Abraham Lincoln's Traveling Medicine Show

by Mike Trippiedi

Historical fiction meets political satire.
Seamlessly mixing fact with fiction, Abraham Lincoln's Traveling Medicine Show, is a theatrical retelling of the Lincoln assassination, the hunt for John Wilkes Booth, and the thirteen-day presidential funeral, as seen through the eyes of the doctors, soldiers, friends, and family members - Union loyalists and Confederate sympathizers - who find themselves players in a tragedy spun out of control by the political agenda of others.
It's a tale of truth; both the search for and the avoidance of it, echoing on issues still relevant today on topics that range from the role of women in society, to racism, homophobia, and the division of country.
The drama is fierce. The humor is dark. And the story is true. Sort of.

512 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2025

About the author

Mike Trippiedi is a writer of all things from blogs to novels. He lives in Champaign, IL with his wife, Sue, and their cat, Greta.
He can be found on Threads @miketrippiedi
and on Bluesky @miketrippiedi.bsky.social

Reviews

[Marc-Anthony Macon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trippiedi's semi-fictional dossier on the death of Abraham Lincoln (and the subsequent associated theatrics and tragedies both private and personal) is a joy to read. While touching on events that shaped a nation, the author keeps his focus on the human foibles, frailties, and intricacies shooting through the minds of everyone involved with Lincoln's assassination, attempted resuscitation, and decomposition-ridden traveling wake. The hearts and gestures of everyone from statesmen to murderers to doctors and runaways are sewn into a tapestry that beautifully patches together fact and fiction, honor and insult, humor and tragedy, holy and profane. Trippiedi's tour of Lincoln's last show is a deceptively simple (and almost true) story about a nation grappling with itself in the most intricate and gut-wrenching ways. There's a layer of comfort over the proceedings which the author nurses to give solemn contrast to the more grave and grisly elements of this story and its pocket of history. The interplay between Trippiedi's gentle treatment of historical figures and his quietly harsh observations about the human nature stirred up by Lincoln's premature purchase of the proverbial farm create a warm but warning dance through the past that rings a lot of modern bells along the way. This is the first exploration of Abraham Lincoln's impact I've ever read that saw those around him as gloriously flawed human beings, rather than history's intertia-flung pawns, and the result is a true gem of a book with as much heart as it has history. Can't wait to read more by this author!

[M.N. Seeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading Abraham Lincoln’s Traveling Medicine Show, I had enough understanding of the events to pass a quiz but not enough to write an essay. Why? Because I’m Canadian, so much so that it pained me not to put the double L in Travel(l)ing.

I’m sure more than a few of the changes Trippiedi made to the events surely went right over my head. Since I’m impervious to factual distractions regarding this subject, my enjoyment was not hindered in the least. I got to read and experience this novel for the story being told, and I’m pleased to say it was a delight. The writing is detailed and clever, and there’s no doubt Trippiedi is passionate about telling this story. Each chapter unfolded more and more layers and details.

I recommend this book to anyone, whether or not they enjoy historical satire, whether or not they are American, and whether or not they like stovepipe hats.

[Matthew]

This book has a HUGE cast of characters, as is the canvass on which Mike Trippiedi paints his portrait of America in the days after Lincoln's assassination. My head was spinning at first and I was tempted to pick up a history book to discern what was historical and what was not, but once I realized what the author was doing I just let the details wash over me--I can always read a history later. THIS is a novel, not a historical account, and to that end it's a little bit wild and loose with the facts, a little shaggy dog tale, and done with heart and humor.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

very imaginative, well researched , and helps fill in blanks in what occurred after the assassination.

Very fun read