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American Gothic: The Story of America's Legendary Theatrical Family—Junius, Edwin, and John Wilkes Booth
The dramatic biography of one of the most notorious families in American history.
Junius Booth and his sons, Edwin and John Wilkes, were nineteenth-century America’s most famous theatrical family. Yet the Booth name is forever etched in the history books for one terrible reason: the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865.
In American Gothic, bestselling historian Gene Smith vividly chronicles the triumphs, scandals, and tragedies of this infamous family. The preeminent English tragedian of his day, Junius Booth was a madman and an alcoholic who abandoned his wife and young son to move to America and start a new family. His son Edwin became the most renowned Shakespearean actor in America, famously playing Hamlet for one hundred consecutive nights, but he suffered from depression and a crippling fear of inheriting his father’s insanity.
Blessed with extraordinary good looks and a gregarious nature, John Wilkes Booth seemed destined for spectacular fame and fortune. However, his sympathy for the Confederate cause unleashed a dangerous instability that brought permanent disgrace to his family and forever changed the course of American history.
Richly detailed and emotionally insightful, American Gothic is a “ripping good tale” that brings to life the true story behind a family tragedy of Shakespearean proportions (The New York Times).
Junius Booth and his sons, Edwin and John Wilkes, were nineteenth-century America’s most famous theatrical family. Yet the Booth name is forever etched in the history books for one terrible reason: the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865.
In American Gothic, bestselling historian Gene Smith vividly chronicles the triumphs, scandals, and tragedies of this infamous family. The preeminent English tragedian of his day, Junius Booth was a madman and an alcoholic who abandoned his wife and young son to move to America and start a new family. His son Edwin became the most renowned Shakespearean actor in America, famously playing Hamlet for one hundred consecutive nights, but he suffered from depression and a crippling fear of inheriting his father’s insanity.
Blessed with extraordinary good looks and a gregarious nature, John Wilkes Booth seemed destined for spectacular fame and fortune. However, his sympathy for the Confederate cause unleashed a dangerous instability that brought permanent disgrace to his family and forever changed the course of American history.
Richly detailed and emotionally insightful, American Gothic is a “ripping good tale” that brings to life the true story behind a family tragedy of Shakespearean proportions (The New York Times).
441 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1992
83 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Gene Smith
38 books10 followersEugene Owen Smith was born in Manhattan on May 9, 1929, to Sara and Julius Smith. His father was a lawyer. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in history, he attended law school (at his father’s insistence) for six months.
After dropping out, he was drafted into the Army and served in Germany in the early 1950s. Returning to New York, Mr. Smith got a job as a clerk at Newsweek and by 1956 was a reporter at The Newark Star-Ledger
.
He joined The New York Post a year later and left in 1960 to write his first book, “The Life and Death of Serge Rubinstein” (1962), about the still-unsolved 1955 murder of an unscrupulous Wall Street millionaire.
Among Mr. Smith’s other books are “When the Cheering Stopped: The Last Years of Woodrow Wilson,” (1964); “High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Impeachment and Trial of Andrew Johnson” (1977); “Lee and Grant: A Dual Biography” (1984); and “Until the Last Trumpet Sounds: The Life of General of the Armies John J. Pershing” (1998), a study of the commander of the American Expeditionary Force of World War I.
Shortly before his death, Mr. Smith wrote a brief obituary of himself, in third-person singular. It says, “He used to muse that if there was an afterlife — granted a long shot, he said — he’d love it for the opportunities offered to interview people he studied in life.”
Mr. Smith died from bone cancer; he was eighty-three at the time of his death.
After dropping out, he was drafted into the Army and served in Germany in the early 1950s. Returning to New York, Mr. Smith got a job as a clerk at Newsweek and by 1956 was a reporter at The Newark Star-Ledger
.
He joined The New York Post a year later and left in 1960 to write his first book, “The Life and Death of Serge Rubinstein” (1962), about the still-unsolved 1955 murder of an unscrupulous Wall Street millionaire.
