Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President

It is not easy for me to write a review of Destiny of the Republic that doesn't cover much of the ground that has already been noted in the 127 reviews previously posted. So let me contribute what little I can and avoid being repetitive. I've been an admirer of Garfield since 2003 when I read Ken Ackerman's DARK HORSE: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James A. Garfield . As you'd guess from my review (http://www.amazon.com/review/RC7CH7SFD5ZIF/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_1), it would take a pretty outstanding volume for me to consider it of equal quality. I feel that Candice Millard has fully succeeded in doing so. Up front, let me note this: I wouldn't have thought it possible to write a book that is in large part a biography of James Garfield without mentioning his pivotal role in the Battle of Chickamauga. But this book is much more than the phenomenal story of Garfield's life. Into the book are woven stories and intersections with Garfield's life of eight (perhaps more) significant individuals. Ms. Millard includes extensive information about the assassin, Charles Guiteau. If you didn't think him insane before now, you'll have no doubt of it after reading just a little about him. Alexander Graham Bell probably receives the next largest amount of coverage regarding his feverish efforts to refine a metal detector (induction balance) to pinpoint the location of the lead bullet lodged inside Garfield. Others who are covered with detail include Garfield's wife, Lucretia; US Senator Roscoe Conkling, who Garfield out-maneuvers and basically forces out of politics; Conkling's arch enemy and Garfield's Secretary of State, James G. Blaine; Garfield's running mate, Vice President, and successor, Chester A. Arthur; Joseph Stanley-Brown, who at just 22 years of age became the private secretary to President Garfield; and lastly, Joseph Lister and his development of antiseptic surgery, the practices of which were ignored and shunned by the treating physicians, led by D. Willard Bliss. The Epilogue concludes with a profound tribute to Lister by the US Ambassador to the Court of St James: " ... it is not a profession, it is not a nation, it is humanity itself which, with uncovered head, salutes you." How does "Destiny" differ from "Dark Horse"? This book is much more focused on telling you about the key players with interesting and not widely known events in their lives. Here are several examples: - You'll learn that Garfield was singing to his sons a song from Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore (I Mixed Those Children Up) the morning that he was shot by Guiteau. - She tells how Bell's efforts to fine-tune his metal detector were cut short when his wife, Mabel, gave birth prematurely and the infant died. - She provides insight into Chester Arthur and how he underwent transformation from a Stalwart, machine politician to a supporter of Civil Service Reform who signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act into law. It is through advice given him by Julia Sand, a young, invalid woman living in New York City with whom he corresponded at great length. Dark Horse has much more emphasis on the political events surrounding the era of Garfield's rise to prominence. It begins with "The Feud" in April 1866 between James Blaine and Roscoe Conkling that lead to their profound hatred of each other. The thread of this feud as it cascades through events for years to come is present throughout the book--fascinating history. There is much detail about the Republican Convention of 1880, including state-by-state tallies of the crucial ballots leading up to Garfield's astonishing nomination. There is also great insight into the tied US Senate in 1881 and how Vice President Arthur navigated through unchartered waters and used his tie-breaking vote as Senate President to give the Republicans control of the upper house. Both books are focused on the same event: the assassination of President Garfield. But the authors approach the event from different perspectives and each have produced superb tales of this tragic event and all the circumstances surrounding it. Along with the majority of the reviewers, I recommend the book as strongly as I can. It is a page-turner, beautifully written with an eye for detail, full appreciation of the setting of the events in our history, and I feel, a balanced view of the forces and personalities at play in the evolving events. Though you know Garfield is doomed, Ms. Millard weaves in key developments that keep your attention and admiration of this superb work.

Destiny of the Republic is a well- written history book about one of the lesser- known events in American history: the assassination of President James Garfield. This book walks you through the history of the event and its outcome, with profiles of key people and important happenings that ultimately shaped the course of America in the late nineteenth century. This book’s strongest points are its attention to detail and its thorough research. The book cites facts of which most readers are completely unaware. For example, how many people know that Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, was once a member of the infamous Oneida Community? How many knew that former president and war hero Ulysses Grant was the favored nominee for president in 1880 and, had he won, would have been America’s first three term president? How many are aware that Garfield attended the Republican convention in 1880 to endorse another candidate and hadn’t even thrown his hat in the ring, yet got nominated on the spot, and ultimately won? These, and other facts like them, are generally lost to history and don’t get discussed in most high school history classes. It's always nice to read a history book that brings to light so many lesser- known facts and this book delivers in that regard. The research is extensive, and you will end the reading knowing more than you ever knew about this important time in American history. The book is more of a page- turner than expected, and I credit that to the engaging writing style of the author. Would Garfield have ranked highly among American presidents had he survived? No one will ever know, but he was certainly popular and well- spoken. He could have won a second term and gone down in the history books as one of our more effective presidents had he not been a victim of this deranged man, not to mention the faulty medical practices his day and time. Destiny of the Republic is an excellent history refresher and an excellent read about America’s twentieth president, his brief tenure in office, and the many colorful characters that helped shape this important post- civil war era. It gets the highest rating from me.

Scritto in un inglese davvero... bello! grande ricchezza di termini. Il gustoso frutto di un certosino lavoro di ricerca. Da leggere!

An absolute page-turner! I've never read a non-fiction book so quickly. Compelling and extremely moving.

ヒーローの魅力溢れる伝記、彼を慕う国民が生き生きと描かれる。それにしても、医学の先端を走る現代アメリカからは想像できないような当時の迷信医療は慄然

Very good book - splendid writing - excellent resesrch - brought history to life

One of the absolute best books I've read. Very detailed and interesting account of the lives of one of America's most interesting and endearing men.