“This is a good reminder that no one in the world is a reliable source for their own story.”–Karen Fowler, Booth
After some of the mass shootings in the United States and wondering what the families of the shooters were like, Karen Fowler began researching the family of Lincoln assassin, John Wilkes Booth. She did not want to glorify or give Booth much attention but was fascinated by his family. The result is this book in which Booth is a minor character.
Junius Booth was a celebrated Shakespearean actor and the father of Booth and his nine siblings. He was a genius on stage but was also unpredictable and at times bordered on insane. The family lived a low profile, nearly secret life for many years, on a farm thirty miles outside of Baltimore. Over time, the family emerged from its seclusion and became one of the country’s leading theatrical families.
This book is a fascinating look at the Booth family and the events that led to the assassination of a beloved president.
Content Advisory: Violence, racism