THÉ HOUSE OF LINCOLN is a mash up of several stories in one with relatively short chapters devoted to each story. For me, this meant that each time I was falling for one thread, I had to pick up another thread. This works for romance novels but for a work with house and Lincoln in it’s name, it left me a little disgruntled, though there was magic in each thread. There are some intricate, deeply felt chapters of the Lincolns, but then much is glossed over, I suppose to make room for all the, vastly different, thinly connected stories. I did learn things, feel things, but in the end my view of what this story was truly about is as patchwork as it’s offering. And the sad thing is that there was no need for that. Any of the stories would have stood on its own, but with the skill of this author, why not just write of the Lincolns?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book has a lot of interesting historical material to work with and yet lacked the narrative focus to keep me hooked. There were too many points of view incorporated into this and sometimes the point of view would change from paragraph to paragraph. Then there were whole side plots that didn’t really appear to pay off. I felt like the time span was also too large for the story the author was trying to tell. I liked the focus on the riot of 1908 but felt like it got tacked on at the end. Then in the middle, the time jumps got significantly longer and we were skipping four or five years at a time. Overall, I enjoyed the history but struggled with the structure of this book.

It’s not the book. It’s me. I am a fan of this author, Nancy Horan. I enjoyed Loving Frank years ago, and her more recent book about Robert Louis Stevenson. But, I think, I’ve lost interest in this sort of historical fiction, at least for now. From what I did read, Horan is in fine form, and has chosen a unique angle to tell a fresh(er) story about the sixteenth POTUS. The Portuguese immigrant, Ana, is not a voice we’ve heard before, as far as I know. I’m sure I’ll come back to this one day, but for now I’m moving in.

Unique covering of the U.S. civil war history using several points of view, one being a Portuguese immigrant girl and another from free black men in Illinois. We are introduced to the struggles in Illinois as they try to put many black laws in place. Ana, the Portuguese immigrant shows us the Lincolns as she is a house worker for them before he becomes president. The story then continues with her concern for her husband fighting in the war as she remains in Springfield, Illinois. Perhaps the author has tried to cover too many aspects of those 4-5 years. I found it slow starting and wasn't taken in until three-fourths through. The characters were well developed but the story seemed to skip around too much, perhaps because as I said, she tried to cover so much time.

Exceptional read. The House of Lincoln taught me much more than I previously knew about Abraham Lincoln, the man, his family and his assent to the White House. The story, told through the eyes of Ana, who is a fictional character, represents one of the many Portuguese immigrants, who settled in Springfield, Illinois. The parallels in history between now and two hundred years ago, are not lost on the reader. It’s a daunting feeling. Nancy Horan is a gifted writer. I loved Loving Frank and look forward to reading more of her works. Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #Netgalley, #TheHouseofLincoln.

The House of Lincoln is a wonderful historical fiction which shines a light on the culture of the time period of Abraham Lincoln's place in politics. I will admit that my knowledge of Abraham Lincoln came primarily from what I learned in school. Reading this story has brought both him and what he stood into focus. The story is told primarily from the eyes of Ana Ferreira a young Portuguese girl who has immigrated and found her self working the the Lincoln household as well as becoming a companion to Mrs. Lincoln. We experience though Ana and her friend Cal, a young free black girl, the upheaval of the time. Touching on topics of slavery, immigration, class differences, and women's rights the story is compelling.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

This book is an example of why I love historical fiction. A young girl, Ana, an immigrant from Madeira, sees firsthand the workings of the Underground Railroad. She becomes a helper in the household of Abraham Lincoln. She experiences the world during the Civil War, the assassination of Lincoln, and the heartbreaking aftermath of the war. It brought to mind the horrors of racism today. Will it ever end?

I would like to thank Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to review this book as an ARC. This is the story of Ana, a young Portuguese immigrant who comes to Springfield Illinois with her family in the 1840's. Ana takes a job as a "Saturday girl"to help out Mary Todd Lincoln with her house and family. The book tells the story of Ana, the Lincolns, and the people of Springfield from this time through the Civil War and into the early 1900's. It is a well researched book, and gives a lot of information on the conditions of the Black people in Illinois prior to and after the Civil War. It is not a book about Lincoln, so if you are looking for more in depth information on the President and his family, you may be disappointed. It is also very slow paced. The plot seems to plod rather than move along. There are 3 distinct stories- Ana's story as an immigrant, Lincoln's story in his quest to be President, and the story of the Black People of Springfield.To me, they did not intertwine as smoothly as I would have liked. At times it was disjointed and characters came and went without a plot line to tether them to the story. As I said, it was well researched and some of the characters were well written and engaging. Thank you again for the chance to read it.