Among Mr. Smith’s other books are “When the Cheering Stopped: The Last Years of Woodrow Wilson,” (1964); “High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Impeachment and Trial of Andrew Johnson” (1977); “Lee and Grant: A Dual Biography” (1984); and “Until the Last Trumpet Sounds: The Life of General of the Armies John J. Pershing” (1998), a study of the commander of the American Expeditionary Force of World War I.
Shortly before his death, Mr. Smith wrote a brief obituary of himself, in third-person singular. It says, “He used to muse that if there was an afterlife — granted a long shot, he said — he’d love it for the opportunities offered to interview people he studied in life.”
Mr. Smith died from bone cancer; he was eighty-three at the time of his death.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 8, 2017
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley, courtesy of Open Road Media.
Gene Smith’s American Gothic is supposedly a biography of the Booth family. In some ways, it is this. Chronicling the founding of the family and the demise of its last major member. Most of the book, however, is taken up with the infamous John Wilkes Booth and the events surrounding the assassination of Lincoln.
Additionally, most of the book focuses on the men of the family, understandably so considering that the women marry into and out of the family. Yet, I found myself wishing to know about Asia in addition to the fact that her marriage was bad and that she was close John Wilkes Booth. He also repeats the same stories about the marriage of the Lincolns without really adding or examining anything. In fact, all women in the history get little attention, not surprising considering the event and the era, but some more about the women would have made the book stand out a bit more.
Those criticisms aside, the book is written and sourced well. Smith does offer quite a bit about the other Booth men, and the most touching part of the book has to do with the effect on the acting prospects of the rest of the family. The is a beautiful passage about the burning John Wilkes Booth’s costumes by Edwin.
Gene Smith’s American Gothic is supposedly a biography of the Booth family. In some ways, it is this. Chronicling the founding of the family and the demise of its last major member. Most of the book, however, is taken up with the infamous John Wilkes Booth and the events surrounding the assassination of Lincoln.
Additionally, most of the book focuses on the men of the family, understandably so considering that the women marry into and out of the family. Yet, I found myself wishing to know about Asia in addition to the fact that her marriage was bad and that she was close John Wilkes Booth. He also repeats the same stories about the marriage of the Lincolns without really adding or examining anything. In fact, all women in the history get little attention, not surprising considering the event and the era, but some more about the women would have made the book stand out a bit more.
Those criticisms aside, the book is written and sourced well. Smith does offer quite a bit about the other Booth men, and the most touching part of the book has to do with the effect on the acting prospects of the rest of the family. The is a beautiful passage about the burning John Wilkes Booth’s costumes by Edwin.
October 18, 2016
I was invited to read and review this title by Open Road Media and Net Galley. Thanks to them for the DRC, which I received in exchange for an honest review. This title was released to the public October 4 and can be purchased any time you want it.
Although I love a good night at the theater as much as anyone else, I came to this bearing a love of history and a strong affinity for the American Civil War. I didn’t realize to what extent this would be purely a biography of this family of actors, and it was because of this that I became somewhat disillusioned.
Smith has carefully documented the lives of Junius, Edwin, and John Wilkes Booth. He talks about their predecessors, their early development, and their careers, and he documents everything he talks about. Those studying nineteenth century American actors will want this book, because these men were the most famous of their time period, tickets to see them perform much sought after.
My problem is with the elephant in the room.
It’s hard not to approach John Wilkes Booth without thinking about military history, and about his role in what was essentially an incipient CIA within the Confederacy. Other sources neatly document the fact that it was not a case of simple mental illness on the part of an assailant that made President Lincoln, the greatest president in the history of the USA, die. There was a great deal of planning involved, of research about where he would be and when he would be there. Contacts were made, and a plot was launched that was initially much more far reaching in scope, but with the surrender of Lee’s army, others within the cadre left town fast and didn’t look back. Booth was the one that decided he was going to follow through, one way or the other. How much of it was due to a longing for an historical spotlight, how much was due to emotional instability, and how much was a calculated effort to revive the Confederacy by assassinating Lincoln, we do not know, but what we do know, and what Smith doesn’t say, is that this was not a matter of simply yielding to impulse, of losing one’s sanity and suddenly deciding to kill a great leader. It was done in a calculated way, and I can’t respect this biography when this information is omitted. All we hear about are references to early signs of “madness”, as if this horrible deed can be swept to the side by the use of one well-placed word.
