Booth

By: David Robertson

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

A gripping historical novel set amidst the confusion and chaos of the Civil War, Booth is the story of the only conspirator in the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln who was not killed or executed - a young man who falls under the spell of the charismatic and captivating world-famous stage actor, and is gradually sucked into the vortex of Booth's insidious plans.

The novel opens in 1916, the last year of narrator John Surratt's life. Surratt, who has spent the years since Lincoln's death as an obscure shipping clerk, is approached by D.W. Griffith to read from his Civil War diary in Griffith's movie Birth of a Nation. As Surratt reads over his diary for the first time in 50 years, the listener returns to the tumultuous days of 1864, and a chance encounter between Surratt and John Wilkes Booth.

Booth, a larger-than-life personality whose appetites, fame, and sheer force of will bedazzle everyone around him, helps to secure Surratt a position as the assistant to renowned photographer Alexander Gardner.

Over the following weeks, Booth continues to lavish attention on Surratt, slowly drawing him bit by bit into his web of intrigue. By the time Surratt discovers the desperate nature of Booth's true intentions, it is too late, and he finds himself caught up in a firestorm of violence that shatters forever his insulated life and mild ambitions.

Based on the actual historical record of the plot to kill Lincoln, and illustrated with photographs of the conspirators and their execution, the novel is filled with the kind of detail of 19th century architecture, photography, and day-to-day bustle that brings Civil War Washington vividly to life.

A powerful evocation of a dangerous, chaotic, and tragic time, Booth is the compulsively readable story of the most infamous assassination in our history, as well as a riveting portrait of an enigmatic figure who continues to haunt the American imagination.

Booth is a selection of both the Barnes and Noble "Discover Great New Writers" program and Borders' "Discover" program.

©1997 David Robertson (P)1997 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House, Inc.

The best Audible purchase I've made in 2 years

This book is as captivating as any modern day thriller. The story is so compelling - such an exciting mix of truth and fiction - that I listened to the story while I searched the web for the facts of Lincoln's assassination. The author has not left out any details of this important event, and even knowing the outcome, will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Perfect for both the history buff and thriller reader.

Edward Hermann, Tony award-winning actor, provides perfect narration.

The only flaw to this book is the overly-dramatic music which is, thankfully, sporadic, but is distracting.

Good but flawed.

Great narration by Mr Herrmann as always. Learned things in this book that I never knew.
Sound quality was poor at times and the background music in some chapters was a little annoying.
Other than that, very good.
But...not as entertaining as "Manhunt"

Booth is a Disappointment

When I downloaded this, I thought I was downloading a historical account of John Surratt. Instead, what I discovered this to be is a Novel -- a fictional account of John Surratt reminiscing over his friendship with President Lincoln's assassin which wanders far from the actual truth.

My two-star rating is more a low rating of Audible, as they fail to alert the listener that this is a work of fiction rather than a work of historical value. BUYER BEWARE!

The character development is weak, although the storyline, as a Novel, is somewhat intriguing.

Edward Herrmann is, as always, extremely good.