Released: 17th March 2022
Genre: Historical, Drama, Fiction
Number of Pages: 464
John Wilkes Booth is one of the most infamous individuals in human history; his assassination of a venerable US President continues to resonate over a century later, having profoundly changed the course of America. Many are familiar with the man, but not his family. Karen Joy Fowler chronicles this side of history in “Booth”, a blend of historical and fictional elements.
Between 1822 and 1865, the Booths go through both fortune and downturn, joy and suffering, all building up to an event that stunned the world. Anyone familiar with American history knows how it ends, so the author chooses to push John Wilkes to the background, dedicating chapters to each of his siblings. Edwin pursues a career in theatre, Asia marries and bears children and June attempts multiple ventures to find his fortune. The setting is very well presented as the book pulls us into the 1800s with many authentic elements. Karen Joy Fowler has pieced the story together through historical accounts, old letters and local communities, filling in the gaps with her own predictions.
The results vary between characters. Edwin Booth was a well known and highly respected actor at the time, so plenty of information was available to integrate him into the narrative. On the other hand, Rosalie is mostly fictional as very few items from her life were preserved. This drama is interspersed with Abraham Lincoln’s own journey, going from law representative to President of the United States. It’s a good way of anchoring the time period at various points, but the way the book is written may be too plodding for some. The author uses a very long-winded third-person form, pouring over the details of every event. As a result, the narrative proceeds very slowly throughout.
Recommended?
MAYBE: In terms of research and detail, Booth is a convincing family portrait. Through several decades you get to know this family, understand their struggles and witness the build-up to the fateful day of April 14th, 1865. When it comes to writing and pace, the book is very drawn-out and wordy, something not every reader will be able to stomach. This one is best suited to regular followers of historical drama.
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