That being said, The New York Times loved this book. If the history of acting is your wheelhouse, you may want to read it. There’s nothing of method or technique that will help a developing actor, but it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s about the actors’ lives and careers, and that’s pretty much it.
Those that treasure history as a bigger picture, or that are looking for some tiny morsel to help them understand what made John Wilkes Booth carry out this monstrous, well-planned killing will remain as much in the dark when the book ends, as they are now.
Although I love a good night at the theater as much as anyone else, I came to this bearing a love of history and a strong affinity for the American Civil War. I didn’t realize to what extent this would be purely a biography of this family of actors, and it was because of this that I became somewhat disillusioned.
Smith has carefully documented the lives of Junius, Edwin, and John Wilkes Booth. He talks about their predecessors, their early development, and their careers, and he documents everything he talks about. Those studying nineteenth century American actors will want this book, because these men were the most famous of their time period, tickets to see them perform much sought after.
My problem is with the elephant in the room.
It’s hard not to approach John Wilkes Booth without thinking about military history, and about his role in what was essentially an incipient CIA within the Confederacy. Other sources neatly document the fact that it was not a case of simple mental illness on the part of an assailant that made President Lincoln, the greatest president in the history of the USA, die. There was a great deal of planning involved, of research about where he would be and when he would be there. Contacts were made, and a plot was launched that was initially much more far reaching in scope, but with the surrender of Lee’s army, others within the cadre left town fast and didn’t look back. Booth was the one that decided he was going to follow through, one way or the other. How much of it was due to a longing for an historical spotlight, how much was due to emotional instability, and how much was a calculated effort to revive the Confederacy by assassinating Lincoln, we do not know, but what we do know, and what Smith doesn’t say, is that this was not a matter of simply yielding to impulse, of losing one’s sanity and suddenly deciding to kill a great leader. It was done in a calculated way, and I can’t respect this biography when this information is omitted. All we hear about are references to early signs of “madness”, as if this horrible deed can be swept to the side by the use of one well-placed word.
That being said, The New York Times loved this book. If the history of acting is your wheelhouse, you may want to read it. There’s nothing of method or technique that will help a developing actor, but it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s about the actors’ lives and careers, and that’s pretty much it.
Those that treasure history as a bigger picture, or that are looking for some tiny morsel to help them understand what made John Wilkes Booth carry out this monstrous, well-planned killing will remain as much in the dark when the book ends, as they are now.
February 22, 2009
I have changed/reduced my rating on this, because I just read American Brutus, which is in a whole different league. The review on that will be forthcoming.
This was an interesting book, details the family history of the Booth's, their great talents and debilitating problems. They really were a famous (or infamous) bunch before the assassination. It is interesting to note that those who knew John Wilkes Booth best never thought it possible before the assassination that he would go to such extremes.
He had Southern sympathies, of course, but he was such a genial, handsome man, everyone found him charming and vivacious, he was just at the beginning of a great stage career and was secretly engaged to a popular socialite (Lucy Hale). And he was only 26 when he unintentionally made Lincoln a martyr. The plotting with his companions started as something much more benign, a kidnapping at most. It got twisted and eventually led to the plan to take all the heads of the country out in one night. He fulfilled his part of the plan to a T, and we are all lucky that his co-conspirators were not as successful. He never understood, during the 12 days before his eventual capture (and death) why people reviled him so for killing the man he saw as The Great Tyrant, responsible for the Civil War. In his mind, he was dispatching justice for the suffering of the entire country in one fell swoop at the theater. It is the ultimate American tragedy.
This was an interesting book, details the family history of the Booth's, their great talents and debilitating problems. They really were a famous (or infamous) bunch before the assassination. It is interesting to note that those who knew John Wilkes Booth best never thought it possible before the assassination that he would go to such extremes.
