Thomas F. (hardtack) -
I am only 100 some pages into this 400 page book and it is already apparent the author has an agenda: Jefferson Davis was a really nice guy and Mary Lincoln was evil.
Just as an example, as Davis flees, first by train and then by horseback, the author goes into details on all the long, "tiring" trips Davis made during his life, beginning with one made as a child. For some reason, Davis is a hero for continuing the struggle of the Confederacy at a time when even Robert E. Lee and his troops knew that it was foolishness to continue the bloodletting for no purpose!
Then he describes Mary Lincoln remaining in a parlor apart from the room where Abraham Lincoln is dying and states she is "self-absorbed" in her grief, making a point that she did not send for her youngest son Tad to see his father before the latter's death. But on the next few pages he describes Mary coming often into the bedroom where the president lies dying. She continues her weeping and calling for him to say one last word to her and, at least twice, stating she wished her youngest son could be by his father's death bed.
Here is a woman who just saw her husband shot before her eyes, has portions of his blood and brains on her dress, and yet, according to the author, is "self-absorbed" in her grief. And the author criticizes her for not sending for her son, when any of the men present should have realized the boy should be sent for when she states Tad should be there. For God's sake, the woman was in deep shock! Whereas Jefferson Davis was only in denial!
I could change my opinion as I read more, but this book is definitely served up as "light history" for the New York Times readership. Serious readers of Civil War history might want to skip this book, as there are too many really good books on this period to read without wasting their time on this one.
Finally, I finished the book, and I'm glad of it as it just got worse. I learned more about the Lincoln and Davis funerals than I wanted to. I also learned Davis was a truly great man and Mary Lincoln was worse than all three witches from "Macbeth" put together. I also noticed the author cited no references for almost all of his negative comments concerning Mrs. Lincoln.
Just as an example, as Davis flees, first by train and then by horseback, the author goes into details on all the long, "tiring" trips Davis made during his life, beginning with one made as a child. For some reason, Davis is a hero for continuing the struggle of the Confederacy at a time when even Robert E. Lee and his troops knew that it was foolishness to continue the bloodletting for no purpose!
Then he describes Mary Lincoln remaining in a parlor apart from the room where Abraham Lincoln is dying and states she is "self-absorbed" in her grief, making a point that she did not send for her youngest son Tad to see his father before the latter's death. But on the next few pages he describes Mary coming often into the bedroom where the president lies dying. She continues her weeping and calling for him to say one last word to her and, at least twice, stating she wished her youngest son could be by his father's death bed.
Here is a woman who just saw her husband shot before her eyes, has portions of his blood and brains on her dress, and yet, according to the author, is "self-absorbed" in her grief. And the author criticizes her for not sending for her son, when any of the men present should have realized the boy should be sent for when she states Tad should be there. For God's sake, the woman was in deep shock! Whereas Jefferson Davis was only in denial!
I could change my opinion as I read more, but this book is definitely served up as "light history" for the New York Times readership. Serious readers of Civil War history might want to skip this book, as there are too many really good books on this period to read without wasting their time on this one.
Finally, I finished the book, and I'm glad of it as it just got worse. I learned more about the Lincoln and Davis funerals than I wanted to. I also learned Davis was a truly great man and Mary Lincoln was worse than all three witches from "Macbeth" put together. I also noticed the author cited no references for almost all of his negative comments concerning Mrs. Lincoln.
John O. (buzzby) -
Well, almost the opposite of a war story, it goes back and forth between Lincoln's funeral train and Davis's escape through the Carolinas and Georgia. The Davis part was fascinating.
Catherine L. reviewed Bloody Crimes: The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln's Corpse on + 65 more book reviews
Absolutley facinating! I would suggest reading Killing Lincoln first as this story takes place immediately after the actual assasination. As much as I thought I knew about this era, it only proved that I had only scratched the surface.
