William W Joyce

Booth and His Assassins, Lincoln and His Avengers William W Joyce

Booth and His Assassins, Lincoln and His Avengers was written for a mixed audience, ranging from high school students to adults of all ages. It tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's assassination and centers on important events occurring before, during, and following this horrific event. Readers are no doubt aware of the many books written about Lincoln. What does Booth and His Assassins, Lincoln and His Avengers, offer that other books lack? One of the features of this book is that the author addresses numerous unanswered questions, many of which appear at the end of each chapter. While definitive answers aren't always offered, readers are encouraged to weigh the evidence and reach their own conclusions. Another feature of this book is the author's strong connection to a significant figure in the story, James Johnson Gifford, whose role has been largely ignored by other authors. The designer and builder of Ford's Theatre (the site of the assassination) and a close friend of theater owner John T. Ford, Gifford knew every nook and cranny in the building. In his position as head stage carpenter, he supervised the backstage crew and quickly learned the daily routines and habits of its members. That Gifford was among the very few witnesses invited by both the prosecution and defense to testify at the assassination trial attests to the respect he commanded. Booth and His Assassins, Lincoln and His Avengers retells this fascinating, though tragic, chapter of American history.