He had Southern sympathies, of course, but he was such a genial, handsome man, everyone found him charming and vivacious, he was just at the beginning of a great stage career and was secretly engaged to a popular socialite (Lucy Hale). And he was only 26 when he unintentionally made Lincoln a martyr. The plotting with his companions started as something much more benign, a kidnapping at most. It got twisted and eventually led to the plan to take all the heads of the country out in one night. He fulfilled his part of the plan to a T, and we are all lucky that his co-conspirators were not as successful. He never understood, during the 12 days before his eventual capture (and death) why people reviled him so for killing the man he saw as The Great Tyrant, responsible for the Civil War. In his mind, he was dispatching justice for the suffering of the entire country in one fell swoop at the theater. It is the ultimate American tragedy.
January 20, 2024
Surprisingly engaging biography of a fascinating theater family.
****Edit: after months of additional research on this topic, I'm left questioning the accuracy of some of the stuff that Smith puts forward in this book. The historical record doesn't always match up, particularly in the way he vastly overstates the success (and talent) John Wilkes Booth had as an actor. A lively read as far as historical biographies go, but seems fanciful at times and I'm not sure all of it would hold up under a rigorous examination.
****Edit: after months of additional research on this topic, I'm left questioning the accuracy of some of the stuff that Smith puts forward in this book. The historical record doesn't always match up, particularly in the way he vastly overstates the success (and talent) John Wilkes Booth had as an actor. A lively read as far as historical biographies go, but seems fanciful at times and I'm not sure all of it would hold up under a rigorous examination.
May 18, 2017
Very interesting to read about the whole Booth family. I knew a bit about John Wilkes Booth of course, but next to nothing about the other members of the family. I had no idea that Junius the elder was a vegetarian as well as an alcoholic who was considered by many to be insane. Edwin had to act as his "keeper" when he went out touring, and got his own start one day when Junius was too out of it to go on stage. Edwin and Junius Jr spent some time acting out in California during the Gold Rush. John was considered by some to be a better actor than Edwin. I'd always heard he was second-rate. The lives of the family members were severely damaged after the assassination--something I'd never thought about.
When I finished the book and read the "about the author" section, I realized that I'd read another of his books--When the cheering stopped: The last years of Woodrow Wilson . I don't think he's the best author I've ever encountered, but he does know how to tell an interesting story. I may have to seek out some of his other books.
I've read that American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies is a much better biography than this book, so perhaps I'll read that soon.
When I finished the book and read the "about the author" section, I realized that I'd read another of his books--When the cheering stopped: The last years of Woodrow Wilson . I don't think he's the best author I've ever encountered, but he does know how to tell an interesting story. I may have to seek out some of his other books.
I've read that American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies is a much better biography than this book, so perhaps I'll read that soon.
October 9, 2017
An interesting examination of an American family that impacted American political and theater history.
July 6, 2022
This book about the family Booth and their path through American history is another one of those history books which are riveting rather than dry and dully plodded. About the only gripe I have is…I guess I wished for a little more of Junius (father); most books just skip right over and head straight to the assassination, which of course made up a meaty portion of this book, with the rest of Edwin’s life tacked on like a ghostly remnant. Kind of fitting, given that DID seem to be how he manoeuvred himself.
Random thought: there were SO MANY PEOPLE connected to the Booth family or the assassination itself suffering from mental illness or some sort of mental deficiency. Lewis Powell. Boston Corbett. The entirety of the Booth line, or at least the men. Lucy Hale. Mary Lincoln. Mary McVicker, Edwin’s second wife. Henry Rathbone. Even Emma Vaders, one of Edwin’s Chickens, only briefly mentioned at the end of this book, was confined to a straight jacket at multiple points of her life. Just off the top of my head. Kind of mind-boggling, kind of sad.
Random thought: there were SO MANY PEOPLE connected to the Booth family or the assassination itself suffering from mental illness or some sort of mental deficiency. Lewis Powell. Boston Corbett. The entirety of the Booth line, or at least the men. Lucy Hale. Mary Lincoln. Mary McVicker, Edwin’s second wife. Henry Rathbone. Even Emma Vaders, one of Edwin’s Chickens, only briefly mentioned at the end of this book, was confined to a straight jacket at multiple points of her life. Just off the top of my head. Kind of mind-boggling, kind of sad.