Kudos to the research that Nancy Horan undertook.

The setting: "...Abraham Lincoln's ascendance from rumpled lawyer to U.S. President to Great Emancipator and presents Lincoln’s Midwestern home as a complex third home front of the Civil War" told through the voice of Ana Ferreira, an immigrant from Madeira. The account starts with Ana as a 14-year old, but ends with her in her late 60s.

Ana "...is offered a job in the Lincoln household assisting Mary Lincoln with their boys and with the hosting duties borne by the wife of a rising political star. Ana ... [witnesses] the evolution of Lincoln's views on equality and the Union and observes in full complexity the psyche and pain of his bold, polarizing wife, Mary. Yet, alongside her dearest friend in the Black community [Cal], Ana confronts the racial prejudice her friend encounters daily as she watches the inner workings of the Underground Railroad, and directly experiences how slavery contradicts the promise of freedom in her adopted country."

I learned a lot about the Lincolns and politics in Illinois--especially Springfield.

The book covered many years--from 1851-1909 [much of it in the 1860s and the aftermath of the Civil War]--but the narrative sped up by leaps and bounds the last 1/4 of the book.

I found many parallels with the present day--notably the issues of immigration, racism, and racial injustice. And--Lincoln won the electoral vote, but not the popular vote!

The writing was fine, Several phrases struck my fancy:
"...man, whose hair hung like pale corn tassels"
"...wore muttonchops that wrapped around his big head like shrubbery""
"...felt positively upholstered in its heavy cotton folds" [dress]

I learned much about the Civil War, Lincoln, politics {North vs South/slavery], secession, and politicians at the time {Stephen Douglas, Frederick Douglass, President Andrew Johnson], and even articles of clothing in the 1860s: pelisses, Bertha collar, Havelock caps. Add in Catholics vs. Presbyterians, interracial marriage, and much more--there's alot [maybe too much].The 1908 Springfield Race Riot, which was the impetus for the formation of the NAACP was also new to me.

I loved Ana's character, but found the book somewhat flat, slow, and disjointed.

3.25, commendable, but...

I really liked this book. The author gives insight to what was happening in Springfield, Illinois, before Lincoln became President. Told thru the eyes of a young Portuguese girl, who became a maid in the Lincoln household. She also is able to continue the story after the assassination of Lincoln. I never heard of the riots in Springfield until I read this book. She also explains in great detail the plight of slaves, and how the underground railroad worked in Springfield. The civil war really didn't help the blacks, they were still abused, treated worse then any human should've been treated. They wanted the same things as their white counterparts. Sadly, not much has changed in today's world. The only negative thing I wished the author would have completed Ana's story, you are left hanging in the ending. Other than that, if you love stories about Lincoln, and Mary, this is a good book to start with their story!

Before reading The House of Lincoln, I knew nearly nothing about Springfield, Illinois before, during, and after the Civil War, and I knew nothing about the Springfield Riot of 1908. There's actually quite a bit less Lincoln in the book than I expected from the description, but that wasn't an issue. The House of Lincoln follows the stories of a few different citizens of Springfield, Illinois from a young Portuguese immigrant to a pair of brothers working the Underground Railroad, to Mary Todd Lincoln. It's an engaging historical fiction that culminates in the chaos that was the Springfield race riot of 1908.

I continue to be impressed with the writing of Nancy Horan. She delivers another look at history in this book. There is more to the story of the devastating effects of slavery in our country than we have been taught. Nancy Horan gives us a peek into a moment in our history of which I was not aware. A worthy effort on her part.

The House of Lincoln by Nancy Horan is an interesting historical fiction. It gives a look into the lives of Abraham and Mary Lincoln in the early years.
We get to see Lincoln through the eyes of Ana Ferreira, the nanny for the Lincoln family. Ana who with her family have been forced to leave Madeira, Portugal.
Historical facts, back story of Madeira Island was interesting, Lincoln's personal beliefs and time in office.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this book.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:

