THE DAY LINCOLN WAS SHOT

by Jim Harper Bishop ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 9, 1954

With all the concentration on the death of Lincoln and on the controversial aspects of the story of John Wilkes Booth, I don't think anyone has done just this -- an hour by hour closeup of the memorable day itself. An immense amount of research, of weighing the evidence at primary source level, must have gone into the preparation. The result gives one a sense of living the hours through, hours weighted with foreknowledge of what is to happen, but still reflecting the minutely detailed portrait of Washington released from the burden of war, celebrating heedlessly, indifferent to the heavy weight of responsibility for the days to come. Against this period portrait-akin to Margaret Leech's Reveille in Washington in some respects -- the text follows the principals of the national scene, not only Lincoln but Stanton, Seward, Johnson, Grant, Booth and his tiny band of conspirators-and many lesser figures. There is a brief flashback to give the buildup; there are the abortive plots to kidnap Lincoln; there are the steps to the final plan, which was to have eliminated Johnson and Seward as well. It is fascinating material, though one feels in reading that the unbearable sense of the relentless march of fate is implicit in the facts rather than the handling. Strangely enough, there is no attempt to play on the emotions. Book of the Month selection guarantees a dramatic launching of the book.

Pub Date: Feb. 9, 1954

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1954

Categories: NONFICTION