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Thomas Kearney · 07-21-2017, 04:38 PM

(07-20-2017 07:27 PM)Gene C Wrote: The Death Of Lincoln a Picture History of the Assassination by Leroy Hayman

Published by Scholastic Books, copyright 1968 and reissued in 1990. Over 50 photo's and drawings, book has about 115 pages. It is a good introduction to the Lincoln Assassination, suited for ages over 10 - adult.

It's not perfect - on page 30, Stanton refuses Lincoln's request for Thomas Eckert to accompany the President to the theater.
"In fact, Stanton strongly advised that Mr. Lincoln himself not go to the theatre that night. At last, however, Stanton assigned a War Department attache, Major Henry Reed Rathbone to the task.
(I don't recall reading that before)

Regarding Booth's skill as an actor, page 38 -
"Vowing, 'I must have fame!' his ambition soared beyond his ability. He always confused acting with athletics, substituting leaps and gestures for a real interpretation of the role. Always he was long on action, short on thinking. Yet, in his brief career on the stage he gathered a considerable following."
(I can accept that)

Then there is this statement also on page 38
"At first, Booth was loyal to the Union cause. In December 1859, sixteen months before the war began, Booth was serving with a militia movement, the Richmond Grays. He was one of the guard officiating at the hanging of abolitionist John Brown at Charles Town Virginia."

And this comment about Booth's entry in his diary, page 94 -
"For Booth was absolutely convinced that he was right in slaying Mr. Lincoln. He was certain sure he had acted in the South's best interest - whether Southerners knew it or not. And he pitied himself for the South's ingratitude."

I thought he summed up Booth's actions quite well with this statement on page 101 -
"In a sense Booth died as he had lived. His life had been in the make-believe life of the theatre. His crime was agonizingly real, but he planned for it as an actor would in preparing a role for the stage. And his dying words were pure melodrama, as though he were acting out a deathbed scene in some second-rate play."
(Ouch)

I was able to get a nice used paperback copy at a new & used bookstore for $2.
You can find a new one for $4 plus, shipping.
A good book for the price.

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Lincoln-Pic...roy+hayman

I remember reading this. We had it on the bookshelf in 4th Grade. I wish I was in 4th Grade forever.