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

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.

We all know the story of John Wilkes Booth and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. GOOD BROTHER BAD BROTHER takes to a different part of the story. What was it like to be a close relative of John Wilkes Booth? The book concentrates on the amazing life of Edwin Booth. John and Edwin were the sons of a famous stage actor and the two men and another brother also became stage actors. John Wilkes was a favorite because of his extreme good looks but Edwin had the stage presence needed to maintain a career.Here is a tragic story that affected so many people on so many levels. Just being a "Booth" family member was dangerous after the assassination. What was to become of the family?GOOD BROTHER BAD BROTHER gives us insight into Edwin's life and how his world changed forver.Although the book is informative, it seems we could have had more information on Edwin and the Booth Family. The exceptional part of the book is the mountain of historical pictures contained. The pictures are a fascinating step back in time.GOOD BROTHER BAD BROTHER is informative, if somewhat uninspired in prose, and is worth a read for anything fascinated with this amazing period in history.

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!!!!

It's an interesting book. Didn't realize it when I bought it, but it's more along the lines of Jr.High/High School book. In spite of that, it's well written and very informative. I'd recommend this book for Jr/Sr high students. Hope a few teachers will assign this as reading for their classes.

This book is a fascinating history book that can help you understand the political climate of its time and the back stage theatrics of its time. The contrast between two brothers whom were actors but had two very different political views make us revisit a horrible historical event, Lincoln's killing. This book is not about Lincoln but the brothers. Very good book. The pictures are gorgeous. Politics and Theatre are woven together to tell the story "Good Brother, Bad Brother.

Was required reading for my son's 8th grade history class, but I found it fascinating as well. Great writing and a story anyone interested in the politics of the civil war and even current political divisions among families might find fascinating.

This will be the third time that I have read this book and the second copy that I have owned. I gave one away but found I wanted to read it again so was pleased to find this copy.

this was a very interesting read . I learned many things reading this book. I have suggested others should read it.