How many different ways can we examine the life of one of America's most remarkable men? Well....The House of Lincoln has given us a new one.

Told from the perspective of a young Ana, we are given a new story about Abe and Mary. It's a wonderfully written historical fiction, so well written that you almost hope it's true history. While this book does incorporate actual events (the Springfield Race Riot, the Underground Railroad), it will provide new insight into a complicated man and woman.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with this Advanced Copy.
I love reading about Lincoln. This story is told from the point of view of a young immigrant girl who is Portuguese. She lives in Springfield, Illinois, and works in the Lincoln home there. The story also involves some free blacks who are working for emancipation. I enjoyed this book a great deal and want to get a copy for my Lincoln collection.

In The House of Lincoln, Nancy Horan gives us a different viewpoint of what went on inside of Lincoln’s family. Ana, a recent immigrant from Portugal, saw the working of the Underground Railroad. She was educated with the help of an older widow. Then she was hired to help Mary Todd Lincoln watch her sons and help host political parties. She was there to see the evolution of Abe Lincoln’s thoughts on slavery.

This is also the story of Springfield, Illinois, home to Lincoln. People’s feelings about Lincoln and his policies varied depending upon the current political climate. Race issues were not solved by the civil war. They came to a head during the race riots of 1908. Ana was there to witness it all.

Many of the feelings, explored in the book, about race are still alive today. This book will cause one to think. It is worth reading. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

The foundational story of Nancy Horan’s <i>The House of Lincoln</i> is the conversion of Madeirans to Presbyterianism, then their persecution, and then their flight initially to Trinidad and ultimately to the unlikely home of Springfield, Illinois. Horan builds her novel around the struggles and triumphs of the Ferreiras and especially of Ana, their middle child, as the family accustoms itself, with mixed success, to life in mid-nineteenth century Springfield. Ana’s recognized as an especially clever and responsible girl, finds a patron for her education, and works weekends in Abraham and Mary Lincoln’s home.

Horan structures Ana’s story around the Lincoln homestead and Mr. Lincoln’s growing political prominence and eventual election to the presidency, the resulting Civil War, emancipation struggles, and the Ferrieras’ varying paths to assimilation into Springfield society and culture. There’s romance, there’s heartbreak, there’s disappointment, and there’s a family finding its way to stability.

Blink once when reading <i>The House of Lincoln</i> and a reader might only see a saccharine tale of immigrant success. Blink twice and a reader might find that Nancy Horan confronts the sadness, the loss, and the disappointments inherent in Ana’s life and the lives of her family. Death is death, even if for a worthy cause like the Civil War. Loss is loss, even if the Madeira left behind was a Madeira eager to rid itself of Presbyterians. One of the small rewards of <i>The House of Lincoln</i> is Horan’s portrayal of the limits of Ana’s childhood friendship with Cal, an African American girl, and Ana’s ongoing guilt and confusion about Cal’s rejection of her.

Nancy Horan suffuses <i>The House of Lincoln</i> with warmth and humanity. Even characters who make cameo appearances are well drawn. President Lincoln’s path to the presidency and his fraught family life may be well tread ground, but Horan gives us a new and affecting frame through which to view it.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy.

Thanks to Netgalley for a digital advanced reader copy of The House of Lincoln. Being a Kentucky girl, historical novels regarding Abraham Lincoln is something that I enjoy being able to read. Told through the eyes of Ana Ferreira from the time she arrives in Springfield from Madeira, as a bright young girl of 14. Young Ana goes to work for the Lincolns and this story tells of major events in our Nations history and what is going on in and around the household of the Lincolns and part of their innermost thoughts. Interestingly enough, I find that the Lincoln family is not the centerpiece of this book. This book will leave you wanting to learn more about significant events that happened during Lincoln's Presidency. It is a well researched and beautifully written novel that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

The protagonist of The House of Lincoln is a young woman who works for Abraham and Mary Lincoln as the former rises through the political ranks. This novel tells two stories, the one of Abraham Lincoln's rise and his evolving views on slavery and the story of racism in Illinois in the late 1800s. The second story, is the more interesting and less well known and is the reason to pick up this novel.

I was excited to read another historical fiction book by Nancy Horan. She paints such a detailed picture of her characters and The House of Lincoln is no exception. The story is enhanced with her excellent descriptions adding greatly to understanding of the situations described in her novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The House of Lincoln gives an interesting perspective on life in Springfield, Illinois, during Lincoln's rise to the Presidency. I enjoyed the information about his life and his family, but I was distracted by the various story lines. Much of the story centers around Ana, a young immigrant from Madeira and her observations as a citizen of Springfield and an employee in the Lincoln household, but there is also a story line with the African American members of the community. Eventually, the storylines converge, but for a large part of the book their story is dropped. The comments about the Lincoln-Douglas debates and Lincoln's subsequent Presidential campaign struck me as commentary on today's political climate as well. It was interesting to read about life for people of color in Springfield before, during and after the Civil War.

I received a complimentary ARC of this wonderful novel from Netgalley, the author Nancy Horan, and publisher Sourcebooks-Landmark. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The House of Lincoln, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. As fiction based on fact, this book is a perfect accompaniment to all that we have read about the life of Abraham Lincoln. We see life from the viewpoint of his household, both in Springfield, Illinois, and Washington DC, through the eyes of his wife Mary, and the composite character of their various house helpers over the years. It is an image that rounds out the picture of the life of Lincoln more completely. Yes, he was important and necessary in the development of the US as we know it. He was also a good father, a compassionate and responsible husband, and a good neighbor. We certainly need more like him, in both our neighborhoods and in the government

A satisfying historical novel with echos of today's racial challenges. Several points of view shape this book, a portuguese immigrant, an African-American child and an adult, and that of honest Abe himself and his mercurial spouse, Mary. The time span is from before Lincoln's election to the White House and the Civil War, into the 20th CEntury and what would've been the Great Emancipator's 100th birthday.

I absolutely loved this book! This is a marvelous, well researched and creative historical fiction that captivated me from the beginning to the final pages! It is extremely well researched and beautifully written. Nancy Horan has created several fictional characters to recount the history of the Lincolns, and the turbulent times in which he ascended to the presidency. The main fictional character, Ana, a Portuguese immigrant, who escaped persecution with her family to come to Springfield, Il., finds employment in the Lincoln household. Through the perspective of Ana and the other fictional characters the author gives insight to both the everyday life, the politics of the time, and the horrors of slavery and the Civil War during this crucial time in our history. This book brings to life this humble, great man, Abraham Lincoln through his early days to his Presidency and how he shaped our country in ways that still reverberate today. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book. The opinions in the review are my own.

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.