James L. Swanson

Author profile

About this author

James Swanson is the Edgar Award-winning author of the New York Times bestseller Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. Swanson has degrees in history from the University of Chicago, where he was a student of John Hope Franklin, and in law from the University of California, Los Angeles.

He has held a number of government and think-tank posts in Washington, D.C., including at the United States Department of Justice. Swanson serves on the advisory council of the Ford's Theatre Society. Born on Lincoln's birthday, he has studied and collected books, documents, photographs, art, and artifacts from Abraham Lincoln's life—and death—since he was ten years old.

combine editions
Books by James L. Swanson

Average rating: 4.03 · 9,569 ratings · 1,863 reviews · 11 distinct works

	Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer 4.10 avg rating — 7,304 ratings — published 2006 — 20 editions	My rating:
	Chasing Lincoln's Killer 3.81 avg rating — 1,318 ratings — published 2009 — 5 editions	My rating:
	Bloody Crimes: The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln's Corpse 3.82 avg rating — 680 ratings — published 2010 — 11 editions	My rating:
	Bloody Times: The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Manhunt for Jefferson Davis 3.62 avg rating — 122 ratings — published 2010 — 4 editions	My rating:
	Lincoln's Assassins: Their Trial and Execution by James L. Swanson, Daniel R. Weinberg, Daniel Weinberg 4.06 avg rating — 63 ratings — published 2001 — 3 editions	My rating:
$Chasing Lincoln\’s Killer a...$	Chasing Lincoln\’s Killer and Bloody Times: The Funeral for Abraham Lincoln and the Manhunt for Jefferson Davis (2 Book Set) 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2011	My rating:
	Manhunt Display 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	My rating:
	First Amendment Law Handbook, 1991 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1990 — 5 editions	My rating:
	Cato Supreme Court Review, 2002-2003 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2003 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Stuff That Dreams Are Made of 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2001 — 2 editions	My rating:

More books by James L. Swanson…

Upcoming Events

No scheduled events. Add an event.

Polls

What first pick for a Newbery Honor?

(I tried to include all the books we have read, along with the books mentioned on our "the others good and up" thread, and a few on the Newbery 2010 list on goodreads. If, however, I have not included a book you want to vote for just send me a message or write a comment. I will add it to the list.)

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

8 votes 27.6%

All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg

4 votes 13.8%

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

4 votes 13.8%

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

3 votes 10.3%

Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko

2 votes 6.9%

Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

1 vote 3.4%

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis by Barbara O'Connor

1 vote 3.4%

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

1 vote 3.4%

Crossing Stones by Helen Frost

1 vote 3.4%

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

1 vote 3.4%

Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me by Nan Marino

1 vote 3.4%

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

1 vote 3.4%

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

1 vote 3.4%

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

0 votes 0.0%

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine

0 votes 0.0%

Marcelo In The Real World by Francisco X. Stork

0 votes 0.0%

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

0 votes 0.0%

The Nine Pound Hammer by John Claude Bemis

0 votes 0.0%

Wild Things by Clay Carmichael

0 votes 0.0%

Slob by Ellen Potter

0 votes 0.0%

Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede

0 votes 0.0%

Forest Born by Shannon Hale

0 votes 0.0%

Charles and Emma The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

0 votes 0.0%

Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

0 votes 0.0%

The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

0 votes 0.0%

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane

0 votes 0.0%

Here's How I See It--Here's How It Is by Heather Henson

0 votes 0.0%

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

0 votes 0.0%

The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech

0 votes 0.0%

The Book of the Maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse

0 votes 0.0%

29 total votes

1 comment

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Next Best Boo...: Joy's Personal Reading Goals	15	133	Jun 04, 2009 08:57am
The Next Best Boo...: OFFICIAL SPRING CHALLENGE - 2009	6462	7919	Jun 14, 2009 02:57pm

Is this you? Let us know. If not, help out and invite James to Goodreads.

Add New
Videos

James's Fans (34)

James L. Swanson

Author profile

combine editions
Books by James L. Swanson

Upcoming Events

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Add NewVideos

James's Fans (34)

James L. Swanson

Author profile

combine editionsBooks by James L. Swanson

Upcoming Events

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Add New
Videos

combine editions
Books by James L. Swanson