Customer Reviews

Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth

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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.

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.

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.

An excellent read! Having read most of the books listed in the bibliography, I can say this book weaves all the stories, letters and folklore into a comprehensive, factual account of the Booth brother's lives. It was especially humbling and enlightening to see how John Wilkes Booth's act haunted Edwin for the rest of his life and never left his psyche. Also, how he triumphed over this and left a legacy in both the theater and his family that proved his talents could overide the ghosts that haunted him.

It is hard to believe that there could be a better written, more compelling study of the Booth siblings than in Good Brother, Bad Brother. James Cross Giblin skillfully details the history of the Booth family and chronicles the events that helped shaped the family dynamics. Although it is considered a children's book, I would not hesitate to recommend it to adults. Good Brother, Bad Brother is a family tragedy, but more importantly, a testament to the power of love and kindness. It will haunt you long after you have closed it's pages.

I picked this book up in my local library, preparing to be bored by it's being a Young Adult book, but after reading the first chapter, I was so impressed that I went over to one of the library's computers and ordered it from Amazon. That was in 2005, and I read it at least twice a year. It is G O O D ! VERY good! It is intensly informative without the superfluous adjectives and repetative words that seem to permeate so many adult books, leading to to have formed the opinion LONG ago that authors get paid more the longer a book is.
This book is one of the BEST I have ever read on the lincoln assassination; it is informative and interesting and extremely well written. It would make a great FIRST book on the assassination, or the last. If you'd like a book that gets right to the point, doesn't preach; yet tells the story without unneccessary fluff, this one is it for you! IT'S GREAT!!!!

James Cross Giblin does a great job in writing the beginning and middle, although the chapter names could be improved so they reflect ideas, instead of lines. Giblin describes Junius Brutus Booth, the father of the Booth children, and his drinking problems with ease. He also describes Edwin Booth and his attempts to stop his father from drinking, although sometimes unsuccessfully, fairly well. He does a great job of following Edwin, but John Wilkes Booth was barely even mentioned in the beginning.

John Wilkes Booth was only described as "Edwin's youger brother." I know John Wilkes might be the most well known of the Booth brothers, but it would help to know something about his childhood. Giblin treats the story of "Edwin and John Wilkes Booth" (cover) as the story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes' evil plans. Also, the book is described on the back cover as: ". ...Nor did John, as an actor and bon viant, fit the steryotype of 'bad brother.' Reckless and rambunctious, yes, but not necessarily evil. All of that was forgotten, though, in John's final muderous act-- the act that insured he would only be remembered as the killer of Abraham Lincoln." Then why didn't Giblin ever mention John Wilkes Booth when he wasn't planning anything evil? And why didn't he mention the title until the second to last page?


The title was bound tightly to the last two pages, but the rest of the book is flying out of its binding. The second to last page was described as, "Edwin Booth, especially in his hard drinking years did not always fit the steryotype of a 'good brother.' Nor did John, as a young actor and bon viant, deserve the label 'bad brother.'. ..." (Giblin 221). Now where did that come from (Good brother... Bad brother)? I practically forgot! This attempt at wrapping up the rest of the book failed. Maybe that's because "...the idea came to me one morning in the shower, complete with the title."(Gibson 223). For some reason, I wasn't surprised!


So, although this book was well written, the chapter titles, the ending, and the book title, need to be changed for this to become a great book. However, I would recomend this book to historians, but never mind the title of the book and the ending.

I picked this story because it involved Abe Lincoln and I was interested with the two different sides to the story. This story was like no other I have ever read telling the story of a murderer and an actor. Having 2 different sides to a story allows the read to become more intense because you are getting 2 stories in one. Also it shows both sides of the civil wars, which was very informative and insightful. Interesting me the most was how the book centered on the murder of Abe Lincoln and his brother who was performing in the play Lincoln was sadly killed during. I have always been interested in Abe Lincoln because he was a major factor in the end of slavery. I liked this story a lot because it talked about our most important war.

J. Wilkes Booth, dressed as 'Hamlet,' looked like another Maryland luminary, Edgar Allen Poe whose 'Ligeia' I loved. The actor continued to get into trouble for expressing his views in public, mostly about the federal government. At least, he didn't call it "anarchy" as I did our city one. John admitted to sister that he used the psuednmy of "Dr. Booth" as a dealer in the drug quinine. Like the Wests, he had plenty of money to buy it and knew people who could supply him. He was what you might call a spy and a blockade runner, to get the quinine past the North's embargo.

November 1963 (one hundred years before Kennedy was assassinated), John became one of the first actors to perform at the brand-new Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Edwin played Shakespeare's "Hamlet" at the Winter Garden in New York, where he had a fine home, his first appearamce since his wife's death. Some critics felt it was the best 'hamlet' they had ever seen; others thought that Edwin was overacting.

Both brothers had drinking problems, as had their father before them. John had a romantic involvement with Isabel Sumner, daughter of a Boston merchant. Booth was only 5'7" and slender. His major "object of his affections" was Lucy Hale, daughter of New Hampshire senator John B. Hale. Both actors were dandies in their Shakespearean tights. John often quoted Shakespeare in his conversations.

John W. felt that the abolitionists were traitors to the South and that this country was formed for the white and not for the black man. The plan was that Lincoln would be kidnapped, but no opportunity arose to put this kidnap scheme into action. George Atzerdot, assigned to kidnap Johnson got too drunk and did not follow through.

His sister felt that John wanted "to be loved by the Southern people above all things." He considered John Brown in West Virginia a "hero" by his death in the North. He would have been our "hero" in the South had he lived. John Wilkes Booth was among the onlookers when John Brown (denounced by the Southerners as an archcriminal) was hanged in Harper's Ferry, after his attempt to take over the federal arsenal.

John demanded a nightly guarantee during his last acting tour of $140 plus a share of the proceeds that Fall across the Northeast and used the money to pay for the quinine and other items he supplied to the Southern forces. This was during a time when most workers got one dollar a day. Although Maryland was part of the Union, the southern section of the state was filled with Confederate sympathizers. We had them in Knoxville, too, which was predominantly Union oriented. Two of his boyhood friends, Sam Arnold and Mike O'Langelin had gfought for the South.

There was a $50,000 reward for J. W. Booth (alive) on April 20, 1865. Willie Jett is thought to be the snitch who led the law to the infamous barn. Booth was headed for Richmond where he had friends from his acting days whom he could count on to shelter him until his leg had healed.

Edwin built his own theater after the Windter Garden, where he'd performed numerous times, and called it the Booth Theatre. Opening night he performed in "Romeo and Juliet"; in England, he was "Othello" shere he had an attack of nervous prostration. Before retiring from the acting profession, Edwin made some recordings of Shakespeare's speeches which were housed at the New York Public Library. Larry Frank of the Knox County Public Library, should have Jack Neely memble about Agee (his alter ego) and Taylor on recordings. His many 'friends' at the University sould praise him as a new Caesar. John wasn't a bad brother, merely misguided and perhaps ill with that tumor on his neck. It is thought that he escaped the barn and committed suicide. But that is for another review.