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Abe and Fido: Lincoln's Love of Animals and the Touching Story of His Favorite Canine Companion
In early 1861, as he prepared to leave his home in Springfield, Illinois, to move into the White House, Abraham Lincoln faced many momentous tasks, but none he dreaded more than telling his two youngest sons, Willie and Tad, that the family’s beloved pet dog, Fido, would not be accompanying them to Washington. Lincoln was afraid the skittish dog couldn’t endure the long rail journey, so he decided to leave the mutt behind with friends in Springfield.
Fido had been by Lincoln’s side as the prairie lawyer rose from obscurity to the presidency, sometimes carrying bundles of letters from the post office in his mouth as he and his master walked the streets of the state capital. Abe & Fido tells the story of two friends, an unlikely tandem who each became famous and died prematurely.
The book also explores the everyday life of Springfield in the years leading up to the Civil War, as well as Lincoln’s sometimes radical views on animal welfare and how they shaped his life and his presidency. It’s the story of a master and his dog, living through historic, tumultuous times.
Fido had been by Lincoln’s side as the prairie lawyer rose from obscurity to the presidency, sometimes carrying bundles of letters from the post office in his mouth as he and his master walked the streets of the state capital. Abe & Fido tells the story of two friends, an unlikely tandem who each became famous and died prematurely.
The book also explores the everyday life of Springfield in the years leading up to the Civil War, as well as Lincoln’s sometimes radical views on animal welfare and how they shaped his life and his presidency. It’s the story of a master and his dog, living through historic, tumultuous times.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2015
5 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Algeo
15 books118 followersWhen he's not writing his own biography in the third person, Matthew Algeo writes about unusual and interesting events in American history.
He is also a journalist who has reported from four continents.
In addition to reporting and writing, Algeo has worked as a convenience store clerk, a Halloween costume salesman, and a hot dog vendor in a traveling circus. Now he is the morning host at Kansas Public Radio.
He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with is wife, Allyson, and daughter, Zaya.
He is also a journalist who has reported from four continents.
In addition to reporting and writing, Algeo has worked as a convenience store clerk, a Halloween costume salesman, and a hot dog vendor in a traveling circus. Now he is the morning host at Kansas Public Radio.
He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with is wife, Allyson, and daughter, Zaya.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 15, 2025
It’s hard to be too hard on this book. I knew going in that it was going to be a brisk, light read, and Algeo himself knows going in that not much is actually known about Lincoln’s dog, but he’s going to do his best to piece together what is known and make it into a nice little book. Given those lowered expectations and modest goal, I guess you could say he succeeded.
But then so little is known, that I could sense Algeo’s strain in trying to come up with enough content to turn the story of Lincoln’s dog Fido into something that could fill even a mere 150 pages or so. That explains why we get a biographical sketch of Lincoln from his youth to his presidency, a history of human relationships with animals, several stories of Lincoln’s interactions with other animals, and an overview of other presidential pets, with Fido himself only occasionally making an appearance.
Publisher, Lincoln scholar and “Pat the Bunny”(!) author Dorothy Meserve Kunhardt is credited with most thoroughly chronicling Fido’s story, after finding a photo of him - one of three known to have been taken - and tracking down the only two old men in Springfield still alive in the 1940s who still remembered him. She took down their memories, traced Fido’s provenance as the Lincoln family pet by noting that a Springfield drug store’s records showed that Lincoln made a purchase of dog dewormer in 1855, and wrote an article about her findings for Life magazine.
I’ve since read that three-page article, and there’s little that Algeo is able to add to Fido’s story in 50 times as many pages. He does counter Kunhardt’s contention that the photos of Fido were taken before the Lincolns left for the White House while Fido stayed behind with friends, instead agreeing with modern scholars who believe the photos were taken after Lincoln’s assassination made Fido a celebrity and photo cards of him became nostalgic keepsakes. And Algeo informs us that the name Fido, a cliché of a dog name to us today, was not particularly common at the time and was most likely popularized by Lincoln (the most popular male dog name in 1855 was “Carlo,” we’re told).
But there are very long stretches of the book with no Fido at all. And when he does appear, it’s often the result of a clumsy attempt to shoehorn him into an otherwise standard Lincoln biography - “visitors called on (Lincoln) at home almost constantly. Fido must’ve wondered who these strangers were who kept interrupting his naps,” he writes at one point. Later, the infamous Dred Scott ruling meant that “black people had no more rights than a dog like Fido.” Yeesh.