December 29, 2021
We all know that John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln. A few might even recall that Booth was an actor.
As an undergrad studying theatre, I remember learning a bit about the Booths: they were a family of highly regarded and popular actors and theatrical producers. Their expertise and fame on the stage were influential enough to be studied in Theatre History classes 150 years later.
Upon a recent foray into re-reading Romeo and Juliet, I saw mention of one of the most iconic portrayals of Romeo by none other than John Wilkes Booth. I'd always wanted to learn more about this legendary theatrical family and so I borrowed this book from my local library.
I found this book to be fascinating and well-written. The story of the Booths [mostly Junius Sr. and two of his sons, Edwin and John] is, like a Shakespearean tragedy, complicated and heartbreaking. I connected with Edwin the most and really felt a deep sadness for him. Even though he had fame and respect all on his own, he forever lived in the shadows of his father and, of course, his brother, John. I was also struck by some of the incidental people involved, such as Dr. Leale, who happened to be at Ford's Theatre on the night John shot Abe. One minute he was attending a farcical play and, then next minute, he is attending to a mortally wounded president.
Other reviewers have commented on Smith's coverage of John's motives and activities prior to the assassination of Lincoln. I think Smith covers this completely adequately and with granular detail for a book that isn't about the plot to kill the president. It's about the family. It's saddening, too, how the aftermath unfolded and forever changed the Booth family: they were proud of the family legacy and then, overnight, were pariahs for the rest of their lives because of that name.
This book was more engaging, surprising, and moving than I expected it to be.
As an undergrad studying theatre, I remember learning a bit about the Booths: they were a family of highly regarded and popular actors and theatrical producers. Their expertise and fame on the stage were influential enough to be studied in Theatre History classes 150 years later.
Upon a recent foray into re-reading Romeo and Juliet, I saw mention of one of the most iconic portrayals of Romeo by none other than John Wilkes Booth. I'd always wanted to learn more about this legendary theatrical family and so I borrowed this book from my local library.
I found this book to be fascinating and well-written. The story of the Booths [mostly Junius Sr. and two of his sons, Edwin and John] is, like a Shakespearean tragedy, complicated and heartbreaking. I connected with Edwin the most and really felt a deep sadness for him. Even though he had fame and respect all on his own, he forever lived in the shadows of his father and, of course, his brother, John. I was also struck by some of the incidental people involved, such as Dr. Leale, who happened to be at Ford's Theatre on the night John shot Abe. One minute he was attending a farcical play and, then next minute, he is attending to a mortally wounded president.
Other reviewers have commented on Smith's coverage of John's motives and activities prior to the assassination of Lincoln. I think Smith covers this completely adequately and with granular detail for a book that isn't about the plot to kill the president. It's about the family. It's saddening, too, how the aftermath unfolded and forever changed the Booth family: they were proud of the family legacy and then, overnight, were pariahs for the rest of their lives because of that name.
This book was more engaging, surprising, and moving than I expected it to be.
October 4, 2017
I have studied Lincoln extensively over the years--Ok, to be honest, I'm slightly obsessed with him, but more particularly with Mary Todd. The undergraduate college I attended allowed for students under the guidance of a faculty advisor, to write an individual course. One such course I designed was the study of the way in which Lincoln and Mark Twain influenced modern American speech. (I'm an English nerd.) You can't study Lincoln without studying the Civil War or without studying his assassination. But strangely, I only knew a small amount about Booth as a person and virtually nothing about his family except that they were all actors or otherwise connected to the theater.
This book was fascinating in how deeply it delved not just on John, but on the entire family. I found myself actually liking John as he was described and it was really heartbreaking to me to know what he had done. I had always assumed he assassinated Lincoln because he was pro-slavery given his pro-southern inclinations, however this wasn't the case at all. He was angry about the states rights issue, which is something a lot of people forget to talk about when discussing the Civil War. I know it wasn't brought up much in any of the history classes I took in school, or if it was, it wasn't explained well enough to stick. Regardless, I love that this book taught me something new.
