Let's get the bad stuff out of the way right now. James L. Swanson is not a superior writer. He is overzealous in his use of heavy-handed theater metaphors, the dash, and the word "ersatz." The entire book is over-written to the point of being melodramatic. One of my favorite sentences:"Death hovered near, impatient to claim the president and escort him on the voyage to that dark and distant shore that had beckoned Lincoln so often in his dreams."
See what I mean? Ridiculous.
OK. The bad stuff is over. Now let's never talk about it again. Because really, when it comes down to it, this isn't the kind of book that you read for the writing. You read it for the content. And, oh boy, does it ever deliver.
James L. Swanson's account of Lincoln's assassination and the subsequent manhunt for John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirators is PERFECT. Step aside, Julie's Top Ten, and make some room for Manhunt. It is fascinating, impeccably researched, and a total page turner. Plus, once you finish, you'll have all kinds of fun facts to bring up at cocktail parties.
I realize that I am betraying the true depths of my nerdiness here, but I seriously cannot gush about this one enough.
Final Rating: 10/10
2 comments:
Did your fancy pants historian mention this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHL7v41toGQ&feature=related
Oh yes, he went into great detail about it, in fact. But, in Swanson's account, Henry Rathbone was also loudly unwrapping candy, and Lincoln's ringtone was "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
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