The Last Lincoln Conspirator:
Over the years we have been inundated with works on virtually every aspect of Abraham Lincoln’s life — and his death. This is a softcover release of an excellent study of one aspect of Lincoln’s assassination, the life of the one suspected central co-conspirator, John Harrison Surratt Jr., After a brief introductory chapter, we are taken on a grand odyssey of adventure, escape, capture and trial. There are many today who believe that Surratt, whose mother Mary was hanged for her involvement in the conspiracy, was a principal architect of the Lincoln assassination. This book addresses that controversy. It is well written and amply documented with supporting footnotes and a strong appendix. There are sufficient photographs and illustrations to keep you abreast of the story. Perhaps the most intriguing chapters are the ones dealing with the Vatican’s involvement and the trial. Also interesting are the details of Surratt’s life after his capture and trial. Now some of you may not agree with the author’s conclusions, but you will agree on the depth of the scholarship represented here. We may never know what John Surratt’s role was in its entirety, but this is the most comprehensive effort to date to explore that issue. With the paperback edition now available, the author’s findings should reach a much wider audience — and that is a good thing. Reviewer: Joseph A. Truglio Joseph A. Truglio is president and business agent for a motion picture film technicians local union and a lifelong student of the Civil War. His memberships include the Lincoln Group of New York and New Jersey Civil War Heritage Assn. He is president of the Phil Kearny Civil War Round Table in Wayne, N.J.
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Illustrated, photographs, bibliography, appendix, index, 312 pp, 2009, U.S. Naval Institute Press,