Destiny of the Republic

A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President

By: Candice Millard

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

James A. Garfield may have been the most extraordinary man ever elected president. Born into abject poverty, he rose to become a wunderkind scholar, a Civil War hero, and a renowned and admired reformist congressman. Nominated for president against his will, he engaged in a fierce battle with the corrupt political establishment. But four months after his inauguration, a deranged office seeker tracked Garfield down and shot him in the back.

But the shot didn’t kill Garfield. The drama of what hap­pened subsequently is a powerful story of a nation in tur­moil. The unhinged assassin’s half-delivered strike shattered the fragile national mood of a country so recently fractured by civil war, and left the wounded president as the object of a bitter behind-the-scenes struggle for power—over his administration, over the nation’s future, and, hauntingly, over his medical care. A team of physicians administered shockingly archaic treatments, to disastrous effect. As his con­dition worsened, Garfield received help: Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, worked around the clock to invent a new device capable of finding the bullet.

Meticulously researched, epic in scope, and pulsating with an intimate human focus and high-velocity narrative drive, The Destiny of the Republic will stand alongside The Devil in the White City and The Professor and the Madman as a classic of narrative history.

From the Hardcover edition.

©2011 Candice Millard (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"[Millard demonstrates] the power of expert storytelling to wonderfully animate even the simplest facts....make[s] for compulsive reading. Superb American history." ( Kirkus)

"Splendidly insightful....stands securely at the crossroads of popular and professional history" ( Booklist)

“Sparklingly alive…[Millard] brings to life a moment in the nation’s history when access to the president was easy, politics bitter, and medical knowledge slight. Under Millard’s pen, it’s hard to imagine its being better told.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Fantastic trip through an American tragedy

I found the journey compelling, insightful, and informative. The intertwined story of Garfield, Bell, Guiteau drew me in and held my attention like a child watching a Disney movie. Congratulations Candice, this is a history book for the true history lover. Minutia is the opioid of the student of history and you nailed it. Thank you for the journey.

Fantastic tale with lots of modern day implication

The storylines of James A. Garfield and his seriously troubled assassin, as well as other historical figures, make this a fascinating and heartbreaking listen. While you may know something about the outcome (such as Garfield's death), there is so much here to learn. It's a great story, full of resonance for today. Hard work, determination, grit, invention and personal growth, and personal loss. It also speaks to mental illness, and how challenging it was to address it even in 1881. Medicine, in general, gets a front row seat here, in fact. How the generally-accepted ways of unsanitary conditions prompted Garfield's ultimate demise is eye-opening and devastating. And how this helped paved the way for better practices.

The historical significance of Alexander Graham Bell and his efforts to try to help save Garfield is inspiring, too. That Bell is a supporting character is pretty amazing.

I think Candice Millard has a wonderfully researched history for the reader/listener. She has three books that I know of, and this is the last of them that I've now had a chance to enjoy. (Please write more!) I adore the way she weaves the historical narrative throughout. You needn't necessarily be a fan of Presidential history (like I am) to be whisked away into another time that feels like a completely different universe.

To my ears, Paul Michael is generally very good as the Narrator. When he assumes the various character's voices, however, it's less successful. While his Scottish dialect for Bell is wonderful, too many of his other characters' sound either too similar, or at times, regrettable. When he assumes the roles of ladies, or when he approximates Frederick Douglas - well, it doesn't help convey the characters nor the story. It's distracting, in fact. His villainous Dr. Liss also just sounds cartoony. Still, as narrator, he's particularly helpful and easy to listen to.

I would encourage everyone to give 'Destiny of the Republic' a read or a listen.

Never knew Garfield

I enjoyed the letters shared between Garfield and Lucretia. I wonder what legacy he might have left had it not been for one very narcissistic and mentally ill man.

Wow: A Divided Nation Revisited

Four famous men’s lives intersect in this historical account which occurred during a time when our nation was as divided as it is today. At the end of the Civil War, the tragedy of Garfield ‘s death reunited a nation; one must wonder if history will be repeated.

The narrator is wonderful and perfect for this book.

I will be sharing this title with friends.

Fascinating and very entertaining

This took such an interesting angle on the events surrounding President Garfield's assassination and death. I wasn't sure where she was taking me at the beginning, but it was a fascinating trip.

This is one of my favorite performances by a narrator. I am often irritated by "character" voices, particularly in non-fiction works, but he really enhanced my enjoyment of the book quite a bit

Incredible history

This was both a riveting read and audible. I did not know anything about James Garfield and appreciate the author's presentation of him.

One of the best books on History I have ever read

This is a terrific book that weaves several events and characters into a "perfect storm". Stories of Garfield, Alexander Graham Bell and many others kept me listening like it was a suspense novel. Highly recommended.

Educational, kinda gross and extremely engrossing.

Paul did a great job of narrating. Distinct voices for characters, fluid musicality, and clear diction.

The story was one I had not heard, of President Garfield, the man who shot him, or the men who tried to save him. I would recommend this to anyone, including people who don't like historical stories. It is not dense and very engaging.

The "Who Knew?" of Garfield's Presidency

If you could sum up Destiny of the Republic in three words, what would they be?

Informative, Historical, Captivating

What was one of the most memorable moments of Destiny of the Republic?

It was sort of anti-climatic, but the agony that the convention went through to finally nominate Garfield.

Which scene was your favorite?

The throngs of people lining the street as Garfield was carried from being wounded to the Whitehouse.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was amazed at how much politics has not changed in over 100 years.
The self-importance of the attending doctor causing the ultimate demise of Garfield's condition was disturbing.

Any additional comments?

The parallel between today's political squabbling and those of Garfield's time were uncanny.
Candace Millard writes historical facts with such mastery of description and knowledge.

Ignorance is "Bliss"

While billed as an account of the assassination of President James Garfield and his assassin, I found that the tale of Dr. Willard Bliss to be the most compelling part of the story. Dr. Bliss' total control and role in the care of President Garfield, which appears to have been more fatal to the President than the assassin's bullet.

Equally of interest is how unguarded and protected our Presidents were, both from physical harm, as well as what has become a the "bubble" of advisors and counselors who maintain a potentially dangerous control over the President.

A commendable book, which offers much for both history buffs and presidential observers, but particularly compelling insights into how scientific and medical innovations often struggle to gain acceptance.