Killing Lincoln
Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
Henry Holt & Co., publishers 2011
The history of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln will never be able to be told with all its mysteries and nuances, but once again O ‘Reilly and Dugard present an incredibly researched and fascinating story about an event that changed American history.
While the world has heard and knows so much about John Wilkes Booth, the handsome young actor who entered the Presidential box at Ford’s Theater during a play which President and Mrs. Lincoln were enjoying, few know the events leading up to the killing, aside from the fact Booth was a Confederate sympathizer and felt empowered to take matters into his own hands after Robert E. Lee surrendered.
But Killing Lincoln goes in great detail in a fascinating and intriguing way. laying out details day by day, then hour by hour, including the murder itself, then the killer’s cowardly flight and subsequent demise.
The authors go into detail about Dr. Mudd, whose actions led to the saying “His name is Mudd” and even the Surratt’s, mother and cowardly son. It continues to leave open, since history will never know for sure, whether Secretary of War Stanton was involved or aware, but recognizes the contributions William Seward, whose murder was also attempted that night, made to the United States years later.
The authors need no publicity to prove their accuracy, authenticity and downright fascinating way of telling true but horrible stories in understanding ways. The “Killing “ Series should be a part of every American’s library.
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