lincoln household struck me as being too innocent. But as the book progresses and more tragedy befalls the Lincoln family, I was completely taken in by the book, By the end after the story of a local race riot and the conclusions that the main character reaches are truly devastating. There is nothing sweet nor simple about the last part of the book,neither the fate of an extremely beleaguered Mrs. Lincoln nor the conclusions the main character comes to by the end. It’s a very powerful book and very painful to read at the same time. Not having grown up in the United States I never knew anything about Abraham Lincoln nor really anything about the plight of former slaves trying to escape north to be free of their horrible internment Throughout the book two arguments are presented-America is only for white Americans of European descent or Black Americans who have lived in the country as long,are entitled to call it their home, they have helped build the country. In end this book becomes very angry,rightfully so,and very very sad. A great book makes you want to continue your reading with other books along the same subject and this is what I plan to do. Congratulations to the author for writing such a passionate and intellectually stimulating book. At times I did find the characterization clunky,but the anger of the story carries very well through.

‘The House of Lincoln’, by Nancy Horan, is an excellent historical fiction novel based in Springfield, Illinois, hometown to President Lincoln. Ms. Horan has done a wonderful job of combining historical facts before, during and after Lincoln’s assassination, with a friendship of two unlikely little girls. This is my second Nancy Horan novel, and will definitely not be my last.

This story offers a view of Lincoln by those who knew him in a way that is both important and fresh even to someone who has read many books about Lincoln over the course of my life. It was rich in detail but not in a way that was too heavy or overwhelming and it was written in a way that told a lovely story while educating me on facets of the Lincoln household and the dynamics of their relationships at the same time. Very well done and highly recommend!

Good depiction of the relationship between Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, the impact of historical events, and the evolution of their lives. I appreciated Horan's descriptions to make this time come alive and as always she writes a good historical fiction novel. Thank you to #netgalley #thehouseofLincoln #nancyhoran for the opportunity to read this book.

The most interesting information I found in this book was the description of Mrs. Lincoln, her actions and relationships with the president and other people. I was happy to learn that Mary Todd Lincoln was not the horrid person I was previously led to believe she was and hope this was a true description of her as a person.

Loving Frank, Nancy Horan's first novel I read, is one of my favorite. The blending of historical figures, tragedy, and fictional characters that we care deeply for is Horan's strong suit. I found the immigrant's perspective, along with the race riots , KKK, and white supremacy impact at this place and time was intriguing.

I think Loving Frank was a stronger book, one that I connect more with, but this was a great novel nonetheless.

If you love historical fiction that blend historical facts and people with characters you care about- it's a good choice for you!

Fabulous historical novel about Abraham Lincoln’s life in Springfield IL and his time in the White House. In addition the story includes much about the lives of emigrant and free black families living in Springfield. This book held a special place in my heart as my grandmother who was farm raised in central Illinois made it her mission to teach me about Lincoln’s life from child to adulthood.
What also made this book special was that the story was shared from the point of view of an emigrant girl named Ana who goes to work for the Lincoln family. We have a first row seat watching the family emerge through many hardships. I enjoyed the insight the author gave about Mary Todd Lincoln. It was also fascinating to witness Lincoln’s views on slavery and the rights of the the black man/women evolve over time.
Lastly, experiencing the lengths several people in the black community went to hide and move runaway slaves via the Underground Railroad was very educational. In all given my vast knowledge on Lincoln’s life I delighted in feeling a real part of this story. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourscebooks Publishers for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

I'm still undecided about this one. Not what I was expecting. Can't say I didn't like it but not exactly one I'd read again either.

The title of this book allows readers to think the setting will flow with the Lincoln family. It is more about the town of Springfield, Illinois and it's people who knew him.
The story starts well with great character development and quickly fizzles as the Lincolns move to the White House. After Abraham Lincolns death, the chapters are hard to follow through the following 60 years.

This is a well written historical fiction novel taking a closer look at the lives of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. I am a big HF fan and this novel does not disappoint. I loved the interesting details about these 2 famous people, flaws and all. A great story for fans of historical fiction and this time period.

