or
2) Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals
Which would you recommend? I'm just finishing the delightful and informative book, Lincoln by David Herbert Donald, and wouldn't mind at all reading more about him, his life and times.
To be honest, generally when it comes to history and facts, I trust men more than women. I don't know if that is true between these two books or not.
Beyond their sex, it is really an apples and oranges situation. Nicolay’s book is an edited record of his work papers, presented without commentary beyond the footnotes that elaborate on the identities of persons named and that sort of thing. DKW had a specific agenda, which she openly explains in her introduction. She sees Lincoln as a political genius and the book is her case to prove it. It was hard for me to put it down once I got started. It is also a good introduction to the other major characters Lincoln worked with - the rivals. It has mini biographies of several of them. I recommend it highly.