Destiny of the Republic
A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
Ratings44
Average rating4.3
James Abram Garfield was one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president. Born into abject poverty, he rose to become a wunderkind scholar, a Civil War hero, a renowned congressman, and a reluctant presidential candidate who took on the nation's corrupt political establishment.
But four months after Garfield's inauguration in 1881, he was shot in the back by a deranged office-seeker named Charles Guiteau. Garfield survived the attack, but become the object of bitter, behind-the-scenes struggles for power—over his administration, over the nation's future, and, hauntingly, over his medical care.
Meticulously researched, epic in scope, and pulsating with an intimate human focus and high-velocity narrative drive, The Destiny of the Republic brings alive a forgotten chapter of U.S. history.
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Very informative book about Garfield and the man who assassinated him, Charles Guiteau. Drags a bit toward the end.
A great pick for my personal tastes - good narrative progression with lots of primary source, highlights a famous figure who you're secretly embarrassed to know nothing about, and it weaves together history and science, with a touch of “truth is stranger than fiction”.
Really excellent book. I read The President and the Assassin earlier this year, about the McKinley assassination, and this book is what I wish that one had been. Millard really makes you feel for James Garfield being thrust into the presidency, but then coming to terms with his position. She really gets into who Charles Guiteau was, also; he seems insane, but not over the top crazy. Dr. Doctor Bliss (seriously, I love that his first name was Doctor) was quite the character who, unfortunately, caused the whole situation to be worse than it should've been. Alexander Graham Bell felt that he'd failed but it was because of Bliss. There's just so much to love about this book. I really recommend it and the accompanying PBS program, Murder of a President, to anyone at all interested in the presidents, assassinations, the 19th century, etc.
eta: This interview with Millard popped up on my facebook last night. Good timing. :)
http://www.signature-reads.com/2016/02/candice-millard-on-james-garfield-and-pbss-murder-of-a-president/