Rich in historical detail, the author tells of the changes that America experienced. We also get a behind the scenes look at Abraham and Mary. Very good.
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ana was so smart that she ends up working in the Lincoln household helping with Lincolns boys and other duties that were required of the Lincolns for hosting events since they were in the political sector..

1851, Springfield, IL. Fourteen-year-old Ana with her family had to flee their island due to the religious intolerance and hardship they experienced there. In this new land, they quickly saw that with hard work they could achieve a decent living, not possible in Madeira.

With her African American friend Cal, Ana witnesses the underground railroad in Springfield. It’s a horrifying experience to leave the abuse of her island, only to witness how her adopted country is torn by slavery.

The prose is clear and precise. The characters are passionate, determined, and strong. And the plot is a fascinating tale of life, love, bravery, strength, loss, loyalty, friendship, motivation, politics, and the early battle for equality and justice in the U.S.

Overall, The House of Lincoln is a intricate, compelling, informative tale by Horan that does a wonderful job of highlighting her impressive research and knowledge of this complex, influential figure who strove during his short time in office to abolish slavery and give African Americans the civil and social freedoms they rightly deserved.

This was a great book! It gave me a different view of what the USA was like in its early years. It also provides a foundation of what it took to get where we are today. From our best days to our worst, we have come so far and continue to evolve.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of The House of Lincoln by Nancy Horan.
Being a fan of both Nancy Horan and Abraham Lincoln, I was excited to get an ARC of this book. However, as much as I wanted to like it, this book just didn't work for me. I found the book to be boring, full of well known information, and not at all like the description.

A very enjoyable read, this novel takes you behind the scenes in the Lincoln household and provides insight into the transformations of Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln. Taking a very sympathetic view, it portrays the growth of Springfield over Lincoln's time and personal impact of Civil War. Especially the decisiveness is caused in Southern families split by allegiance to different sides of the war.

Good historical fiction about the early lives of Abraham Lincoln and his family before he became president. The addition of the Portuguese immigration to America was a well researched addition and clearly gave an inside view of Lincoln’s household through the eyes of his maids and servants. The story included historically accurate timelines and events in the pre civil war era especially in regard to abolitionist tenants and perspectives. The book could benefit from a closer editing of paragraph content as it seemed to combine topics in one paragraph making the read a bit cumbersome.

"The House of Lincoln" by Nancy Horan is a compelling historical fiction that brings to life the intimate world of Abraham Lincoln and his family. Horan's meticulous research and vivid storytelling transport readers to the heart of 19th-century America, offering a unique perspective on the iconic figure. The novel expertly balances the personal and political, delving into Lincoln's struggles, triumphs, and the impact of his decisions on his loved ones. While occasionally slow-paced, the depth of character development and attention to historical detail make this an engaging and enlightening read. "The House of Lincoln" is a well-crafted tribute to a legendary leader and his enduring legacy.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

I think every kid in America knows that Lincoln is famous for freeing the slaves, the Emancipation Proclamation ranking up there with Jefferson's Declaration of Independence in noteworthy American documents. This story delves into the behind the scenes of Lincoln's rise to the White House, through the eyes of an immigrant girl who worked for his family. Relaying her backstory to explain how she came to her position in the Lincoln's household, but also what led to her personal political views took a while, which had left me wondering how much of the story could possibly relate to Lincoln. As it turns out, in this story, he was more of a background character. While his life and actions were a driving force for the narrative being portrayed, we didn't really see a whole lot of him as a person.

Although I'm not an expert on life in Illinois leading up to the Civil War, this felt authentic. I felt like I was a witness to transportation on the Underground Railroad, as if I were being turned away from a department store as a child with my friend, whose skin tone is darker than my own, questioning if my father would be in danger from slave catchers even though we came to America as free people, because when he works in the sun, his skin darkens considerably. I was that solidly ensconced in Ana's shoes.

I found it interesting getting this seemingly personal glimpse into life in America in the time leading up to Lincoln's election, and even the aftermath of the Civil War and the racial unrest that followed. As a mayonnaise melanated individual, these are experiences that myself and my family are pretty removed from, so this perspective was different and educational for me.

Overall I give The House of Lincoln 3.978 out of 5 stars, because while I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I was a bit disappointed that Lincoln didn't play a more central role in it.