Right or Wrong, God Judge Me: The Writings of John Wilkes Booth [Hardcover]

John Wilkes Booth (Author), John Rhodehamel (Editor), Louise Taper (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1997

Superbly edited and annotated, this collection of the writings of John Wilkes Booth constitutes a major new primary source that contributes to scholarship on Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and nineteenth-century theater history. The nearly seventy documents - more than half published here for the first time - include love letters written during the summer of 1864, when Booth was conspiring against Lincoln, explicit statements of Booth's political convictions, and the diary he kept during his futile twelve-day flight after the assassination.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This first work to gather all of the known writings of Booth offers important new information and insights into his activities and his character... The research for the annotations is most impressive, and they add an important dimension to Booth's writings." -- James M. McPherson, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era "'Right or Wrong, God Judge Me' is marvelous reading and makes a new and major contribution to Civil War history--to American history! In his own words and in the notes and introductions of the editors, Booth escapes his popular image as a mad bomber. The book shows us--far more convincingly than his sister's memoirs or the writings of his friends--what Booth really was and what he and so many, many others really thought Lincoln was... [A] very sophisticated piece of work." -- William Hanchett, author of The Lincoln Murder Conspiracies "Rhodehamel and Taper have pulled together the most extensive record of what remains [of Booth's writings], more than doubling what had been published previously... [They] have not only found new letters, but, through a useful introduction and extensive notes, put every document into context." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press; 1st edition (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0252023471
• ISBN-13: 978-0252023477
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( L ) > Lincoln, Abraham
  • #68 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > United States > Civil War

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable insights., February 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Right or Wrong, God Judge Me: The Writings of John Wilkes Booth (Hardcover)

Booth's political opinions were not all that unusual.
Many people in the 1860's, North and South, shared his view that the Confederate cause was just, and that Lincoln was a despot who intended to crown himself King,a la Napoleon. What separated Booth, a famous stage star and "the handsomest man in America", from others, was his conviction that he himself could divert the course of history. It is revealing that he idolized John Brown "the grandest character of the century!" despite his polar opinion on slavery, and does his use of the word "character" in this connection tell us something about Booth? Was he an overwrought egoist determined to play Brutus in life, or a courageous, if misguided, Southern patriot?
There is room for both interpretations (and more) in this carefully annotated and fascinating collection of the extant Booth writings, many of which are published here for the first time. (Most were destroyed in panic and shame following the assassination). The debate about Booth's mental status, character, and intentions can now continue on a more solid footing, thanks to the editors of this valuable work.

(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sympathy for booth's emotional struggles, May 22, 2000

By 

Ame Hunter - See all my reviews

This review is from: Right or Wrong, God Judge Me: The Writings of John Wilkes Booth (Hardcover)

I honestly felt deeply sad for John Wilkes Booth after digesting his words in my mind and coming to the conclusion he was not the beast portrayed in typical history books and verbal history but a man with an amazing thought process and love for his family as seen in his letters,especially his relationship with his mother and sister Asia which I found extremely endearing.

He had much to offer,and it is a shame he did not see what his future may have had in store for him other than the narrow path and ill fate he took.

Beautiful,talented and brillant.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "open force is holier than hidden craft"---JWB, August 4, 2005

By 

mwreview "mwreview" (Northern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Right or Wrong, God Judge Me: The Writings of John Wilkes Booth (Hardcover)

"Right or Wrong, God Judge Me" is a fascinating collection of all the known existing hand-written documents left by John Wilkes Booth. Most of his written materials were destroyed by family, friends and acquaintances in the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination for fear that the holders of the documents may be accused of being an accessory to the crime. What is printed here (many for the first time) are those documents left by JWB that managed to be preserved. These materials include letters written to a friend William O'Laughlin (brother of Michael O'Laughlin who was a co-conspirator) when JWB was a teen-ager, poems written in autograph books of fellow actors, information on his theatre work and financial investments written to his business partners, love letters to Isabel Sumner, and a lengthy pro-Union speech intentionally preserved by brother Edwin written only a few days after South Carolina seceded from the Union. In the latter as well as the famous "To Whom It May Concern" letter also published here, JWB explains his sympathy with the southern cause, the influence of watching abolitionist John Brown hanged, his feelings towards his country, his personal views on slavery, etc. Two pocket diary entries written while he was a fugitive (surprised at the negative reaction his deed received from the public) as well as a sarcastic letter written to a doctor who would not help him as he was fleeing authorities on an injured leg are the last entries in this book.

What makes this book even more fascinating than reading the words of one of the most notorious men in American history, is the incredible research completed by the editors. Every document, including letters of only a couple sentences, are followed by many footnotes detailing the people, places, and events in JWB's life pertaining to the document. This information includes theatre reviews, most in praise of Booth's performances, especially his sword fighting. The dangers and hardships actors endured traveling to shows in those days is explained. The editors also include historical background and context to the documents. Even the letters on his theatre schedule and investments were interesting because of the additional information the editors provided. I felt as though I was following JWB's life through these letters and footnotes. I've come away from this book with a much better understanding of what motivated JWB to commit his crime. Anyone interested in Booth and the Lincoln assassination needs to read this book. The 171-page book includes a section of illustrations, including photos of three of the handwritten documents.