• American Brutus

  • John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies
  • By: Michael Kauffman
  • Narrated by: Nelson Runger
  • Length: 21 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (102 ratings)

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American Brutus  By  cover art

American Brutus

By: Michael Kauffman
Narrated by: Nelson Runger
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Publisher's summary

In American Brutus, popular historian Michael W. Kauffman delivers a history that reads more like a best-selling novel. This definitive masterwork dispels commonly held myths and reveals the truth about John Wilkes Booth.

Luring Southern sympathizers into a “noble” presidential kidnapping, Booth stunned his puzzled pawns by murdering Lincoln. From Booth’s early life and acting career to his escape and death, this meticulously researched book re-examines it all using a wealth of primary sources.

©2004 Michael W. Kauffman (P)2005 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“Kauffman … offers a beautifully written, exhaustive and well-reasoned reassessment of … Booth and the murder of [Lincoln].” ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about American Brutus

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good content ruined by bad narrator

Would you try another book from Michael Kauffman and/or Nelson Runger?

Michael Kauffman, yes. Nelson Runger, never.

Would you recommend American Brutus to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes but I would recommend the print version.

Would you be willing to try another one of Nelson Runger’s performances?

Never, worst I've ever listened to.

Could you see American Brutus being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Not really

Any additional comments?

The content of this book is well researched and detailed. I enjoyed learning about the goings on of the time and about Booth's motives. I live in the Washington, DC area and many of the places were familiar to me so there was added interest to me personally.

Now for the negatives:

I could not get passed the narrator. I have listened to many audio books over the years and have never heard a worse narrator. I had to ask myself is this guy really a professional reader? Through out the whole reading you could hear constant lip smacking, swallow, and breathing. I always knew when a paragraph would end because Runger would pause for a solid 5+ seconds and lick his chops. It reminded me of when I give my dog peanut butter. After a while I felt ready to barf listening to it.

I would highly recommend the printed version of this book over the audio book.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

informative

I've read dozens of books on Lincoln, the assasination, civil war, and it was interesting to get a detailed look at JWB and the man and his plan behind the assasination

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping account of Booth and his associates

I thought it would take me a long time to finish this audiobook, but there were so many twists and turns to this well-trod story that I kept on listening.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Definitive Lincoln assassination book

This is a fantastic listen, and is the definitive book on Lincoln’s assassination, including the plot, the act, and the aftermath. Mr. Kauffman did exhausting research delving into first hand accounts and evidence in archives to produce this highly detailed recounting of the events. Numerous interesting facts and misconceptions are articulated in this work. It is a fantastic piece of literature, and a great listen!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Story of John Wilkes Booth

Incredible story-full of so many details. Narrator was great. I very much appreciated the follow up to the lives affected by Lincoln’s assassination. Listened to this over a period of three days-was absolutely transfixed!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Thoroughly researched and compellingly told, by the author and by the reader. I learned a lot.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

the narrator nearly ruins the book

greatly enjoyed learning more about the Lincoln assassination but the long pauses from the narrator (in no seemingly logical place) coupled with the sound of him rolling his tongue and clicking his teeth was enough to drive anyone crazy.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

narrator is slow and takes unusual pauses...

The narrator is slow. he takes unusual pauses and There is some background noises... I would suggest reading this book rather than having it read to you

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Killer and his Excuses

I enjoyed this book and narration. It is thorough and insightful. One of interesting things is how different the law was then and how that trial got set rup and went down. Booth's self serving final letter sounds like many killers I've read and studied.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

I struggled with the story

Recommended as the best story regarding Lincoln's assassination and the hunt for Booth. Not sure of the veracity of that but there are far too many inconsistencies in the narrative to prove the claim. Lots of details-mostly inconsequential in nature and that is truly distracting to enjoy or consider for a serious historical chronical. Cautiously recommend to others.

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