summer read for the Lincoln enthusiast

J. Wilkes Booth is infamous for becoming the first assassin of an American President in history. This is the story of the crime and the chase that followed. Swanson weaves a suspense-filled historical account of those days. How surprising it was to read about, for example, the day of the crime, the joy that had filled Washington at the news that the end of the civil war was a foregone conclusion. Lincoln was celebrated by the people, his own spirits lifted, and then comes the famous actor Booth, who is loyal to the cause of the south.

I hadn't realized until seeing this book, that William Seward was also attacked that night and barely survived. He lived many years after, and his leadership secured the purchase of Alaska from Russia. The city of Seward Alaska is named after this interesting man. He was a member of the Lincoln cabinet as Sec. of State. Before Lincoln was elected, Seward was his opponent which is another remarkable story, told very well by Doris Kearns-Goodwin in "Team of Rivals."

We're in the midst of summer, but if you'd like to read about some of the most remarkable moments of American history, this would be a great book for you.