The House of Lincoln offered so much rich history but never felt like a lecture or an encyclopedia entry, of which I'm so grateful. I've read a few of Horan's books, my favorite still being Loving Frank, but I really enjoyed this one as well. It explored Lincoln and his family through an outsider's perspective, that of Ana, a younger girl that became Mary Lincoln's helper. Though Ana came to states due to religious persecution, it was her bright and curious mind that I enjoyed.
HIstorical fiction fan will enjoy this one.

The House of Lincoln is Nancy Horan's latest historical fiction book. This time Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln are the historical subjects and the story is seen through the eyes of a Ana an immigrant from Portugal. This mechanism keeps the story fresh and introduces a new perspective for our thoughts on Lincoln.
I enjoyed this book and appreciate NetGalley and the publisher providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. The House of Lincoln is on sale now.

I love learning everything I can about US History, but history class was my least favorite subject. Since I have been reading more historical fiction books, I have learned so much. The House of Lincoln is a phenomenal look at the private and public life of Abraham Lincoln through the eyes of a young immigrant girl who worked in his household. It is also the story of the US during a time of unrest, the Civil War.



Usually, I do not read reviews before I read the book but this time I did and I saw many that said the book was good but there were flat times where it felt like a history was just being told, not lived. I have to disagree. Never did I feel like I was being told anything. I felt like I was living the lives of the characters. I was seeing and feeling the excitement of Lincoln’s life, the fear of the war, and grief over Lincoln’s death. The book moved through Lincoln’s life but even more it told of the world he was living in and the way that he was working to make it a better place.



The House of Lincoln is a great look at the history of Springfield, Illinois (I did not know there was a riot there), the history of the US during the Civil War, and the history of Abraham Lincoln.

With THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN, Nancy Horan weaves her trademark, exquisite storytelling about Abraham Lincoln and the tumultuous, divided country over slavery, politics, and identity. Told from the perspective of a close household member, the story is a noteworthy sensual immersion in another time and place and was a delightful escape. While at times it felt as if a heavy hand was forcing a point of view into injustice and hardship, but overall, it was a very enjoyable read. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Okay, I really enjoyed this book. So unique and interesting! I have never read anything about Lincoln before, but this got my attention from start to finish!

Nancy Horan is an amazing storyteller and to present the story of Abraham Lincoln and his wife as seen through the eyes of a young immigrant in the town of Springfield, Illinois, is so powerful a story. While this is a historical fiction book, the details of the Underground Railroad, the town of Springfield, as seen through the life of Ana grabbed at my heartstrings. The thoughts of Lincoln and slavery, Mary Lincoln and her attempts to make the White House a livable habitat and the question of her psyche and the amazing story of Springfield around the time of President Lincoln’s 100th birthday makes time stand still. Thank you, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the advance reader copy of this book; the opinions are my own but I so recommend this book and hope many book clubs will choose this book.

I've read a lot about Lincoln, so I wasn't sure if this was a necessary read. Even if you've read a lot, pick this up! It is unique, fun, interesting, and moving. I appreciated the different POVs giving this a different feel!

A Young Girl Working for Mary Todd Lincoln

Presently we are immersed in immigration in the United States. Our southern border is indicative of the many who want to enter our country and the many of Americans who do not want them.

Nancy Horan takes us back to the time before and during after the Civil War. The Ferreira family fled Portugal because of religious persecution. They only speak Portuguese. Ana, the main character in the book, arrives with her Catholic family in the mid 1800’s, and land in Springfield, Illinois.

Ana speaks English and helps her family traverse American customs while establishing a menial livelihood. The stress of a new land is difficult. As the anxiety mounts between the North and the South, Ana finds a job in the Lincoln household helping Mary Todd Lincoln. Ana is 12 years old and helps with childcare and housework responsibilities. She is a witness to Lincoln’s unsuccessful run for the Senate and his successful candidacy for President.
The one facet that I found unusual was the inclusion of the racism in Illinois from the 1908 Springfield race riot (which I did not know) and the power of the Ku Klux Klan (which I know). These two narratives emphasize the targeting of Black citizens. Mary Todd Lincoln is always a complicated person.

Like any era, it is complex. Horan’s writing shifts focus often which clouded my interpretation of our history, Ana, however, was symbolic of those times.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this pre-published book.

I think this is such a unique way to look at Lincoln and the effects of slavery, diversity and how divided people were both in the north and the south. Not only on did they support Lincoln as a person and president, but how they reacted to the abolishment of slavery. I love that this book gives you three different perspectives of people dealing with this time period. I think it highlights how torn people were during this time. You have even Mary Lincoln who had family who didn’t support her or her husband, yet still they wanted to maintain their family connection. I think so many times we forget how much of a war between brothers the Civil War was. Also, I enjoyed seeing Ana’s struggles with wanting to see beyond color and continue a friendship she had as a child and realizing that the world makes it so sometimes isn’t that simple. Overall, this book is just beautiful, and it truly delves into a couple important issues that many people don’t always acknowledge when writing about this time period. I am excited to start recommending it to readers.
Thank you so very much to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

The House of Lincoln is a captivating novel that brings to life a diverse cast of both fictional and historical characters who played a pivotal role in shaping Springfield, Illinois, and the nation as a whole during the tumultuous era of slavery and the Civil War. Horan's masterful storytelling transports readers to a bygone era, where they can witness firsthand the struggles and triumphs of the people who lived through this pivotal moment in American history. With its richly drawn characters and vividly rendered settings,

(Will be published 6 June 2023)

The House of Lincoln by Nancy Horan

Books by Nancy Horan are an automatic order at Owl’s Nest Books. Her novel about Frank Lloyd Wright, Loving Frank sold several hundred copies from our tiny store, due to the handselling talent of one of our former staff — it was picked up by at least half-a-dozen local book clubs.

