Killing Lincoln Sparknotes

Killing Lincoln tells of the historical events of March Fourth, 1865, when Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated for his second term as the President of the United States, through July Seventh, the day those who were tied to the conspiracy that killed Lincoln were prosecuted and hung. The time between these dates contained some of the most important moments that paved the way for American history. These included the Union victory of the Civil War over the Confederates, Lincoln’s plan for peace and unity, and John Wilkes Booth’s passion for the Confederacy and hatred for Lincoln - which led to the planning and execution of an assassination so bold that it would forever change the course of history. The novel also details Booth’s escape and the aftermath

Maps are used to show movement of the armies during the final battles of the Civil War, the layout of a city, or the route that someone takes over a course of time. There is one map in the novel on page 241, just after the beginning of the fourth part, that showed the position of Booth and Herold over time after the assassination. On the map, there are descriptions of major events as well. However, at the time that this map is placed in the story, nearly all of the events it described hadn’t happened yet. A reader who had not known all the events of his escape yet would be confused looking at the map, and when a reader finished the novel, they would have to go back to the beginning of the fourth part to look at the map. This is the only map or picture in the novel that could have been improved on. Perhaps O’Reilly could have included several maps throughout the course of his escape in the book, and the completed route at the very end. Besides this one flaw, the use of pictures and maps in the writing are very effective and help the novel

The writing of this novel seems to be in favor of Booth and the Confederate cause. The first piece of evidence that supports this is the Title of the book. Killing Lincoln is the task that Booth is trying to accomplish throughout the book. In this sense, the author is not antagonizing Booth, but making him the protagonist. Yes, the novel does show events from Lincoln’s perspective, but it also shows the perspectives of General Grant, Robert E. Lee, and members of the conspiracy like Powell, Atzerodt, and Herold. The majority of the novel is told from the perspectives of Pro-Confederate men, making John Wilkes Booth the true protagonist of the story. The reader finds themselves sympathizing with Booth as he carries out his plan, or is in a dangerous situation. In the chapters leading up to the assassination, you follow Booth as he prepares for the crime. The author slowly builds suspense as Booth walks up the stairs of Ford’s Theater, carefully enters the box in which Lincoln is located, and pulls out a gun and knife for the murder. O’Reilly cleverly ends the chapter when the