My biggest critique is the author's depiction of Mary Todd. Granted, the book wasn't about her, therefore, you can't expect him to have engaged in copious amounts of research regarding her. However, it seems as though he just took the standard issue line of "she was crazy and drove everyone around her nuts" and ran with it. History, particularly the part written by men and particularly at the time when her asshole eldest son was still alive to have an influence on it (and make no mistake, the guy was a prick of gigantic proportions), has treated her cruelly and unfairly. Stop and consider the amount of tragedy the woman endured. Anyone would lose it for awhile. But she and Lincoln shared a deep love and enduring bond. People forget that. And it bugs the crap otu of me. I just feel that even though this book was not focused on her, anyone who starts out with the intention of touching this part of history owes it to the memory of the people involved to do the best that they can to present an accurate picture of the principal players. I don't think the author quite met this standard.
I do see from other reviews that there are other books that people have suggested that go into further depth on the family. I've added them to my reading list. My review is currently 5 stars because I did enjoy it and other than my personal pet peeve as mentioned above, I felt it was well written and the information was organized and very accessible and readable. I may alter my opinion after reading some of the other books, but if I do will notate it in this review.
This book was fascinating in how deeply it delved not just on John, but on the entire family. I found myself actually liking John as he was described and it was really heartbreaking to me to know what he had done. I had always assumed he assassinated Lincoln because he was pro-slavery given his pro-southern inclinations, however this wasn't the case at all. He was angry about the states rights issue, which is something a lot of people forget to talk about when discussing the Civil War. I know it wasn't brought up much in any of the history classes I took in school, or if it was, it wasn't explained well enough to stick. Regardless, I love that this book taught me something new.
My biggest critique is the author's depiction of Mary Todd. Granted, the book wasn't about her, therefore, you can't expect him to have engaged in copious amounts of research regarding her. However, it seems as though he just took the standard issue line of "she was crazy and drove everyone around her nuts" and ran with it. History, particularly the part written by men and particularly at the time when her asshole eldest son was still alive to have an influence on it (and make no mistake, the guy was a prick of gigantic proportions), has treated her cruelly and unfairly. Stop and consider the amount of tragedy the woman endured. Anyone would lose it for awhile. But she and Lincoln shared a deep love and enduring bond. People forget that. And it bugs the crap otu of me. I just feel that even though this book was not focused on her, anyone who starts out with the intention of touching this part of history owes it to the memory of the people involved to do the best that they can to present an accurate picture of the principal players. I don't think the author quite met this standard.
I do see from other reviews that there are other books that people have suggested that go into further depth on the family. I've added them to my reading list. My review is currently 5 stars because I did enjoy it and other than my personal pet peeve as mentioned above, I felt it was well written and the information was organized and very accessible and readable. I may alter my opinion after reading some of the other books, but if I do will notate it in this review.
August 20, 2024
This book is a dramatic and fascinating historical account of the Booth family, full of the weirdness of history and an energetic style. It’s a wild story. The very dramatic writing feels sometimes like it overdoes things, and some of the details presented seem potentially dubious or impossible to know. The writer is not afraid of embellishing history to tell a great story, but the resulting downside is that the tale doesn’t always feel entirely trustworthy. Some of his accounts of specific people seem maybe a bit overblown. Despite what might be these occasional fabrications and/or embellishments (and only a historian with profound knowledge would know), the book is a fascinating look at a remarkable and strange family whose name would go down in infamy because of the actions of one of its members.
The book also dispels, effectively, any idea that John Wilkes Booth was crazy. Instead he was a man of a kind quite well-known in the contemporary world, a complex human being who became a fanatic in the grip of a powerful obsession.
The book also dispels, effectively, any idea that John Wilkes Booth was crazy. Instead he was a man of a kind quite well-known in the contemporary world, a complex human being who became a fanatic in the grip of a powerful obsession.