With the current climate south of the Canadian border, The House of Lincoln reminds us of an important part of history — just as many people out there want to push us backward as pull us forward. Lincoln was considered nearly radical when he was elected, but he was not without his own prejudices against Black people and other minorities. But what made him the man he was was that he consistently questioned his own beliefs.

Horan shows us Lincoln through the eyes of the people of Springfield, IL. Of various races and cultural backgrounds, they weave a tapestry of what the USA was like in the time just before, during, and after the US Civil War. While the book tipped a bit toward sermonizing in places, I don’t necessarily see that as a detraction — a lot of people in this world still need to hear the sermon. Canada is also very guilty of racism throughout its history, especially in our treatment of the land’s Indigenous peoples.

Definitely a recommended read.

I’ve always been interested in Lincoln and the Civil War. I was excited to read this book about Ana and her life with Lincoln family. I did think the book started out slow but then the middle part was good. The last few chapters were not quite as interesting. I still thought it was a good book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

First let me thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced copy. This is my unbiased review.

I’ll be honest, when I requested this book I wasn’t aware that it was historical fiction. It was only after the advanced copy came through that I came to realize that. I couldn’t have been happier. I love historical fiction and enjoy reading about Abraham Lincoln. This book was well written and really drew you in. It was one that I couldn’t put down. You felt invested in each of the main characters lives.

The later part of the book made me sad to realize that some of the same tensions that existed back there still reverberate throughout out society today.

Excellent book. Would highly recommend.

As always - this author simply always delivers! She always brings history to life in such a way that you don’t realize you are actually learning about the lives of people that affected the way we live. Great story, well written and amazing characters.

I did finish this book, but didn’t enjoy it all that much. To me it seemed a bit disjointed and I guess I kept expecting it to get better. It wasn’t what I’d hoped.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

I felt like the description let me down. I was expecting a book about Lincoln, his family and his rise to the presidency. For myself Lincoln was mostly in the background. Ana is a Portuguese immigrant who works for a while helping Mrs. Lincoln. It feels more like Ana's story growing up in Springfield, having to learn a new language and getting an education due to the patronage of a wealthy woman. Her best friend is Cal, a light-skinned black girl and through this relationship she sees some of the workings of the Underground Railroad. I had a hard time staying interested even though the writing was fine. Maybe if there was more focus on Ana's story or on Lincoln's instead of trying to tell both neither story or characters seemed well developed .

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a digital copy.

This story will not only give you a glimpse into LIncoln, but his wife, Mary, and the decisions that framed his Presidency. It also includes the life of Ana Ferreira and her family,who are from Portugal, and how their lives are interwoven with the Lincoln's. The Underground Railroad will also be included and how it worked and some of those involved in its operation. The story is a long one, but with details and descriptions that will give you an insight into a time of history that is needful in today's setting.

It's 1851, Springfield, Illinois, a young immigrant girl and her family finds themselves far from home and the language that soothed their soul. Its in the midwest they find opportunity in the home of the Lincoln's. Ana gets hired to help clean and care for Abraham and Mary's sons. She gets a front seat to the rise of Lincoln to presidency.

This novel covers more than 50+ years of Ana's life, and her friendship with with an African American girl. She witnesses her friends involvement in the underground railroad, and a community divided by slavery. This story is steeped in historical information about the island Ana's family fled, Springfield, Il and few key figures during this time.

Abraham Lincoln is truly a fascinating man. From his humble upbringing to the White House, he deeply cared about his country, his family and ending the suffering due to slavery. This bit of history is pivotal to our story, and its a glimpse "what" not to repeat.

Thank you Sourcebooks for the complimentary copy.

The House of Lincoln was a could not finish for me. I was interested to read about Lincoln. When the first three chapters covered only the life of the maid who worked for Lincoln, I lost interest in the book.

I am a fan of historical fiction but I don't recall reading much historical fiction about Abraham Lincoln. The House of Lincoln is about Lincoln's life in Springfield, IL and leading up to his time as President. I should also say that I am from Springfield and there is a fair amount of history of Springfield in this book including the Race Riots that took place in Springfield.

However, all that being said, this book really centers around Ana Ferreira. Ana's family has immigrated to Springfield from Madeira, Portugal. When Ana is 14 years old, she is hired to work in Abraham Lincoln's home, helping Mary Todd Lincoln with her family. Ana also tells us about events going on around Springfield and the country, especially regarding slavery. In fact, the story is more about Ana than Lincoln. The story starts in 1851 and ends around the time of the Race Riots in 1908.

I was fascinated to read about the events Ana described, especially since I could picture where the events were taking place. However, even if you are not from Springfield, you will still enjoy the book.

I received an ARC of The House of Lincoln in exchange for an honest review.