The non-Fido content is a little more relevant when Algeo examines Lincoln’s lifelong affinity for animals of all kinds, which was an unusual trait on the frontier. But some of the stories he tells are dubious, related third-hand by others decades after Lincoln’s death. So long quotes from Lincoln reminiscing about his childhood pet pig, for instance, which are debunked elsewhere, just don’t ring true here. And incongruous attempts at humor in what is otherwise a forthright history (such as referring to Stephen Foster as “the 1850s version of Barry Manilow”) just fall flat as unnecessary groaners and don’t match the tone of the rest of the book.
I was tempted to rate the book lower than I ultimately did, because there’s just not much here. But Algeo got me in his acknowledgements, apologizing for “any lapses in rigorous historiography,” and saying he just wanted to “tell the story of an ordinary dog and his extraordinary master” as best he could. All right, fine - this is an earnest attempt to tell a little-known story that is a bit lacking in substance and rigorous research, but I’ll admit that it’s hard to go wrong with a simple story about a man and his dog. In time, I won’t remember much about this book. But I will remember Fido. So I’ll have to give Algeo credit for that.
But then so little is known, that I could sense Algeo’s strain in trying to come up with enough content to turn the story of Lincoln’s dog Fido into something that could fill even a mere 150 pages or so. That explains why we get a biographical sketch of Lincoln from his youth to his presidency, a history of human relationships with animals, several stories of Lincoln’s interactions with other animals, and an overview of other presidential pets, with Fido himself only occasionally making an appearance.
Publisher, Lincoln scholar and “Pat the Bunny”(!) author Dorothy Meserve Kunhardt is credited with most thoroughly chronicling Fido’s story, after finding a photo of him - one of three known to have been taken - and tracking down the only two old men in Springfield still alive in the 1940s who still remembered him. She took down their memories, traced Fido’s provenance as the Lincoln family pet by noting that a Springfield drug store’s records showed that Lincoln made a purchase of dog dewormer in 1855, and wrote an article about her findings for Life magazine.
I’ve since read that three-page article, and there’s little that Algeo is able to add to Fido’s story in 50 times as many pages. He does counter Kunhardt’s contention that the photos of Fido were taken before the Lincolns left for the White House while Fido stayed behind with friends, instead agreeing with modern scholars who believe the photos were taken after Lincoln’s assassination made Fido a celebrity and photo cards of him became nostalgic keepsakes. And Algeo informs us that the name Fido, a cliché of a dog name to us today, was not particularly common at the time and was most likely popularized by Lincoln (the most popular male dog name in 1855 was “Carlo,” we’re told).
But there are very long stretches of the book with no Fido at all. And when he does appear, it’s often the result of a clumsy attempt to shoehorn him into an otherwise standard Lincoln biography - “visitors called on (Lincoln) at home almost constantly. Fido must’ve wondered who these strangers were who kept interrupting his naps,” he writes at one point. Later, the infamous Dred Scott ruling meant that “black people had no more rights than a dog like Fido.” Yeesh.
The non-Fido content is a little more relevant when Algeo examines Lincoln’s lifelong affinity for animals of all kinds, which was an unusual trait on the frontier. But some of the stories he tells are dubious, related third-hand by others decades after Lincoln’s death. So long quotes from Lincoln reminiscing about his childhood pet pig, for instance, which are debunked elsewhere, just don’t ring true here. And incongruous attempts at humor in what is otherwise a forthright history (such as referring to Stephen Foster as “the 1850s version of Barry Manilow”) just fall flat as unnecessary groaners and don’t match the tone of the rest of the book.
I was tempted to rate the book lower than I ultimately did, because there’s just not much here. But Algeo got me in his acknowledgements, apologizing for “any lapses in rigorous historiography,” and saying he just wanted to “tell the story of an ordinary dog and his extraordinary master” as best he could. All right, fine - this is an earnest attempt to tell a little-known story that is a bit lacking in substance and rigorous research, but I’ll admit that it’s hard to go wrong with a simple story about a man and his dog. In time, I won’t remember much about this book. But I will remember Fido. So I’ll have to give Algeo credit for that.
