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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"an oppressed memory, and a wounded name" --- Edwin Booth, August 18, 2005
This review is from: Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth (Hardcover)
A notation in Good Brother, Bad Brother suggests that it is for readers aged 10-14, but I found it to be interesting and informative for even well-read adults and, although the writing style may be more geared towards a younger audience, it includes some nice analysis and even a little intrigue. James Cross Giblin covers Edwin more thoroughly--he lived longer, of course-from his youthful days accompanying his famous father actor Junius Brutus Booth on his theatrical tours to the beginnings of Edwin's stage career, his sometimes heated relationship with younger brother John Wilkes, fears about his future after the assassination and how the assassination continued to affect him throughout his life, his post-assassination career including the Booth Theatre and The Players club, his troubling second marriage, to his death. The chapters on John Wilkes Booth include information and reviews on his brief acting career but, of course, focus on his fanaticism with the southern cause and his conspiracy plans to kidnap (which later escalated to killing) President Lincoln.
Giblin uses many sources (including the fairly recent publication of JWB's writings) to draw a very thorough overview of the lives of the brothers. A comparison of the different acting styles of the brothers are described (pg. 73), the impact John Brown's hanging had on JWB is shown with a nice brief description of the event (pp. 55-7), the efforts on the part of the Booth family (including Edwin) to obtain the remains of JWB for burial is demonstrated through passages of family letters to the government (pp. 166, 173-7), etc. The author also explains the political-military situation at the time to provide background to JWB's infamous act. The fate of the conspirators (including how they suffered in prison) is detailed but does not deviate the book too far from the subject of the brothers. Mary Surratt (often over-covered in other books on the subject) is barely touched on. Little details like why Lincoln was not taken to the hospital are nice touches as many young readers would ask such questions and, adults as well, may be puzzled by it (pg. 128).
Giblin does not overly sanitize his book for his younger audience. Junius Brutus Booth's alcohol problems (and the fact that Edwin had to accompany him to keep him from imbibing too recklessly) are fully explained as are Edwin's own struggles with alcoholism. Junius Brutus' second family in England is revealed (something I don't remember reading about before). Some of JWB's angry writings (including using the n-word) are included and it is revealed he smuggled quinine to the South (pg. 86). Oddly, Giblin does not include any passages from or even mentions an undelivered speech JWB wrote in Philadelphia about his political stands after South Carolina seceded from the Union; a speech Edwin saved from the furnace. This revealing speech is published in its entirety in `Right or Wrong, God Judge Me: The Writings of John Wilkes Booth.' The observations of a witness who helped Edwin destroy JWB's theatrical costumes is included, however. Edwin's bouts with depression are considered and his strained relationship with his mentally-disturbed second wife Mary McVicker and her family are demonstrated. Edwin minced no words in this eye-opening quote from one of his letters: "I'd prosecute the she-devil [Mary's mother] for defamation of character and apply for a divorce from her lunatic daughter" (p. 197). That the former Ford's Theatre collapsed as Edwin's body was being transported for burial is an intriguing side note (p. 221)
As interesting as the text is, the many photographs are amazing. Photos of the brothers in theatrical garb (including one of elder brother Junius, Edwin, and John on stage together for the only time in a rendition of Julius Caesar on page 100), posed photos of John, family photos of Edwin, revealing shots of the conspirators in unusual bar handcuffs, photos of the hangings; it is an excellent illustrative record. I definitely recommend this book to anyone-young or old-interested in the Booths.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very interesting double biography, August 21, 2006
This review is from: Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth (Hardcover)
On the morning of April 15, 1865, one of the United States' premier actors received the word that there had been an attempt on the life of the President, and that the would-be assassin was none other than his beloved younger brother. That actor, who was famous throughout the country for his fine acting and devoted patriotism, was Edwin Booth, and the brother was John Wilkes Booth. In spite of Edwin's fame during his lifetime, his name has quietly faded from the American mind, while the name Booth has become forever associated with treachery and assassination.
This book is a very interesting double biography of the two brothers, though it does focus primarily on Edwin. (Not a big surprise, considering that Edwin had a much longer life.) I must admit that I had never heard of Edwin Booth before, and I was quite interested to read about the family that produced America's most famous assassin. Overall, I found the book to be a very interesting read. The author does an excellent job of portraying the lives of the two brothers in an interesting and informative way.
I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it to anyone interested in a little-known corner of American history.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not much new about John Wilkes, but fascinating story of Edwin..., May 4, 2008
This review is from: Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth (Hardcover)
Good Brother, Bad Brother by James Cross Giblin provides an interesting contrast between the two famous Booth brothers: John Wilkes Booth and Edwin Booth. Most people know that John Wilkes is the assassin of Abraham Lincoln. Just as many are not aware that Edwin Booth was one of the most famous Shakespearian actors in America. Some claim that he was the greatest Shakespearian actor, ever. While I didn't learn much new about John Wilkes, I did find the life of Edwin to be fascinating.
Father Junius Booth came from England and established himself as an actor in America. He settled in Maryland, married Mary Ann Holmes. Together, they produced ten children. Junius had a drinking problem which affected his acting, so Mary Ann sent one of her sons along when her husband was on tour to serve as a chaperone. Eventually, this job fell to young Edwin, allowing him to learn the acting profession. He started taking small roles until he eventually surpassed his father in fame and success. John Wilkes also took to the acting profession, although he never would achieve the success of his older brother.
John Wilkes and Edwin couldn't have been more different. Edwin was understated, humble and a Union man. John Wilkes was over-the-top, spoiled, vain and a strong Confederate sympathizer. After Lincoln's assassination, the Booth family was mortified and Edwin was forced to give up acting for a spell. Giblin spends much time going into the details of the assassination including the planning, the cast of characters, and the aftermath. But what I found most interesting was Edwin's background. Acting and the theatre were very different in the 1800s. Many actors had to run their own theatres, produce their own plays and supply their own costumes. Acting was financially lucrative to only a very few. Edwin was one of the exceptions. During a tour between 1886 and 1887, he made over $200,000 when the average worker made only $9 per week. When Edwin had money, he could be very generous. He established The Players Club at Gramercy Park, which is still in existence today. Few people know that after John Wilkes was killed in the Garrett family barn (which soldiers had set on fire), Edwin reimbursed Mr. Garrett for the barn and its contents.
If you want to learn about John Wilkes Booth, there are much more informative books to be read. But if you wish to learn about Edwin Booth or how the two brothers compared, Good Brother, Bad Brother is a good place to start.
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