American Brutus

John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies

By: Michael Kauffman

Narrated by: Nelson Runger

Length: 21 hrs and 58 mins

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)

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.

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!

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.

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!

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

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.

Fascinating account of this character

If you this you would like a very well researched story of one of the most notorious killers in American history, look no further. The details are plentiful and the story well researched and entertaining IMHO. The story was compelling and at no point was I bored with the details as written into the story.

If I did have any complaints it's with the mispronunciation of a few iconic characters and places. This is really unsull as Nelson Runger is one of my personal favorite narrators. The only other complaint I had was with the production. Between chapters they had an awkwardly on pause before the next chapter started. Both minor annoyances over a 22 hr book

Excellent

Terrific exploration of the events and people surrounding the Lincoln assassination, both before and after. Remarkably well researched. I also thought that the narration was quite good.

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.

Excellent

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