Threaded Mode | Linear Mode

LincolnToddFan · (This post was last modified: 07-19-2014 05:42 PM by LincolnToddFan.)

I received this as a gift recently. The full title is "How a Nation Grieves-Press Accounts of the Death of Lincoln, the Hunt for Booth, and America in Mourning". The author is Glen Alan Cheney, and there is a foreword by Congressman Joe Courtney.

It's a compendium of first hand press accounts of the incredible events of April -July 1865 as they happened, beginning with the fall of Richmond and ending with the executions of the Lincoln conspirators on July 7 of that year. You know what's going to happen of course, but there is an awful you-are-there quality to the reporting that recalls what it must have been like for people who can remember the weekend of Nov 22 1963.

I am supposed to be getting dressed for a friend's birthday luau right now and I want to curl at home tonight with this book instead....has anyone read it?

Linda Anderson · 07-19-2014, 05:47 PM

(07-19-2014 05:40 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote: I am supposed to be getting dressed for a friend's birthday luau right now and I want to curl at home tonight with this book instead....has anyone read it?

No. but go to the luau, Toia! The book will be there when you get back.

LincolnToddFan · 07-19-2014, 05:53 PM

LOL!! Thanks Linda, it promises to be a fun evening with lots of friends and delicious food and drinks. My friend is an incredible hostess!

RJNorton · 07-20-2014, 04:26 AM

Hi Toia. Glen Cheney is a forum member and introduced his book here.

BettyO · 07-20-2014, 06:29 AM

Hi, Toia!

Hope you had fun at the luau! I went to one myself a few weeks back and had a ball....

I have this book; It's also sold at Surratt House. It's a wonderful "You are There" read. I adore newspaper accounts.... enjoy!

LincolnToddFan · (This post was last modified: 07-20-2014 09:01 PM by LincolnToddFan.)

(07-20-2014 04:26 AM)RJNorton Wrote: Hi Toia. Glen Cheney is a forum member and introduced his book here.

Wow...I had no idea! I'm very impressed with this book and I am delighted that Mr. Cheney is a member here! Tongue

Thanks for the heads up Roger-

(07-20-2014 06:29 AM)BettyO Wrote: Hi, Toia!

Hope you had fun at the luau! I went to one myself a few weeks back and had a ball....

I have this book; It's also sold at Surratt House. It's a wonderful "You are There" read. I adore newspaper accounts.... enjoy!

Hi Betty!

Thanks, it was great. We were encouraged to dress as "Hawaiian" as possible and were presented with lovely leis to wear upon arrival. There was quite a feast...roasted pork, chicken, rice, noodles, different salads, fresh pineapple and strawberries, pastries, and the most enormous and elaborate pink birthday cake you could imagine. There was an open bar and an area for dancing. The drinks were exotic and very potent..and unfortunately I was a little too hung over to attend Mass today. But I had fun!

This book is fascinating, really gripping. Some rather gruesome details I'd never read before, like how AL's eyes came slightly open immediately after death and how it was necessary to tie his jaw with a handkerchief to keep his mouth closed. I haven't been able to put it down all day!