Booth Brothers: Drama, Fame, and the Death of President Lincoln

Description

Today everyone knows the name of John Wilkes Booth, the notorious zealot who assassinated Abraham Lincoln. But in his lifetime, the killer was an actor who was well-known among fans of the theater, well-known but less famous and less admired than his brother Edwin. In the 1860s, Edwin Booth ranked among the greatest and most-respected stars of the stage. He lived in New York and sympathized with the Union cause, while his younger brother stomped the streets of Washington, D.C., and raged as the Civil War turned in favor of the North. John fantasized about kidnapping the president, but after the defeat of the Confederacy, he sought deadly vengeance. The night Lincoln attended a performance at Ford's Theatre, Edwin was far away, knowing nothing of the plot unfolding in the nation's capital. Ages 9 to 12 AUTHOR: Rebecca Langston-George is a middle school language arts teacher who also trains teachers in writing instruction. Her articles, poetry and puzzles have appeared in many children's magazines. When she's not at the keyboard Rebecca volunteers for the local chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She is also a past president of the Kern Reading Association. The granddaughter of a fabulous flapper, Rebecca lives in Bakersfield, California. SELLING POINTS: Compelling true story with historical photos New perspective on one of history's greatest crimes

A fact-filled profile of Edwin and John Wilkes Booth.-- "Kirkus Reviews" This goes beyond the usual exciting and tragic story of Lincoln's assassination to explain how two brothers, both well-known actors, could diverge so radically, one being a close friend of abolitionists and supporter of the Northern cause and the other to plot numerous dramatic attempts on Lincoln's life and finally commit the crime for which the Booth name became known. The moment-by-moment account of the assassination plan is broken up by chapters explaining the larger context of the war and considering various perspectives of John Wilkes Booth's actions. This is a good starting point for students to consider how their own family is affected by political disagreements and how they would face making difficult choices.-- "School Library Journal, Looking at U.S. History Through a Different Lens "