It's glossy, it has new and relevant photos - but is it STILL O'Reilly's brand of "history" ?!?!

The new O'Reilly children's book, Lincoln's Last Days, is beautiful to look at....(LOVE the cover) - but is what's inside relevant and "historian friendly?"

That remains to be seen. I've ordered a copy - and will report later.....

I agree about the cover. He got that right! Its colorful and appealing to the eyes.

I confess that while I've been a student of Lincoln for many years, the assassination has never held a great deal of fascination for me, so forgive my ignorance. But i wonder if the cover is correct. Did Booth wear a hat when he shot Lincoln? One would think that with the jump from the box and the frantic escape, it would have fallen off.

(08-21-2012, 02:15 PM)Dan Pearson Wrote: I confess that while I've been a student of Lincoln for many years, the assassination has never held a great deal of fascination for me, so forgive my ignorance. But i wonder if the cover is correct. Did Booth wear a hat when he shot Lincoln? One would think that with the jump from the box and the frantic escape, it would have fallen off.

Good question, Dan - and one we've asked before! We think that he had one packed perhaps in his saddlebag IF he carried those! Too bad for Powell that he didn't think to do the same!

Which got us off on another subject! Time for another new thread!

It seems artists over the years have portrayed him both with a hat and sometimes without one. Would it have been strange for Booth to keep his hat on (providing he brought one)-in the theater?

(08-21-2012, 02:48 PM)LincolnMan Wrote: It seems artists over the years have portrayed him both with a hat and sometimes without one. Would it have have been strange for Booth to keep his hat on (providing he brought one)-in the theater?

No -- as far as I know, etiquette stated that if he was in a "public place" such as a theatre, he could keep his hat on; although that he would remove it in the presence of ladies. If he were escorting ladies to the theatre or sitting with them, he would of course remove his hat upon seating the ladies and then himself. However, a lady would keep her bonnet and gloves on the entire time!

I have also ordered a copy to see if this book is appropriate (i.e. historically accurate enough) to sell at the Surratt Museum's gift shop. Anything that will get a child interested in history...

Unlike the "biggies," we do sell Killing Lincoln. It is not up to us to dictate to adults what they should or should not read (within reason). I also notice that O'Reilly's Killing Kennedy is also available -- another book that was written very quickly.

I have so many good books I want to read I wouldn't waste my time reading any of O'Reilly's books.

I am amazed at the number of visitors to Surratt House who have read Killing Lincoln and the number who buy it from our shop. Our staff and volunteers have been advised on proper ways to point out the book's deficiencies.

The average American today knows very little about Lincoln or the assassination. If we can even get them to read a book, it's a big accomplishment. Once they read it and are spurred to visit sites related to the assassination, I feel that it is then the responsibility of the historians to present factual material that was missed or ignored by the author(s).

Many of us assassination nuts were introduced to the subject years ago by Jim Bishop, who would have been the first to tell people that his book was not designed as the bible of assassination fact. It did serve, however, to spur many people on to read and learn more documentable material.

Laurie: very good point about the Killing Lincoln book.

OK, Gang - here goes....

Went to my local Barnes and Noble after work and yes, they had the book....like I said, glossy looking and quite nice. Beautifully illustrated and if I get it, it will be for THAT reason ONLY!

Many of the SAME errors are in this children's book as in his first book - to wit: Powell was already a murderer; Powell screamed out on the gallows, "Mrs. Surratt is innocent! She doesn't deserve to die with us!"; the "boys" are enthralled with Booth; Seward was going to the theater with Lincoln had not he had a carriage accident; much of the same stuff unfortunately; however it is "packaged" nicely and the photographs are beautiful ala in the style of Twenty Days....

Looks like more "Style before substance"

But it was the pictures in "20 Days" that got me hooked on this subject.

Gene, that's two of us.

(08-23-2012, 05:34 AM)RJNorton Wrote: Gene, that's two of us.

Make that three.....

You can add me as a fourth.