April 15, 2015
I love dogs and I have read this author's interesting book about Harry Truman's "excellent adventure", so I kind of knew I'd like this book too. The book is fairly short, but has lots of details I didn't know about Lincoln. Not enough is really known about his beloved dog, Fido, to fill a whole book, so the author has included a look at life in Springfield, Illinois when the Lincoln family lived there, some brief insight into Lincoln's political campaigns and into his family life, and stories of other animals in Lincoln's life. The focus is on the years Fido was alive, that is, from 1855-1866, which were eventful years in this nation's history. There are quite a few old photos of places, people, and animals discussed in the text. The book is a quick, breezy read, and I have to admit, I shed a few tears at Fido's demise. I won't ruin the ending, but will just say that his death was as violent as his master's. The book is very accessible and the author includes a bibliography and, in his acknowledgments, further resources for those interested. (I wouldn't have dreamed there is a "Presidential Pet Museum", but yes, there is, and he provides the website for it.)
**Just by coincidence, I finished reading this book on the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination.
**Just by coincidence, I finished reading this book on the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination.
May 8, 2015
I was hoping for more actual facts, but the book was mostly assumptions based on a few personal accounts from people who knew the Lincolns before they went to Washington. I love that Abraham Lincoln was an animal lover, but it almost takes a backseat to the story of Abe the lawyer and politician.
May 6, 2015
Abraham Lincoln has always been one of my favorite presidents. There's a lot of reasons that I like him. He was a reader. He seemed to have a great sense of humor. He was very smart. He seems like he had some really fantastic life experiences and it's hard to get around that whole presidential career. In Abe and Fido, I found a new reason to love our 16th president. Apparently he was a huge animal lover, as am I. In this book, we learn about his history with animals. This book includes a whole lot more as well. If you're looking for a light historical read, this may be a great pick for you.
I was attracted to this book by the idea of learning something about Abraham Lincoln's life that I didn't really know about before. I loved that he was an animal lover and wanted to know more about that aspect of his life. This book includes a lot more about many other famous people who loved animals. I love history books that are off the beaten path and this but definitely fits that bill.
The writing of the book is pretty good. It's clear that the author did a lot of research. There is a lot of information on Abraham Lincoln and his animals, particularly his "yeller" dog, Fido, as suggested by the title. During Abraham Lincoln's time, Fido was so famous that after Lincoln was assassinated, people ran around trying to grab pieces of Fido's hair as a souvenir!
The book also includes a lot of other information about other people and their animals. While it's interesting, some of the information simply seems to be thrown in there so parts of the book feel like a list of interesting facts. I liked the facts but the way that the book was organized made it a little bit disjointed. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is always fantastic to learn something new about a famous person who I've already read a ton about.
I was attracted to this book by the idea of learning something about Abraham Lincoln's life that I didn't really know about before. I loved that he was an animal lover and wanted to know more about that aspect of his life. This book includes a lot more about many other famous people who loved animals. I love history books that are off the beaten path and this but definitely fits that bill.
The writing of the book is pretty good. It's clear that the author did a lot of research. There is a lot of information on Abraham Lincoln and his animals, particularly his "yeller" dog, Fido, as suggested by the title. During Abraham Lincoln's time, Fido was so famous that after Lincoln was assassinated, people ran around trying to grab pieces of Fido's hair as a souvenir!
The book also includes a lot of other information about other people and their animals. While it's interesting, some of the information simply seems to be thrown in there so parts of the book feel like a list of interesting facts. I liked the facts but the way that the book was organized made it a little bit disjointed. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is always fantastic to learn something new about a famous person who I've already read a ton about.
December 8, 2016
Matthew Algeo has taken the scant information on Abraham Lincoln's dog and weaved it through a history of Lincoln's life. The Lincoln's obtained a dog they called Fido sometime around 1855, and Fido became a companion for the family in their home in Springfield. When Lincoln left for Washington in early 1861 to begin his presidency they left the dog with neighbors. At some point there were three photographs taken of the dog, a yellow haired mixed mutt. That's about all we know. Still, Algeo has managed to expand that into a short book (152 pages of text).
The half-dozen chapters are laid out by years (Chapter 1: 1855; Chapter 2: 1856; etc), but the frequent use of flashbacks and flashforwards makes those designations largely moot. Along with basic history about Lincoln, Algeo intersperses stories related to Lincoln's love of animals. The author has extracted pig stories and cat stories and dog stories from throughout Lincoln's life and weaved them into a charming story in itself. He also side tracks into Lincoln's interactions with such folks as Billy the Barber and others.
