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apcommaille 's review for:
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever
by Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard
I didn't pick this book up with the baggage that comes with both Bill O'Reilly, or the Civil War. I find that period of American history to be one of its most interesting. O'Reilly, regardless of what the viewers of Fox or CNN think, is a respectable amateur historian and clearly feels passionate about his country's history.
So it was with some excitement that I began reading his series involving the killing off of various historical characters.
Firstly, O'Reilly sets the scene of a bloody and ugly war, where noble generals like Lee had to trudge in the mud to maintain the principle of the right of States over the federal system. This part of the book is well researched, written without sneering, and very moving. The familiar story of Lee and Grant delaying the surrender was a pleasure to reread.
Now, I understand that this is deliberate, and that the author wants us to feel how angry and hurt Southerners were at the loss of their independence. But at the two-thirds stage of the book we had barely heard from Lincoln or Booth. We knew they were around, and that they were not having a good time. But neither was front and center of the narrative. Had this book been about the Civil War alone, I'd stop here and give it 5 stars.
But this book is about the conspiracy and execution of one of the most famous crimes in history. That we only get to the plot at around two-thirds of the way through is a problem. As interesting as the first stage was, it only serves the purpose of setting the scene and could have been accomplished in half of the time (at most). O'Reilly has been very self-indulgent, wallowing in the romance and nostalgia of an evocative time. I don't blame him for that, and enjoyed so much of it. But it was all sound and fury signifying nothing.
Once we arrive at the plot one feels hurried through it. I don't feel it to be a 'highlights package' or anything of that nature, as everything is well covered with all the necessary detail. But having moved from the slow and expansive introduction, the main story feels rushed. The book is the poorer for it, as the author has not disappointed the reader; he has just made us wonder what might have been if he'd spent more time on this.
The book was enjoyable, but at this stage it has put me off reading the rest of the 'series'.
So it was with some excitement that I began reading his series involving the killing off of various historical characters.
Firstly, O'Reilly sets the scene of a bloody and ugly war, where noble generals like Lee had to trudge in the mud to maintain the principle of the right of States over the federal system. This part of the book is well researched, written without sneering, and very moving. The familiar story of Lee and Grant delaying the surrender was a pleasure to reread.
Now, I understand that this is deliberate, and that the author wants us to feel how angry and hurt Southerners were at the loss of their independence. But at the two-thirds stage of the book we had barely heard from Lincoln or Booth. We knew they were around, and that they were not having a good time. But neither was front and center of the narrative. Had this book been about the Civil War alone, I'd stop here and give it 5 stars.
But this book is about the conspiracy and execution of one of the most famous crimes in history. That we only get to the plot at around two-thirds of the way through is a problem. As interesting as the first stage was, it only serves the purpose of setting the scene and could have been accomplished in half of the time (at most). O'Reilly has been very self-indulgent, wallowing in the romance and nostalgia of an evocative time. I don't blame him for that, and enjoyed so much of it. But it was all sound and fury signifying nothing.
Once we arrive at the plot one feels hurried through it. I don't feel it to be a 'highlights package' or anything of that nature, as everything is well covered with all the necessary detail. But having moved from the slow and expansive introduction, the main story feels rushed. The book is the poorer for it, as the author has not disappointed the reader; he has just made us wonder what might have been if he'd spent more time on this.
The book was enjoyable, but at this stage it has put me off reading the rest of the 'series'.