Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President (Large Print)
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, History
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, History
Book Type: Paperback
A fascinating account of the assassination of President James Garfield-- the political corruption that led a deranged office-seeker to attack him, the ignorance and stupidity of the "great" medical minds who actually killed him, and the efforts of Alexander Graham Bell to save him, with one of his lesser known inventions.
I should make it clear that Millard's primary focus is President James Garfield who, as her text describes very convincingly, would probably have been one of our greatest Presidents, if he hadn't fallen victim to the delusions of Charles Guiteau. Its very hard to read about the hopes and plans that Garfield - - a reluctant President, if there ever was one-- had for his Administration. Heartbreaking to read the suffering he endured after Guiteau shot him, as doctors with more interest in their status, and their futures as "saviours" of the President, subjected him to painful, stupid and ultimately murderous treatments.
Millard's account is very readable, keeping things going at a fair old pace as she charts the trajectory of Garfield's date with madness in a Washington DC train station waiting room, splicing in background information about the main players to put everything in context.
Finishing it, I felt like I understood something about an episode in America history that I should have learned about in school. This was my second reading, as a book club choice, and it probably says all you need to know that I was delighted to be given an excuse to read it again....
I should make it clear that Millard's primary focus is President James Garfield who, as her text describes very convincingly, would probably have been one of our greatest Presidents, if he hadn't fallen victim to the delusions of Charles Guiteau. Its very hard to read about the hopes and plans that Garfield - - a reluctant President, if there ever was one-- had for his Administration. Heartbreaking to read the suffering he endured after Guiteau shot him, as doctors with more interest in their status, and their futures as "saviours" of the President, subjected him to painful, stupid and ultimately murderous treatments.
Millard's account is very readable, keeping things going at a fair old pace as she charts the trajectory of Garfield's date with madness in a Washington DC train station waiting room, splicing in background information about the main players to put everything in context.
Finishing it, I felt like I understood something about an episode in America history that I should have learned about in school. This was my second reading, as a book club choice, and it probably says all you need to know that I was delighted to be given an excuse to read it again....