In the end, Fido's death in some ways mimics that of his master.
While Lincoln scholars aren't going to find anything new, the book offers a quaint look at one of the most overlooked aspects of Lincoln's life - his relationship with animals. The book certainly doesn't go into any depth, but it provides an endearingly agreeable respite from the overly scholarly tomes that so often arise about our 16th president. In short, it's a fun little book.
The half-dozen chapters are laid out by years (Chapter 1: 1855; Chapter 2: 1856; etc), but the frequent use of flashbacks and flashforwards makes those designations largely moot. Along with basic history about Lincoln, Algeo intersperses stories related to Lincoln's love of animals. The author has extracted pig stories and cat stories and dog stories from throughout Lincoln's life and weaved them into a charming story in itself. He also side tracks into Lincoln's interactions with such folks as Billy the Barber and others.
In the end, Fido's death in some ways mimics that of his master.
While Lincoln scholars aren't going to find anything new, the book offers a quaint look at one of the most overlooked aspects of Lincoln's life - his relationship with animals. The book certainly doesn't go into any depth, but it provides an endearingly agreeable respite from the overly scholarly tomes that so often arise about our 16th president. In short, it's a fun little book.
March 10, 2019
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks Goodreads and thanks to the publisher!
Abraham Lincoln’s life has been examined and dissected in such detail, by so many people, that it would be difficult to come up with any new information. So, Algeo decides to comb through all of that information with a new lens: that of Lincoln’s love for animals. He compiled and commented upon every detail of Lincoln’s life that has to do with animals, especially any details that have to do with Lincoln’s dog, Fido.
I appreciate the result. I appreciate that this focuses on just one facet of Lincoln’s life, one that feels so reflective of who exactly Lincoln was as a person. I feel like I know him so much better now, with these intimate insights into the relationships he had with animals, his affection for them, their places in his household. Conclusions are drawn about how Lincoln’s experiences with and compassion for animals influenced other areas of his life, and the conclusions make sense.
Sometimes this book does feel tangential, as the author fills in a great deal of backstory of Lincoln’s life, much of it not having to do with animals. It is understandable, as many of the most important events in Lincoln’s life do not have to do with animals, but the tangents can be jarring nonetheless. But it’s a quick, easy-to-read introduction to the life of Lincoln and a creative twist to an oft-visited topic.
Abraham Lincoln’s life has been examined and dissected in such detail, by so many people, that it would be difficult to come up with any new information. So, Algeo decides to comb through all of that information with a new lens: that of Lincoln’s love for animals. He compiled and commented upon every detail of Lincoln’s life that has to do with animals, especially any details that have to do with Lincoln’s dog, Fido.
I appreciate the result. I appreciate that this focuses on just one facet of Lincoln’s life, one that feels so reflective of who exactly Lincoln was as a person. I feel like I know him so much better now, with these intimate insights into the relationships he had with animals, his affection for them, their places in his household. Conclusions are drawn about how Lincoln’s experiences with and compassion for animals influenced other areas of his life, and the conclusions make sense.
Sometimes this book does feel tangential, as the author fills in a great deal of backstory of Lincoln’s life, much of it not having to do with animals. It is understandable, as many of the most important events in Lincoln’s life do not have to do with animals, but the tangents can be jarring nonetheless. But it’s a quick, easy-to-read introduction to the life of Lincoln and a creative twist to an oft-visited topic.
November 12, 2017
I received this as a Goodreads Book Giveaway and thank them for the opportunity to read it.
I enjoyed this book, Abe & Fido by Matthew Algeo. It gave me an insight into Abe's life and the way his career took twists and turns for him to become a lawyer. I enjoyed an insight into his family life and how his wife, Mary, had to maintain a household while Abe was on the road tamping down problems. It was interesting to get a glimpse of he relationship with his children. The author shows how Fido had an important place in the family and how Abe was concerned about how he would fare in the move to Washington.
I enjoyed this book, Abe & Fido by Matthew Algeo. It gave me an insight into Abe's life and the way his career took twists and turns for him to become a lawyer. I enjoyed an insight into his family life and how his wife, Mary, had to maintain a household while Abe was on the road tamping down problems. It was interesting to get a glimpse of he relationship with his children. The author shows how Fido had an important place in the family and how Abe was concerned about how he would fare in the move to Washington.
