Destiny of the Republic
Book description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The extraordinary account of James Garfield's rise from poverty to the American presidency, and the dramatic history of his assassination and legacy, from the bestselling author of The River of Doubt.
James Abram Garfield was one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president. Born into abject…
Why read it?
3 authors picked Destiny of the Republic as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This book of American history was fascinating on several levels.
First, I didn’t know very much about President Garfield, so I was delighted to learn about his background, what a great man he was, and what a great president he might have been. Second, the insane man who shot him was intriguing in his own right, and it’s amazing how much we have learned about him.
Finally, the fact that Garfield’s death was really the result of medical failures—treatments that hadn’t incorporated the most recent scientific discoveries—was shocking.
Destiny of the Republic brings to life an era in American history full of incredible change in science, politics, and culture following the end of the Civil War.
Candice Millard beautifully draws the various threads of the story of the presidency, assassination, and death of James Garfield together in lucid detail. Millard’s dive into the politics around advancements in medical science with Garfield as its unwitting victim is the centerpiece of this fascinating book.
From Andrew's list on narrative non-fiction that interweave crime and history.
How much do you know about President Garfield, except perhaps the fact that he was assassinated? Neither did I, until I read Candice Millard’s fascinating book, a true-crime story that details how a madman became unhinged and shot Garfield, a good, honorable man who might have gone on to do great things if only his doctors had left him alone. My book is about a lesser-known but equally admirable and patriotic man who came to a cruel and tragic end, and who deserved to have his story told.
From Ken's list on true-crime that reads like Agatha Christie mystery.
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