The Cotton Deals

[RJNorton]

(01-27-2014 03:20 PM)Gene C Wrote:  I haven't read a lot about Booth, but Nora Titone in "My Thoughts Be Bloody" did perhaps the best job of explaining Booth's behavior.

Another book I would recommend for this is Bill Richter's Sic Semper Tyrannis: Why John Wilkes Booth Shot Abraham Lincoln. I think I gained a greater understanding of Booth's thinking from that book than any other. It's not a long book, but I think it explains things very clearly. Bill notes that in late 1860 Booth wrote, "I am a Northern man. But unlike most Northerners, I have looked upon both sides of this question." We can debate whether Booth was sincere with this statement, but for the sake of argument, let's accept it. From there the author explains how, as the war progressed, Booth became more and more opposed to President Lincoln's actions. The end result was April 14, 1865. I think the book clearly explains how this happened and helps Abraham Lincoln lovers like me understand the line of thought going on in Booth's brain.