Lincoln’s Boys

Lincoln’s Boys: John Hay, John Nicolay, and the War for Lincoln’s Image
Joshua Zeitz
Hardcover; 400 pages
Viking (2014)

A concise, dual biography of John Nicolay and John Hay, Lincoln’s personal secretaries and closest aides during his presidency. Author Joshua Zeitz’s well-written account illustrates how Nicolay and Hay’s multi-volume work, Abraham Lincoln: A History, published in 1890 became the principal force in establishing the image of “The Lincoln Memorial Lincoln,” who we know today as the Great Emancipator and the greatest American orator. This book is a worthwhile read for those interested in the Lincoln presidency and how his historic persona was shaped by the two men who knew him best.