September 4, 2024
A nice intro to learning about Abraham Lincoln with a unique angle - his care for and love of animals. It was a humanizing aspect of a historical giant, biographical works about whom often feel inaccessible. In order to have enough content it felt like the author had to add some ancillary historical information, and I wasn’t a fan of some of the descriptions of the treatment of animals at that time - although it was important historical context. Overall a sweet story with a heartbreaking ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2015
It's hard to mess up a book about a beloved President and his dog. This was a nice historical account of Fido and his life with the Lincoln family. We all know how Lincoln's life tragically ended, and it's equally sad to note that his dog met a similar fate. An interesting read for those who are fans of our 16th President.
February 29, 2016
An enjoyable book, especially if you like dogs. It is certainly a quick read. In truth there is not a tremendous amount know about Fido, so much of the book relies on fairly logical speculation. Much of the rest of the book goes onto tangents about Lincoln and other interesting facts of the period both political and animal related.
April 23, 2018
This is an easy read with many interesting facts about life in the Lincoln U.S.
I plan on reading the other books from Algeo that I haven't yet read.
I plan on reading the other books from Algeo that I haven't yet read.
March 3, 2019
Interesting history of Lincoln and his love for animals.
May 7, 2021
This was an enjoyable read. I never knew that Abraham Lincoln loved animals as much as he did!
August 20, 2023
Gave a 1/2 star for its readability.
Algeo is a gifted writer in the sense he writes in a very conversational tone. Unfortunately for this topic he ran into a wall of lack of data. So the book is short and trails to similar aspects of Lincoln and the time period.
It covers mostly Lincoln’s 5 years before the election and that’s when he brought Fido home. But he delves into American pet history and the attitudes towards pets in the 1800s.
Apparently because Lincoln’s dog was named, “Fido,” so many people called their dogs Fido it is now synonymous with “pet dog.” But the author never expanded on that aspect. Could’ve been a fun excursion had he travelled down that path. But it’s possible he couldn’t because the necessary evidence hasn’t been documented or discovered yet.
Summation; great quick read about Lincoln, his run for the presidency and a loving relationship amongst the Lincoln family and their dog.
Algeo is a gifted writer in the sense he writes in a very conversational tone. Unfortunately for this topic he ran into a wall of lack of data. So the book is short and trails to similar aspects of Lincoln and the time period.
It covers mostly Lincoln’s 5 years before the election and that’s when he brought Fido home. But he delves into American pet history and the attitudes towards pets in the 1800s.
Apparently because Lincoln’s dog was named, “Fido,” so many people called their dogs Fido it is now synonymous with “pet dog.” But the author never expanded on that aspect. Could’ve been a fun excursion had he travelled down that path. But it’s possible he couldn’t because the necessary evidence hasn’t been documented or discovered yet.
Summation; great quick read about Lincoln, his run for the presidency and a loving relationship amongst the Lincoln family and their dog.
April 30, 2018
I had higher expectations for this book. It felt like a chore to read because most of it was based on assumptions rather than facts about the dog. As it was 150+ years ago it's difficult to know the facts which is understandable. But the author also digressed from the topic several times and gave information about Lincoln's political career, which I found to be one of the more interesting parts of the book. The information about Fido would have been much better if it was condensed and in a President's Pets compilation book instead.
April 21, 2023
Fascinating!
November 3, 2023
Fun story for animal lovers— learned there is a presidential animal library!
November 17, 2023
I have enjoyed all of Algeo's books. He finds interesting bits of neglected history. I had no idea that Lincoln had a dog. If you love dogs or are interested in Lincoln this is a book for you.
January 26, 2023
Don't read it unless you want to feel sad. Like one review said, most of the content was based off assumptions rather than fact. The worst things about it though was the end. Fido was not mentioned nearly as much I thought he would be in the book, but the author made sure to include Fido's gruesome and heartbreaking demise before abruptly ending the book. Now I knew that both Lincoln and Fido had untimely and brutal deaths, but reading the details of how left me feeling depressed for days after finishing this book because there seemed to be no true conclusion to this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2015
Abe and Fido by Matthew Algeo is the charming tale of Abraham Lincoln's life long love of animals. Fido, his big eared, short tailed, 'yaller' dog became a national sensation after Lincoln was elected president, a home town fixture and community pet until his tragic death.
