"They Have Killed Papa Dead!"

"They Have Killed Papa Dead!":
The Road to Ford's Theatre, Abraham Lincoln's Murder, and the Rage for Vengeance
by Anthony Pitch

Product Details
• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Steerforth; illustrated edition edition (December 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586421581

• ISBN-13: 978-1586421588

Review by James Durney

It is almost impossible to find fault with this book. The author has written a readable, detailed history of Lincoln's Assassination. I expect this book to become the standard secondary source on the subject, while raising the bar on assassination histories to an almost impossible height in the process.
We have an excellent overview of the kidnapping plot and the change to murder by Booth. Each of the assassins, conspirators and helpers has a full portrait. The attack on Lincoln and Seward is detailed, as is the escape of each of the attackers. The pursuit, capture, interrogation and confessions of the participants are well reported.
   The indictment, military trial, imprisonment and execution are almost a book within the book. The author covers the questions raised by the military trial, the defense lawyers actions and press coverage in an evenhanded non-judgmental way giving us a full picture of the events.
   All of this detail stays in a story that always is moving and never drags. Somehow, the author manages to work the details into the story without burdening it. These details form a personal interaction with the participants that most histories lack. The account of the assassination and the hours following are very well done. The author captures the uncertainly, fear and anguish Washington feels as the event unfolds. This is powerful writing, showing how different America was and how upsetting things were. Lincoln was the first President murdered which adds to the horror and fear. We tend to overlook this 145 years later but this is an important fact that the details impress on us.
   While this is a different America, some things do not change. Throughout the book are little asides about the scramble for the reward. We are treated to a series of people looking for an advantage or to push their contribution at the expense of others. This is neatly summed up in an epilogue on the distribution of the reward, the winners and losers.
  This can be an uncomfortable read and a sad one. Lincoln left a widow, a grown son, one young son and a grieving nation. The book's title comes from a statement Tad Lincoln made to one of the White House staff.
My only reservation is the first chapter on the Baltimore Plot of 1861, which adds little to the book. This is a weak beginning to an otherwise excellent book.
   The book contains three good sets of photographs and illustrations.
A decent set of maps at the start of the book provides all the orientation you will need. An impressive set of footnotes, over 60 pages, and a good Bibliography. This is the "must read" book on the Lincoln Assassination! This book works as an introduction and a comprehensive history that will appeal to all students of this event.