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)

Blending of historical characters

Where does Destiny of the Republic rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very good! Not aware of the effect of this incredibly short presidency on the history of the country.

Outstanding!

This books was nearly impossible to stop listening to, and I finished it in just a couple of days. For fans of "The Devil in the White City", this book is written in the same style. James Garfield is a president I knew very little about, and the author did a wonderful job of introducing him. The author, who also wrote "The River of Doubt" has a gift for bringing historical figures back to life, and I can't wait to read her third book (and any others that come afterwords).

Fantastic Story

This is a great book and a great telling of a little know part of US history.

Surprising.

What did you like best about this story?

This was a very surprising story, as I didn't know the details of the assassin and of what the "doctors" did to hasten Garfield's death.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I tried.

Outstanding!

This is a truly wonderful book and the reader does it full justice. Anyone who appreciates history, politics and the evolution of medical technology will find it throughly enjoyable.

Historical, informative,

Where does Destiny of the Republic rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A very good look at our country in the 1880's.
Well written, well researched about a pivotal time in our history, the transition from post Civil war to the dawn of the gilded age. A very personal look at politics and human nature.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end was very moving.

Any additional comments?

The reader was good

Extraordinary

One of the best biographies I’ve ever read. Ms. Millard is a fine researcher and writer, but perhaps more importantly she chose a largely unknown subject. The story of President James Garfield was a delightful surprise!

Full of facts but as fun as fiction

Wow the beginning of this week Buck was slow and I almost gave up. It picks up after about an hour and then you don’t want to stop listening. I can’t believe how much I learned while being greatly entertained.

Must listen

Absolutely fantastic audiobook. I was hooked by Paul Michael's narrating right away. Well worth it.

My first 5-star rating

I never imagined I could enjoy a nonfiction book so thoroughly. It opened my eyes to a whole new genre-boy have I been missing out! I can’t wait to listen to my next Candace Millard. The narrator was also spot-on. I can’t think of a single thing I would have changed.