The House of Lincoln by Nancy Horan brings to life the period before, during, and after the Civil War. We experience history through the eyes of a Portuguese immigrant girl, Ana Ferreira, whose family settles in Springfield, Illinois. Ana develops a close friendship with Cal, a young Black girl. The two girls explore Springfield together at a time when the Underground Railroad is very active in central Illinois and Abraham Lincoln is busy establishing his career. As they grow older, the girls become very aware of racial tensions and how their choices in life are very different because of their heritage. At the age of 14, Ana takes a job with the Lincoln family to assist Mary Lincoln. We experience a more personal side of Mary Todd Lincoln as she deals with her traveling husband and the loss of her son. After the Civil War ends, the Lincolns barely have time to celebrate before Lincoln’s assassination. I highly recommend this book to readers who appreciate historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I love historical fiction and Lincoln has alway fascinated me., so I was excited to read this book. Honestly, I was a little disappointed. I had a hard time getting into this book for some reason. I found the characters vanilla- lacking depth. To me I felt like I was reading a history book.

As a lover of historical fiction this was very heavy in the historical part. Lots of history, which was interesting but I felt slowed down the read. There wasn't a lot of character development or investment but still a few interesting story from a unique perspective. Just not a quick and easy read.

2.5 stars: Having loved previous books by Horgan (Loving Frank, Under the Wide and Starry Sky), this one was a miss for me. By using three different viewpoints (Mary Lincoln, her nanny and servant Ana, a Portuguese refugee, and freed slaves living in Springfield, IL), it just felt as if the story skimmed the surface. I did not learn anything new about Lincoln, but I did learn quite a bit about Springfield. Frankly, I would have liked more of a story focused on the race riots at the turn of the century - might’ve made a stronger story, rather than using many many decades across one book.

The House of Lincoln Review

The House of Lincoln is a captivating tale that paints a vivid picture of the injustices of slavery and racism in history. While the story is a work of fiction, it includes several elements that ring true to life. The author's creative approach to the subject matter makes for an engaging read that will leave you thoroughly entertained and enlightened.

Storytelling & Characters

The House of Lincoln is an enthralling tale narrated in the third person. It is fitting as it allows readers to experience the story through the protagonist's eyes while maintaining a comfortable distance due to the presence of historical figures. The main character, Anna, is an outsider, hailing from the Portuguese island of Madeira and settling in Springfield, IL. As a reader, I found her relatable, and her character growth was impressive. 

The novel is set before the Civil War, a time of slavery and racism, and Anna witnesses Cal's heroic efforts to help runaway slaves. Initially, Anna hesitates, fearing for her safety, but she soon realizes that she must do what is right and not let fear dictate her actions. As the story progresses, Anna becomes more aware of the social and racial disparity around her, making her a compelling character.

Abraham Lincoln, one of the most iconic figures in American history, is also portrayed in a refreshing light. The author showcases Lincoln's personal life as a husband and father and his professional life as a hardworking lawyer representing the underprivileged. The author also delves into the making of the Emancipation Proclamation, providing readers with a deeper understanding of this crucial moment in American history. 

Conflict and Themes

The narrative revolves around the rift among individuals caused by slavery and racial differences. This is exemplified by the inhabitants of Springfield, highlighting the discrepancy between races. Even the politicians are divided into opposing camps, with Abraham Lincoln leading one side. The discord between Mary Lincoln and her sister, triggered by their conflicting ideologies on slavery, adds another layer of complexity to the story.

Overall Reading Enjoyment

Exploring the topic of slavery and the struggles endured by those affected can be challenging. However, amidst the injustice and hate, this book also illuminates the compassion and empathy displayed by certain individuals. 

This literary work provides a valuable addition to gaining insight into the behind-the-scenes happenings during Abraham Lincoln's time and the people in his inner circle. Their unwavering commitment and selflessness ultimately contributed to the creation of the Emancipation Proclamation.

As a lover of historical fiction, I relish the opportunity to delve into the past and uncover the truth behind significant events.

Favorite Quotes

“We all trail ghosts. What matters is what we do now.”

“Fear makes fools of us all.”

“Some people are willfully ignorant. They aren’t stupid, they simply choose to be oblivious. That way they aren’t responsible for anything that goes wrong.”


I received a complimentary copy of the book, and all views expressed in this review are my own. A big thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an e-ARC.

I received a digital ARC from Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was an interesting read. I learned a lot, but think that at times the story was lost to historical facts that were given, I liked the fact that this story was focused on Lincoln’s road to presidency, the Civil War, and it’s aftermath. It is a time in our history that is not written about much.

The interesting life story of Lincoln starting from his parents roots thru his career as a lawyer culminating in his presidency.