Since the time of Lincoln's presidency, friends and neighbors told stories of his soft heart concerning animals. The tales range from Lincoln's replacing baby birds into their nests to getting down in the mud to pull a pig out from under a fence. He had a special love of 'yallar dogs' and cats. He fed one cat at the dining table, with the White House gold tableware! Mary was not so pleased. She was afraid of dogs, which was reasonable at the time: they could bring rabies, fleas, ticks, disease to her beloved sons...and dirty the house. Lincoln was an excellent horseman, a necessity for a country lawyer who had to travel for his business.
Algeo places Lincoln's actions against his times.
Farm animals were sources of food, slaughtered by hand on family farms. Some dogs were bred for specific purposes and were prized, but all other 'mutts' were routinely, viscously, killed for public protection against disease and for population control. There were no veterinarians, no preventative vaccinations, no special foods for pets.
Fido came into Lincoln's life by 1855 when he was at a low point in his career and deeply depressed. By the end of the year Lincoln's "hypo" was better and he was reentering politics. Based on current research on the effects of animal companions on human well being, it is possible that Fido offered Lincoln much needed therapy.
The newly elected President Lincoln, planning his family relocation to Washington, D.C., choose to leave behind his beloved animal companion. Fido had been having a hard time dealing with all the noisy campaign activity around the Lincoln household. The boys and Abe loved the dog but Abe knew Fido would suffer during the long trip to D.C. and in the hectic White House life style. Fido deserved to live out his life in peace and familiar surroundings. His son's boyhood friends took Fido in....along with Fido's favorite horsehair couch!
We also learn about Lincoln's relationship to his family and neighbors, like his long friendship with his free African American barber William Florville who marched in the funeral parade. As did Old Bob, his horse who was also left behind in Springfield. Old Bob was draped in black mourning, and the riderless horse followed the hearse.
Abe and Fido is an enjoyable read. It will appeal to all animal lovers, Lincoln lovers, and those interested in 19th c history.
I thank NetGalley and Chicago Review Press for access to the e-book for a fair and unbiased review.
Since the time of Lincoln's presidency, friends and neighbors told stories of his soft heart concerning animals. The tales range from Lincoln's replacing baby birds into their nests to getting down in the mud to pull a pig out from under a fence. He had a special love of 'yallar dogs' and cats. He fed one cat at the dining table, with the White House gold tableware! Mary was not so pleased. She was afraid of dogs, which was reasonable at the time: they could bring rabies, fleas, ticks, disease to her beloved sons...and dirty the house. Lincoln was an excellent horseman, a necessity for a country lawyer who had to travel for his business.
Algeo places Lincoln's actions against his times.
Farm animals were sources of food, slaughtered by hand on family farms. Some dogs were bred for specific purposes and were prized, but all other 'mutts' were routinely, viscously, killed for public protection against disease and for population control. There were no veterinarians, no preventative vaccinations, no special foods for pets.
Fido came into Lincoln's life by 1855 when he was at a low point in his career and deeply depressed. By the end of the year Lincoln's "hypo" was better and he was reentering politics. Based on current research on the effects of animal companions on human well being, it is possible that Fido offered Lincoln much needed therapy.
The newly elected President Lincoln, planning his family relocation to Washington, D.C., choose to leave behind his beloved animal companion. Fido had been having a hard time dealing with all the noisy campaign activity around the Lincoln household. The boys and Abe loved the dog but Abe knew Fido would suffer during the long trip to D.C. and in the hectic White House life style. Fido deserved to live out his life in peace and familiar surroundings. His son's boyhood friends took Fido in....along with Fido's favorite horsehair couch!
We also learn about Lincoln's relationship to his family and neighbors, like his long friendship with his free African American barber William Florville who marched in the funeral parade. As did Old Bob, his horse who was also left behind in Springfield. Old Bob was draped in black mourning, and the riderless horse followed the hearse.
Abe and Fido is an enjoyable read. It will appeal to all animal lovers, Lincoln lovers, and those interested in 19th c history.
I thank NetGalley and Chicago Review Press for access to the e-book for a fair and unbiased review.
