Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Carol Ann Strahl:
The death of Abraham Lincoln remains one of the seminal events in our national psyche.
“My Thoughts Be Bloody” is a quote from Hamlet, one of the most popular roles acted by both
Edwin and John Wilkes Booth (Lincoln’s assassin). This is a story of the Booth family with all the dynamics of love, betrayal, anger and jealousy. Its focus is on Edwin Booth, whose talent and entrepreneurship has been overshadowed in history by the dastardly deed of his younger brother.
So many interesting facts emerge. Edwin was always considered a superior actor and most of what
drew audiences to see John Wilkes was his physical beauty. Their father Junius was also a famous thespian. It was natural that his sons follow in his footsteps. Edwin was seen as a plodder & John Wilkes was his parent’s favorite. The same architect that designed their family home also designed Ford’s Theatre (the scene later of the assassination). Edwin suffered from alcoholism and depression. By 1860, he was the most popular tragedian in America. His income approached a half million dollars in today’s currency–he was a real “matinee idol” of his day.
There was animosity between the brothers. Lincoln had attended John’s performances at Ford’s Theatre
in 1863 and was not impressed with the performance. For over 150 years there have been many myths about the assassination. In this volume the author presents the reader with so many interesting materials to digest. She weaves a tapestry of historical context as well as interpersonal relationships in an engaging prose.
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