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Post by Allen Wiener on Apr 16, 2009 14:21:43 GMT -5
I've just finished two books on the Lincoln Assassination and recommend both very highly. "Manhunt" by James L. Swanson is a terrific account that reads like a thriller. It is hard to put down and has much information that was new to me, and I'm not a stranger to the subject.
"American Brutus" is equally good, although it lacks the pacing of Swanson's book. It has a lot more biographical background on Booth and other info not included in Swanson.
Both are very worthwhile, even if you have only a passing interest in the subject.
I have lived in the D.C. area for 36 years and have visited Ford's Theater many times, both as a tourist and to attend plays there, as well as the Peterson House across the street. Do not miss them if you are ever in the area.
I worked as an actor for a time in the 1970s and 80s and rehearsed at times in Ford's Theater at night, when the theater was dark. During breaks, I'd wander down to Lincoln's box and then to the basement museum, where many of Lincoln's and Booth's artifacts were on display, including Booth's derringer. It was an absolutely weird, but thrilling explerience to be the only person in the theater or in the museum. Haunting.
I saw a speech that Swanson gave at the Newseum here in Washington on Tuesday, which was the anniversay of the assassination. It was broadcast live on CSPAN; if you can catch a rerun of it, I highly recommend it. He's a good speaker and he added some things that are not in his book.
AW
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Post by TRK on Apr 16, 2009 14:34:13 GMT -5
Allen, I have, and have read, American Brutus: very detailed, and a somewhat different take on the story (didn't he lay out the story in real time?). Don't have Manhunt, but do have Swanson's photohistory of the Lincoln assassination. I have a good sized shelf of that stuff.
Ford's Theater and the Peterson House are indeed must-sees if you're in D.C. When I was going down to D.C. and eastern Maryland a lot in the early 1990s, I retraced parts of Booth's escape route, but nowhere as much of it as I'd have liked.
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Post by Kevin Young on Apr 16, 2009 14:49:01 GMT -5
I enjoyed both books very much. Can't wait to see Ford's again after the fix up.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Apr 16, 2009 15:35:44 GMT -5
Has anyone read "They Have Killed Papa Dead!" by Anthony Pitch? It is a more recent book on the assassination - released in December.
Tom - this is a subject I've been drawn to for years and I've often thought of following Booth's trail as well.
I think Swanson lays it out in real time, which is one of the things that makes his book so exciting and fast-paced. He shifts very cleverly between what Booth is doing and what Lincoln is doing as they slowly move toward their tragic rendezvous. He does the same with the post-assassination chase for Booth and the painful death watch in the Peterson House.
"American Brutus" (by Michael W. Kauffman, which I failed to mention) is a slightly different take on the events. For example, Swanson cuts the conspirators no slack and believes they were all guilty, including Mudd, Mary Surratt, et al. Kauffman seems more equivocal; I don't think he agrees re: Mudd or Mary Surratt and indicates that Mary Surratt's execution was virtually a mistake, as several on the tribunal never intended for her to hang and a reprieve was requested of Pres. Johnson, who claimed he never got the request.
AW
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Post by Kevin Young on Apr 16, 2009 16:02:25 GMT -5
If I might jump in=Kauffman did the articles on the assassination tour for Blue and Grey...which is also something I would love to do sometime as well...
I got into the assassination stuff because I was asked to write up the story/legend of John St. Helen for a book on "unsolved" Texas mysteries. It is something I would now love to go back to an update since more information is out there (and the whole Finas Bates think is a joke=although I wonder where the mummy of St. Helen is today).
One of more moving exhibits at the new Lincoln museum in Springfield is the recreation of the House of Representatives where they have the closed coffin on display-you are completely taken off guard when you come in: people get real quiet and take off hats and all that.
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Post by Herb on Apr 16, 2009 16:30:06 GMT -5
I got into the assassination stuff because I was asked to write up the story/legend of John St. Helen for a book on "unsolved" Texas mysteries. It is something I would now love to go back to an update since more information is out there (and the whole Finas Bates think is a joke=although I wonder where the mummy of St. Helen is today). I'm not saying I believe, but visiting the Granbury Opera House a decade or so ago, I distinctly remember one photo of St. Helen that was so hauntingly similar to Booth you would swear they were the same person. Of course Granbury is also where the "real" Jessie James ended up - it's almost a shame my mother knew the man that originated that hoax and he admitted it to her.
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Post by Kevin Young on Apr 16, 2009 17:44:26 GMT -5
and right down the road is where Brushy Bill Roberts is buried!
You know Steve Abolt played the Mummy in a special play on St. Helen at the Opera House.
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Post by jrboddie on Apr 16, 2009 21:37:38 GMT -5
I used to travel between NJ and FL a couple of times a year and would often take US 301 to bypass Washington traffic. The divided highway passes through the middle of Fort A.P.Hill in Virginia. Many times, I would zoom past an historical marker in the median between the N and S bound lanes. Too late to stop, I wondered what it was. Finally, on one trip, I remembered to look for it before I reached the fort. It was pretty late in the evening with very little traffic when I stopped and got out of the car. Turns out to be the location of the Garrett farm where Booth was killed. Felt kind of spooky to be alone at the spot where such a momentous event took place with the night breeze and rustling foliage.
Anyway, I second the recommendation for Manhunt. A very interesting read. It amazes me that Booth was able to get out of Washington so easily--but then perhaps even more so that he was caught so quickly in the countryside.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Apr 16, 2009 22:22:39 GMT -5
It amazes me even more that Lincoln went around totally unprotected, throughout the war, and no one thought it was a big deal.
AW
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Post by Kevin Young on Apr 17, 2009 6:44:26 GMT -5
Ward Hill Lamon is one ofpur local celebs: Had a law office in Danville with Lincoln and of course, went with him to Washington. The local take is that if Lamon had been there that night, Booth would have been stopped...
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jerry
Full Member
Posts: 60
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Post by jerry on Apr 17, 2009 8:56:33 GMT -5
Allen,
According to a Lincoln Assassination historian that I spoke with some time back, "They Have Killed Papa Dead" is filled with errors. She said if one wants to have it in one's library, try to purchase the book at a discount.
"Manhunt" and "American Brutus" are both excellent.
If you are interested in the Lincoln Assassination, you should become a member of the Surratt Society which is based in the Surratt House and Museum in Clinton, Maryland. Their monthly newsletter - THE SURRATT COURIER - contains articles with the latest in assassination research. I've been a member since 1986.
Jerry
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Post by Allen Wiener on Apr 17, 2009 12:28:45 GMT -5
Jerry,
Thanks for that lead. I'll check it out.
I'm going to pass on the book, having just read the other two.
AW
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Post by Jim Boylston on Apr 17, 2009 15:00:54 GMT -5
I read "American Brutus" a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. I picked up "Manhunt" this afternoon hoping enough time has elapsed that the books won't seem redundant. At my age that's probably not much of a concern. jim
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Post by Allen Wiener on Apr 17, 2009 16:01:13 GMT -5
I think you'll get a lot out of "Manhunt," even if you've read "American Brutus." One thing in AB that I'd never reat elsewhere is a theory that Booth did not break his leg when he leapt to the stage; he may have actually been thrown by his horse, which also was injured, just as he said he had been to everyone he met during his attempt to escape.
AW
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paul
Full Member
Posts: 48
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Post by paul on Apr 23, 2009 20:30:42 GMT -5
I've read American Brutus and Blood on the Moon. Haven't gotten to Manhunt yet.
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