Abraham Lincoln's World

by Genevieve Foster

1945 Newbery Honor Title

With her whimsical and informative illustrations and timelines, Foster has magnificently captured a remarkable age and a remarkable man. The author earned her reputation by her masterful display of "horizontal history" telling the story of world events in the geo-political sphere, while giving as much importance to advances in science, medicine, music, art, literature, and exploration.

Thus, while Abe Lincoln was a boy romping the woods of Kentucky, Thomas Jefferson was completing his eighth year as president, George III reigned in Great Britain and Napolean was about to meet his Waterloo. Beethoven and Sir Walter Scott were at the height of their creative powers, while Victor Hugo was staging plays at school. By the time Lincoln was old enough to help his father chop wood, other young boys and girls were being prepared for the future parts they would play. Harriet Beecher was reading anything she could get her hands on, Charles Darwin was collecting toads, crabs and shells, and the impoverished boy Dickens was working in a shoe blacking factory in London.

When Lincoln opened his shop in Salem, David Livingstone was exploring Africa, and thousands of Americans were opening up the West on the Oregon Trail. The spirit of freedom was moving around the globe as the abolitionist movement gained power in the States and serfdom saw its demise in Russia. Technologically the world was bursting with the invention of the telegraph, the railroad and the steamboat.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, School, Biography, Childrens, American History, Read For School

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

Genevieve Stump Foster was an American children's author and illustrator best known for her innovative approach to writing history books for young readers. Born in Oswego, New York, she spent most of her childhood in Wisconsin after the death of her father. Foster studied at Rockford College, the University of Wisconsin, and the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. She began her career as a commercial artist before focusing on children’s literature. Inspired by her daughter, she developed a distinctive method of presenting history by integrating global events to show their connections. Her first major success, George Washington's World, highlighted how the American and French Revolutions and British imperialism affected Washington’s life. Foster's books, praised for bringing historical figures to life, were translated into numerous languages and distributed internationally. Over her career, she wrote 19 nonfiction books, several of which became Newbery Honor titles. Foster passed away in Westport, Connecticut, leaving a legacy that continues through her enduring works and influence on historical storytelling.

Reviews

[Christy Whitsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is the coolest series. I love having a glimpse of what was happening worldwide during specific parts of American history. Events in other countries have been in separate compartments of my brain, and linking them is a real breakthrough.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent contribution to a fantastic series. We love the "World of..." series by Genevieve Foster. Covering so much more than just Lincoln, Foster talks about the people and events that shaped Lincoln's time.

Part I examines the world when Lincoln entered it, discussing events in Europe, North & South America that shaped the course of history and laid the foundation for Part 2. Part II highlights the people and events that Lincoln's relatives would have discussed over meals as he was growing up. By Part III, Lincoln is an adult, trying to find his way in the world. Foster gives us vignettes of his personal and professional successes and trials as well as a tour of events around the world that both connect with the previous sections and foreshadow the upcoming time periods.

Part IV touches on Lincoln's work as a lawyer against the backdrop of political forces gathering in the United States. Sections on Europe and Asia illuminate events beyond America even as she is pulled into the Civil War. Finally, Part V weaves the threads together into the Lincoln Presidency, talking not only about the war and the personal toll it took on the Lincoln family, but also the progress of technology and how the American Civil War impacted Europe.

We love this approach. The chronological time frames have helped my students understand that history and it's events span generations. We see what Lincoln knew and when, and get a feel how he fits in the juxtaposed timeline of his actual lifespan. This is our second Foster book, and I look forward to purchasing and reading the entire series. Highly recommended.

For another look at Lincoln from another excellent series, see
Abraham Lincoln: A DK Photobiography, Stone, 2005
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Caroline Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ve loved living in Abraham Lincoln’s times this school year. The best thing about the two Foster books I’ve read is being immersed in a whole time period across the world. I knew almost nothing about Chinese and Japanese history, and really enjoyed learning more about Russian, French, English, and other European countries’ histories alongside our own during the lifetime of Lincoln. What a life Abraham Lincoln had, and he certainly was the man for the incredibly difficult hour in which he lived and served our country. Overall, this was a great read and my fifth grader has absolutely loved it!

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

03/30/2023We read this for AmblesideOnline Year 5 and it was such a fascinating way to look at the history surrounding this era. The saddest thing is that there isn’t a continuation (Teddy Roosevelt perhaps?). But we are looking forward to reading others in this series such as Augustus Caesar, and Christopher Columbus.

02/10/2025
This is my second time reading this through, this time with the lovely Lilia. We are so sad to be at the end of this text and still wish there was more. Onward to the fourth Story of the World book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best world history books for the middle grades. Foster's books weave the events of one famous person's life with what was happening around the world. Wonderfully written!!

[Kellyn Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about Abraham Lincoln (and what was going on in the world around him during his life). And ... not really much to say about this. My mom read it to me and my brothers for school. :)

[naty]

[school]

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 stars. Very similar in flow to her earlier book"George Washington's World" and with similar blind spots and omissions - this is a history of interconnections. But because the world is 'larger' and the US is too, the links between countries are fewer and less elaborated becoming mere glosses to highlight the US story as the Civil War approaches. The unification of Italy and the Germanies. the independence of the S. American colonies, the opening of Japan, the fall of Napoleon and deterioration of imperial China do figure into the history. BUT there is relatively little discussion of the Monroe Doctrine, manifest destiny and the Gold Rush, the fate of the Native American tribes, and the forces driving the continuation of slavery. There is next to no discussion of the workings of the Confederacy and the Civil War was a very hurried discussion. I read this for my 2019 Reading Challenge and my Newbery Challenge (Honor Book, 1944).

