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376 reviews for:
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever
Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard
3.85 AVERAGE
376 reviews for:
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever
Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard
3.85 AVERAGE
I did not realize the first third of the book would be a detailed account of the last days for the Civil War—from Petersburg to Appomattox. I enjoyed learning the details of those final days, I just didn’t expect it.
Once you get to section two, this story of Lincoln’s death is quite different from Manhunt. Killing Lincoln is better at quickly telling the story while bringing in interesting side notes and coincidences—Robert Lincoln’s rescue by Edwin Booth; Booth’s renting the very room that Lincoln died in just two weeks earlier. There were a lot of “you are kidding me—I didn’t know that moments.”
I did wonder, often, what source did the author use for that passage? (I was listening to it.) How did he know those words were said or that person did that thing? Were the authors taking license for the narrrative or are there contemporary sources that back these actions up? I really want to know. I picked up the print version just to check out the sources. Though there is a nice list of sources in the appendix, I would have loved footnotes throughout the text. Go figure.
I will certainly pick up Killing Kennedy and Killing Jesus now.
Once you get to section two, this story of Lincoln’s death is quite different from Manhunt. Killing Lincoln is better at quickly telling the story while bringing in interesting side notes and coincidences—Robert Lincoln’s rescue by Edwin Booth; Booth’s renting the very room that Lincoln died in just two weeks earlier. There were a lot of “you are kidding me—I didn’t know that moments.”
I did wonder, often, what source did the author use for that passage? (I was listening to it.) How did he know those words were said or that person did that thing? Were the authors taking license for the narrrative or are there contemporary sources that back these actions up? I really want to know. I picked up the print version just to check out the sources. Though there is a nice list of sources in the appendix, I would have loved footnotes throughout the text. Go figure.
I will certainly pick up Killing Kennedy and Killing Jesus now.
This books is hard for me to write a review on because it is not normally the kind of book I seek out to read, it was a book club book. Admittedly, I know very little about Lincoln's assasination. What I was taught in my history class in high school is the extent. However, I felt like this book was cold and emotionless. I felt like I was reading a script for a television documentary. As far a historical fact goes, this book is probably great. But as far as helping me to understand/love/hate/sympathize with any character this didn't do it for me. I love Lincoln because of what I have been taught growing up. But I felt nothing for Mary Lincoln to Mary Surratt right on down to John Wilkes Booth. I guess I was looking for more of an emotional character driven story than a day by day course of events.
informative
tense
slow-paced
“Experience so vindicated his patriotic sagacity that he acquired a curious ascendency in the public confidence ; so that if good men differed from his opinion they were inclined to doubt their own.”
Harpers Weekly
Saturday
April 29, 1985
~ Abraham Lincoln
Harpers Weekly
Saturday
April 29, 1985
~ Abraham Lincoln
informative
fast-paced
This was a very interesting and informative read. I am shocked to learn how much Abe suffered before he died. What a horrific death!
I would really give this 3.5 stars. The first 83 pages were about the end of the Civil War and the detail of it was boring, in my opinion. The rest of the book was very interesting. I do not remember hearing the details of the conspiracy. I guess I thought that John Wilkes Booth acted alone.
entertaining enough, but not enough new information to be very relevant. A person could learn more especially from James Swanson's book "Manhunt"
My bonus-dad has been bugging me to read this for EONS. I finally started it just prior to leaving for a weekend getaway. I made it to Chapter 28 before our return home.
I was a little worried at first. The book starts with such detailed description of the final Civil War battles that I feared I’d drown in military boringness! I knew immediately that this is what drew bonus-dad in – and I totally understood the use of the descriptions as giving context for the assassination. But they were losing me! I promised myself (and bonus-dad) I’d read until 50 pages into Part Two of the book. This turned out to be a wise choice as I then soared through the remaining pages.
I’ve done lots of reading on Lincoln, his presidency, and his assassination. This is a worthy edition to the body of work. It is an easy read, seems factual (in that it follows what I’ve read elsewhere), and is formatted to keep the pages rapidly spinning through a reader’s fingers. The only minus (and, as a librarian, it is a big minus) was the lack of endnotes or footnotes; the accompanying “Notes” were inadequate and hardly served as enough to convince the skeptics of sufficient proof & research.
I was a little worried at first. The book starts with such detailed description of the final Civil War battles that I feared I’d drown in military boringness! I knew immediately that this is what drew bonus-dad in – and I totally understood the use of the descriptions as giving context for the assassination. But they were losing me! I promised myself (and bonus-dad) I’d read until 50 pages into Part Two of the book. This turned out to be a wise choice as I then soared through the remaining pages.
I’ve done lots of reading on Lincoln, his presidency, and his assassination. This is a worthy edition to the body of work. It is an easy read, seems factual (in that it follows what I’ve read elsewhere), and is formatted to keep the pages rapidly spinning through a reader’s fingers. The only minus (and, as a librarian, it is a big minus) was the lack of endnotes or footnotes; the accompanying “Notes” were inadequate and hardly served as enough to convince the skeptics of sufficient proof & research.