April 15, 2018
Obviously this book is going to focus on John as opposed to Edwin. However, I enjoyed the discussion of Edwin’s theatre circles and what happened to the rest of the family in the aftermath of the assassination. There may be better books out there about Edwin and John but this was a nice way to get introduced to the family.
February 16, 2020
A great book for anyone interested in the the history of American theatre.
Very much enjoyed this book. The writing is a little “old-fashioned” but still a fascinating description of the earliest first family of the American theatre and how their often tortured personal lives intertwined with one of the greatest tragedies in American history.
Very much enjoyed this book. The writing is a little “old-fashioned” but still a fascinating description of the earliest first family of the American theatre and how their often tortured personal lives intertwined with one of the greatest tragedies in American history.
December 22, 2017
This book was a delightful surprise. Well written,with sympathy to all characters. And the coincidences!
February 19, 2018
Really found this one fascinating, I had no idea that Booth was so famous before the assassination as I knew very little about him. Full review to come.
May 21, 2019
Interesting book about American History.
February 28, 2021
I enjoyed this book it is the second time that I read it,so sad thro.
March 9, 2014
This was my third Gene Smith. I also read Crimes and Misdemeanors about the impeachment of Andrew Johnson and Shattered Dream about Herbert Hoover's response to the Great Depression. I know very little about the stratification of historians but I would bet that Smith is considered middle-brow because these books are yarns, full of detail and maybe a bit light on drawing conclusions about big historical themes or structural changes in our economy or society.
What they all offer is the paradox that momentous actions or inactions, in the case of Hoover, can be inexplicable at a fundamental level and tied inherently to peculiarities of circumstance. Hoover was a brilliant technocrat who had solved enormous refugee problems following the first world war, but dogmatically stuck to laissez faire economic policies as president. Booth romanticized the South, embodied a hatred of monarchical power, and expected to be treated as a hero, rather than a pariah. Smith brings these American anti-heroes to life, a complete picture from their foibles to their philosophies, tells the lurid stories behind the stories and reminds the reader that the mythical times that made our country what it is were just as full of carnality and stupidity as are modern times, and that the misguided rogues that served as foils for the heroes we still admire, had their reasons, cockamamie though they sometimes were.
I think Crimes and Misdemeanors might be the best of the three I read, but I read it years ago and remember it the least. What I do recall is that Andrew Johnson was drunk for his inauguration speech. Smith has a signature way of pairing the big story with the puny reality and finds that the pathos that governs all people's lives is often connected to circumstances rather than to ideas, even though they might be engaged in acts of great historical moment. Crimes and Misdemeanors begins with an enthralling literal blow by blow of the personal attack on Charles Sumner on the floor of the Senate.
What they all offer is the paradox that momentous actions or inactions, in the case of Hoover, can be inexplicable at a fundamental level and tied inherently to peculiarities of circumstance. Hoover was a brilliant technocrat who had solved enormous refugee problems following the first world war, but dogmatically stuck to laissez faire economic policies as president. Booth romanticized the South, embodied a hatred of monarchical power, and expected to be treated as a hero, rather than a pariah. Smith brings these American anti-heroes to life, a complete picture from their foibles to their philosophies, tells the lurid stories behind the stories and reminds the reader that the mythical times that made our country what it is were just as full of carnality and stupidity as are modern times, and that the misguided rogues that served as foils for the heroes we still admire, had their reasons, cockamamie though they sometimes were.
I think Crimes and Misdemeanors might be the best of the three I read, but I read it years ago and remember it the least. What I do recall is that Andrew Johnson was drunk for his inauguration speech. Smith has a signature way of pairing the big story with the puny reality and finds that the pathos that governs all people's lives is often connected to circumstances rather than to ideas, even though they might be engaged in acts of great historical moment. Crimes and Misdemeanors begins with an enthralling literal blow by blow of the personal attack on Charles Sumner on the floor of the Senate.
February 6, 2017
Whilst there have been a lot of book written about one. particular member of the Booth family, Gene Smith delves much deeper than that, offering a much more complete look at this theatrical family. If you love history and are interested in theatre, this is a book that you won't want to miss out on.