November 28, 2014
This is the touching, little known story of Abraham Lincoln’s dog, Fido. Fido was an ordinary mutt, actually referred to as a “yellow cur”. He was adopted by the Lincoln family in 1855. This was not the first dog that Lincoln owned in his life time, but probably the most famous. He was a great animal lover. Much to Mary Lincoln’s chagrin, Fido was spoiled by Lincoln nearly as badly as his own children.
I enjoyed this book very much. It explores a facet of Lincoln’s life that I have never before seen presented. It studies his love of animals from an early age. Although he loved dogs, he also had a soft spot for cats and basically any other kind of animal. The book also investigates the history of animals in early America and how dogs and cats evolved into the pets that we have today.
I highly recommend this book. It is an interesting and unique look at an aspect of American history that is rarely explored. It allows you to see that Lincoln was not only a great statesman, but a very compassionate person also.
I enjoyed this book very much. It explores a facet of Lincoln’s life that I have never before seen presented. It studies his love of animals from an early age. Although he loved dogs, he also had a soft spot for cats and basically any other kind of animal. The book also investigates the history of animals in early America and how dogs and cats evolved into the pets that we have today.
I highly recommend this book. It is an interesting and unique look at an aspect of American history that is rarely explored. It allows you to see that Lincoln was not only a great statesman, but a very compassionate person also.
June 13, 2015
The writing is great, and there's a lot of good information, I was just really annoyed when a book that's supposed to be about Abraham Lincoln's love for his dog Fido spends maybe 15 actual pages talking about the dog. The rest of the book was on Lincoln's love for other animals, the marriage struggles with Mary, his campaign for president, and the issue of slavery. Oh and the constant interjecting of personal bias from the author about the way animals are treated today and how they should be treated, and how back then animals weren't considered pets because there wasn't any extra money or food for them most of the time. Also, the whole bit from the Journal of Animal Ethics about how pets should be referred to as animal companions and owners should be referred to as human provider because it's undignified to put animals in that position, was just really dumb to me.
Either way, this was way off from what the review I read of the book described.
Either way, this was way off from what the review I read of the book described.
April 9, 2015
Note: I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
This is a sweet portrait of Abraham Lincoln and his dog, Fido. At 156, it's short, not unlike the life of a dog. Do not pick this book up expecting a sprawling tome about the life of Abraham Lincoln, or a lifelong daily account of a president's dog. This book hits somewhere in between, discussing a tumultuous period of time (1855-1866) for Lincoln's political life while blending in a social life with Fido- and a few other animals.
Above all, Algeo makes a sentimental showing that even an ordinary yaller mutt can have an extraordinary impact.
This is a sweet portrait of Abraham Lincoln and his dog, Fido. At 156, it's short, not unlike the life of a dog. Do not pick this book up expecting a sprawling tome about the life of Abraham Lincoln, or a lifelong daily account of a president's dog. This book hits somewhere in between, discussing a tumultuous period of time (1855-1866) for Lincoln's political life while blending in a social life with Fido- and a few other animals.
Above all, Algeo makes a sentimental showing that even an ordinary yaller mutt can have an extraordinary impact.
April 6, 2015
This is a sweet little book about Abraham Lincoln and his love for animals especially his dog Fido. Fido was his dog while Lincoln was president, and the dog actually became pretty famous in the US after Lincoln's death. And that is how "Fido" has become considered as a standard dog's name. The book is full of stories about Abraham Lincoln and I especially liked learning that he had a pet pig when growing up and was devastated when the pig had to be killed for food. The book gives a new perspective on Lincoln which I liked.
I won this copy in one of the Goodreads giveaways.
I won this copy in one of the Goodreads giveaways.
April 27, 2015
I liked this book- I just didn't care for how it made me feel- At least we humans have improved a little since Abe's time. Also, found that I shed a few tears at the end over a dog that had died over 150 yrs. ago.
May 5, 2015
A charming short read packed with interesting facts about Lincoln and his family. A must read for companion animal enthusiasts.
May 28, 2015
This is a great true story for animal lovers. Fido and the Lincoln family was truly special.
July 31, 2015
It's kind of "all over the place."
November 27, 2015
Very enjoyable read. It provides a human side of Lincoln.
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May 12, 2018Surprisingly pleasant book to read. Gave me a new point of view of this President. Worth the time to read and it was enjoyable.
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