Chris' Fish Place

If you are planning a trip to Washington DC, you should include on your list of things to see and do Ford’s Theatre and the Peterson House.  Both places have been recently remodeled and updated.  The stack of Lincoln related books are impressive.  Undoubtedly this one is there.

                I’m not sure how close the movie follows this book, but this book makes an excellent case for Mary Surratt’s guilt as well as looking at the reasons for her actions as well as the trial and press treatment.

                Perhaps the weakest part of the book is the discussion of the press treatment of Mary Surratt.  While Larson does prove the claim of sexist treatment of Surratt by the press, it is barely done.  A closer study of such reporting would have presented the claim in stronger terms.  This is particularly in true when Larson glances at the shift of public opinion after the hanging.

                The question, if question one considers it to be, of Surratt’s guilt is far more strongly presented.  Larson spends time on the conflicting loyalties of the area around Washington DC as well as a discussion of the courier/agent network for the Confederacy that reached up to Montreal.  This functions amazing well in terms of building a case against Surratt.  However, Larson is also able to calmly dissect Surratt’s defense team, showcasing mistakes (really stupid ones) that they made.  Furthermore, when she cannot answer questions –how close was the relationship between Booth and Surratt, why did the lead defense attorney stop attending the trial – she doesn’t speculate or guess.  She presents evidence and lets the reader, in many cases, wonder and consider the possibilities.