With immaculate research and a way with words, this author brings to life a family that has been often forgotten, save for the act of John Wilkes Booth. It was nice to see the focus shifted from the Lincoln assassination to the talents, misdeeds and experiences of the rest of the family. This is an interesting book and kept me turning pages long into the night when I should have been asleep.
One can certainly see where John got his stage presence and fiery personality from after reading about his father. I enjoyed the way the author laid this book out, letting us as readers have a chance to get to know each of the characters on their own. The book shows us their personalities and lets us have a glimpse into what each of their lives were like rather than just passing over the subjects.
This was a greatly informative and entertaining book, and I recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the Booth family.
This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
With immaculate research and a way with words, this author brings to life a family that has been often forgotten, save for the act of John Wilkes Booth. It was nice to see the focus shifted from the Lincoln assassination to the talents, misdeeds and experiences of the rest of the family. This is an interesting book and kept me turning pages long into the night when I should have been asleep.
One can certainly see where John got his stage presence and fiery personality from after reading about his father. I enjoyed the way the author laid this book out, letting us as readers have a chance to get to know each of the characters on their own. The book shows us their personalities and lets us have a glimpse into what each of their lives were like rather than just passing over the subjects.
This was a greatly informative and entertaining book, and I recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the Booth family.
This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
April 18, 2014
I chose to read this book because of my uncertain family lineage: my original surname is Booth with known ancestors from Maryland, and I share an identical proclivity of respect for all living creatures as exhibited by Junius, the father. Those things caused me to pick up the book, and it was Gene Smith's gift for writing that kept me glued to it. It was a book that kept my mind busy sorting out the generations and relationships and as the story went on, even though I'm well aware of "the big event," I found myself hoping things would happen otherwise. I couldn't put the book down and didn't want it to end. I loved getting to know the other Booth family members and get a much more in-depth look at the person John was leading up to that awful day, and the way those events affected the other family members for decades after.
I'm a new Gene Smith fan, looking forward to reading more of his biographies. He has a wonderful gift for the use of our English language, something I'm enjoying immensely. (Ironically, I just happened to read the part about the assassination on the anniversary of its occurrence and finished the book on Good Friday, the original day of the assassination. Unplanned, and a bit eerie.)
I'm a new Gene Smith fan, looking forward to reading more of his biographies. He has a wonderful gift for the use of our English language, something I'm enjoying immensely. (Ironically, I just happened to read the part about the assassination on the anniversary of its occurrence and finished the book on Good Friday, the original day of the assassination. Unplanned, and a bit eerie.)
February 8, 2017
Basically, the story of the brothers Wilkes-Booth: John (who shot US President Lincoln at Ford Theatre) and his two brothers, Junius and Edwin (both actors).
It was interesting enough and well written, and would be of more value to someone for whom this period in US history is of interest.
As it is not really my area of interest, it held not spell over me.
It was interesting enough and well written, and would be of more value to someone for whom this period in US history is of interest.
As it is not really my area of interest, it held not spell over me.
November 17, 2008
I listened to the audio version of this book, but cannot find any record of that format in here, and enjoyed it immensely. I think my interest was strong because of the theater history classes I have taken. It is a fascinating story.
September 29, 2010
I loved this book about the entire Booth family. I can honestly say that I didn't really know anything about the Booth family. It is very readable. This family is extraordinary and gene Smith paints a very clear picture of the time.
March 3, 2008
Fascinating book about the Wilkes Booth family
Essential reading for any civil war buff
Essential reading for any civil war buff
November 2, 2008
Fascinating to learn about John Wilks Booth, Edward Booth and their father Junious Brutus Booth. What a sad and crazy family. But the book was only so-so.
January 30, 2012
A very different perspective on J.W. Booth and his family. Who knew that he and his brother were the Clint Eastwood and Tom Cruz of their day?
May 1, 2017
I found this book to be interesting and well-written. It does heavily focus on the three famous Booth men and I was hoping for a little bit more about the women in the family. Other than that, I found rather little to criticize. My knowledge of the family isn't enough to comment on historical accuracy or changing views on the subject over the years. The writing was engaging, however. I remained interested in the story throughout.
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