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this history book just as much as Foster's others (I've read nearly all of them), but possibly more so.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who was the United States’ greatest President? Many people would quickly answer, “Abraham Lincoln.” This 1945 Newbery Honor Title, originally published in 1944, is not just a biography of Lincoln, but an example of author Genevieve Foster’s masterful display of “horizontal history” by telling the story of world events in the geo-political sphere, while giving as much importance to advances in science, medicine, music, literature, and exploration, all centered around the life of a specific individual. After a short introduction about Lincoln’s background and birth, the five main sections explain what was going on in the world while Abe Lincoln was a boy romping the woods of Kentucky, while he was helping his father chop wood in Indiana, while he was keeping shop in New Salem, while he was a lawyer in Springfield, and while he served as President, with snippets of Lincoln’s activities woven in.

Foster once wrote, “Nothing is more critical, I believe, than that children growing up in these critical explosive days should be given an understanding of American history as a part of the history of the world.” Abraham Lincoln’s World would serve as an invaluable aid to any student’s study of the times in which Lincoln lived. And the book makes the information interesting to read because it presents the events in story form instead of a dry, dusty list of facts. The new expanded edition includes additional material provided by the author’s daughter, Joanna Foster. Other Newbery Honor Books by Genevieve Foster are George Washington’s World (1942), George Washington (1950), and Birthdays of Freedom, Vol. 1 (1953). Other similar books by the same author include Augustus Caesar’s World: A Story of Ideas and Events from B.C. 44 to 14 A.D. (1947), The World of Captain John Smith (1959), The World of Columbus and Sons (1965), and The World of William Penn (1973).

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable, well done book for middle grades, or anyone interested in the history of the 19th century. This overview of various peoples and events from the 1800s, both in the United States and around the world, is remarkably well done and gives the reader a good understanding of how entwined historical characters, events, and struggles were, how wars came about, social classes were shifted, technology was developed, etc. There are some outdated words throughout, particularly in relation to race, and that lends itself to discussion points with young readers. I would recommend this book without reservation.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy the format of this book. But I skimmed. Andrew Jackson was a hero with not even nuance. The Civil War was about state's rights and the Union, not slavery. Bleh.

I have now 99 Newbery Honor books left to read. I think I can finish in the coming year. I decided a few weeks ago to get through the rest of the nonfiction so that I could start looking forward to the rest of the books more, and this was the last of the survey-style nonfiction. Just biographies left, then onto finish up the fiction!

[Lynette Caulkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second "horizontal history" from Genevieve Foster, and I absolutely LOVE them.

Despite being written in the mid-20th century, they remain informative of events throughout many parts of the world during a historical figure's lifetime. History is seen as an interconnected weave of fabric, not an ego-centric view of one country's experience torn from the context of the whole. It is well worthy of the 1945 Newbery Honor it received.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the books in this series as a way of presenting history differently than typical textbooks. The stories are woven together of things that we happening at the same time as Abraham Lincoln. Makes everything more personal and less sterile.

[Julie Mabus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love these books. They present history in a way that is vivid and compelling. I’m pretty sure I’ve learned more about this time period through the pages of this book than I did in 12 years of public education. I’m so glad AO uses these as their history spines.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good history of the world. Really am enjoying this series. I knew it was coming but found myself sad at the end, but especially that Lincoln wasn’t granted more years. Was fascinated by how many times he was given a vision of his death.

[Erin Gruber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is long for a kids' book (over 300 pages) but was an incredible read. Tells the story of what was happening in every part of the world during Abraham Lincoln's life. Wonderful illustrations throughout. Simple writing style.

[Leah]

“She decided wisely that perhaps people cannot plan ahead too far or too precisely. Perhaps all that was expected of her now was to make the most of the talents God had given her and the time and place would come for her to use them.”

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read the first little bit of this book. I did find it interesting. But got bored after just a short time and trying to keep up with all the details, people and places.

[Yvonne Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated but such an excellent approach to viewing history! If only our kids' social studies curricula could include such "slice of time" lessons!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this history series covers what is going on in the whole world at the same time.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good history book

[Jennifer Rutherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much reading this with my daughter for 6th grade.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history book

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for children, this book is loaded with historical details of all the people, places, and things that happened during Abraham Lincoln's lifetime.

[Bella Rowell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't actually finish this book but that was all I had to read for school so I stopped. For historical content it was really accurate, but it was not interesting.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book that showcases what's happening throughout the world, rather than just American history. I absolutely Foster's writing style as well.

[Bobbiann Markle · Rating 4 out of 5]

World history from 1809 to 1865 for my 11-year-old’s homeschool. This is a good one, interesting and easy to understand, although some chapters had too many details to remember.

[Desiree']

1945 Newbery honor book

[Michelle Fournier · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have loved so many of the history books we have used in our homeschool, but Genevieve Foster’s unique way of telling history and introducing events and people from around the world and from all walks of life (art, music, authors, scientists among the politics and Big events) is our Very favorite!!