- Paperback: 444 pages
- Publisher: Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (Feb 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060518502
- ISBN-13: 978-0060518509
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 13.7 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 765,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
"'Brilliant! Absolutely haunting. This historical book is almost impossible to put down.' Patricia Cornwell"
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
An enthralling hour-by-hour account of the twelve days in 1865 between President Abraham Lincoln's assassination and the capture and death of his murderer, John Wilkes Booth. From 14th to 26th of April 1865, the hunt for Booth and his accomplices transfixed, thrilled and horrified a nation of mourners as Booth led the army on a wild chase through the swamps of Maryland and into the forests of Virginia. At the centre of the story is the ultimate anti-hero: John Wilkes Booth. A handsome stage actor, Booth was as famous in his day as any big Hollywood star today, but threw away his fame and wealth for an assassin's immortality. Manhunt tells the dramatic story through the eyes of the hunters and the hunters - and makes clear why Booth refused to be taken alive when at last he was cornered by the US cavalry.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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First Sentence
IT LOOKED LIKE A BAD DAY FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
IT LOOKED LIKE A BAD DAY FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this book. It is fast paced and well written but clearly well researched as well. This is the first book I've read on the assassination of Lincoln and, unlike many American readers I suspect, many of the revelations in this book were totally new to me. I had always assumed that Wilkes-Booth was apprehended very swiftly after committing his wicked deed and was stunned to learn that he had remained at large for a some time. The attempt to assassinate other members of the government on the same night was also previously unknown to me and revealed these events were the result of a carefully managed conspiracy rather than the act of a lone gunman, which many people assume.
Swanson has evidently worked very hard on this book, conducting considerable research. This includes follow up information on some of the more obscure characters described in these events. For example, what happened to the people who helped hide Booth and his accomplice, their fellow conspirators and the eventual fate of the man who shot him.
I was also fascinated to read about the life of Booth in detail for the first time. He didn't fit the sort of profile I would expect for an assassin and I was stunned that he was already famous in America before the assassination. The fact that he threw away an attractive lifestyle by committing this crime says a great deal about the man's fanatical belief in his cause.
This is a great book on two levels. As a popular history it is well researched and informative but it also makes a very interesting and exciting read. Highly recommended!
Swanson has evidently worked very hard on this book, conducting considerable research. This includes follow up information on some of the more obscure characters described in these events. For example, what happened to the people who helped hide Booth and his accomplice, their fellow conspirators and the eventual fate of the man who shot him.
I was also fascinated to read about the life of Booth in detail for the first time. He didn't fit the sort of profile I would expect for an assassin and I was stunned that he was already famous in America before the assassination. The fact that he threw away an attractive lifestyle by committing this crime says a great deal about the man's fanatical belief in his cause.
This is a great book on two levels. As a popular history it is well researched and informative but it also makes a very interesting and exciting read. Highly recommended!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have to agree with other reviewers, this book was engrossing from the first page to the last. Most memorable for me was the description of the scene in the theatre immediately before the fatal shot whick killed Lincoln was fired. The reader truly feels as though he is standing next to Booth as he enters Lincoln's box, takes aim and fires the shot that shook America.
I found the quotes from some of the main characters quite amusing. If you think that the American drawl from Western movies is a true depiction of how Americans spoke around this time you will be astonished and tickled to read some of the statements reported in this book.
I recommend this book to anyone with a taste for true accounts of momentous historical events. Fascinating !
I found the quotes from some of the main characters quite amusing. If you think that the American drawl from Western movies is a true depiction of how Americans spoke around this time you will be astonished and tickled to read some of the statements reported in this book.
I recommend this book to anyone with a taste for true accounts of momentous historical events. Fascinating !
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was a cracking book to read from start to finish. There is never a dull moment as the pace of the story told is perfect with alot of information I never knew of before. The amount of research put into making this book is very impressive and makes it the great book that it is.
There is nothing more interesting than reading about characters like booth who we all are fascinated by. People love heroes but the villain most of the time have something about them that's more interesting to read. Booth was a young actor who had it all at the palm of his hands but gave everything up for what he truely believed in.
Highly recommended.
There is nothing more interesting than reading about characters like booth who we all are fascinated by. People love heroes but the villain most of the time have something about them that's more interesting to read. Booth was a young actor who had it all at the palm of his hands but gave everything up for what he truely believed in.
Highly recommended.
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