What Are You Reading Now

[L Verge]

I rank three books in order when recommending where new students in the field of the Lincoln assassination should begin to learn more - and this happens frequently with visitors to Surratt House:

First, read Manhunt by James Swanson. Although some on this forum look down their noses at it, it is a crowd pleaser, and about one in ten visitors to Surratt House mention that they read it and got interested in the history.

Second, if you are still interested in the topic, read Blood on the Moon by Ed Steers. More detailed and more scholarly than Manhunt, but also holds the reader's attention and brings in more aspects of the story than just the hunt for the assassin.

Finally, take a deep breath and wade into American Brutus by Michael Kauffman. It is encyclopedic, and the reaction that I hear from visitors is one of two things: Wow, what detail and the notes are great! OR I got so confused with all the details that I gave up. One of my best and most knowledgeable volunteer guides at the museum has yet to finish it. It all depends on how much history you want and how willing you are to stick with the authors' style of writing.

After that, I think you can have a free-for-all in reading other books and comparing different approaches and opinions.