What do you think?
Rate this book
The Darkest Dawn: Lincoln, Booth, and the Great American Tragedy
"While waves of laughter echoed through the theater, James Ferguson kept his eyes focused on Abraham Lincoln. Although the president joined the crowd with a 'hearty laugh, ' his interest seemingly lay more with someone below. With his right elbow resting on the arm of his chair and his chin lying carelessly on his hand, Lincoln parted one of the flags nearby that he might see better.
"As the laughter subsided, Harry Hawk stood on the stage alone with his back to the presidential box. Before he could utter another word, a sharp crack sounded. As the noise echoed throughout the otherwise silent theater, many thought that it was part of the play. But just as quickly, most knew it was not." --from Chapter Twelve
"Among the hundreds of books published about the assassination of our 16th president, this is an exceptional volume.... [It captures] a you-are-there feeling...." --Frank J. Williams, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, founding Chair of The Lincoln Forum, and member of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
It was one of the most tragic events in American history: The famous president, beloved by many, reviled by some, murdered while viewing a play at Ford's Theater in Washington. The frantic search for the perpetrators. The nation in mourning. The solemn funeral train. The conspirators brought to justice. Coming just days after the surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln has become etched in the national consciousness like few other events. The president who had steered the nation through its bloodiest crisis was cut down before the end, just as it appeared that the bloodshed was over. The story has been told many times, but rarely with the immediacy of The Darkest Dawn. Thomas Goodrich brings to his narrative the care of the historian and the flair of the fiction writer. The result is a gripping account, filled with detail and as fresh as today's news.
"As the laughter subsided, Harry Hawk stood on the stage alone with his back to the presidential box. Before he could utter another word, a sharp crack sounded. As the noise echoed throughout the otherwise silent theater, many thought that it was part of the play. But just as quickly, most knew it was not." --from Chapter Twelve
"Among the hundreds of books published about the assassination of our 16th president, this is an exceptional volume.... [It captures] a you-are-there feeling...." --Frank J. Williams, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, founding Chair of The Lincoln Forum, and member of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
It was one of the most tragic events in American history: The famous president, beloved by many, reviled by some, murdered while viewing a play at Ford's Theater in Washington. The frantic search for the perpetrators. The nation in mourning. The solemn funeral train. The conspirators brought to justice. Coming just days after the surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln has become etched in the national consciousness like few other events. The president who had steered the nation through its bloodiest crisis was cut down before the end, just as it appeared that the bloodshed was over. The story has been told many times, but rarely with the immediacy of The Darkest Dawn. Thomas Goodrich brings to his narrative the care of the historian and the flair of the fiction writer. The result is a gripping account, filled with detail and as fresh as today's news.
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 24, 2024
When I first came across this book, my initial thought was “Do we really need yet another book on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln?” Well, probably not. This book, though, was actually a very satisfying read. What differentiates this work from mostly what is already out there is the author’s use of mood and atmosphere; he doesn’t solely focus on the historical events but also the time and the places. I felt like I was actually there and could experience the feelings, the sights, and the (unfortunately) smells of Washington D.C. in 1865. If ever I was commissioned to write a screenplay for a movie of this catastrophic historical event, I think I would use Thomas Goodrich’s book as my main source. This is a book that really makes the reader feel.
As the subtitle suggests, this book does a great job showing the “great American tragedy” that John Wilkes Booth’s bullet set in motion, and many would argue has never recovered. As tragic as the U.S. Civil War was, this book takes place immediately after the surrender at Appomattox. Abraham Lincoln is re-elected for a second term, and the entire union is relieved and ecstatic at the victorious conclusion of the war. Obviously, there are still some on the losing side that can’t (not “won’t”, but “can’t”) accept the outcome, and confederate sympathizer and well-known actor John Wilkes Booth’s gun ends the very short time of jubilation and manages to plunge the nation right back into turmoil.
Yes, the details of the assassination and the aftermath are told to us here, but what makes this book different is how this event sparked panic, fear, and a lot of ridiculous speculation into the minds of the common man in the streets of Everytown U.S.A. Citizens everywhere are mad and unnerved and frivolous witch hunts are conducted everywhere en masse in the midst of frenzied mobs. If you even look suspicious, you could find yourself at the end of the lynch man’s rope. Also, God forbid if you manage to say anything negative about the recently deceased president, or if your neighbors don’t think you’re “mourning enough”. This was a crazy time.
Although the author does give these events their due diligence (and we must remember that much of this turbulence in the streets has been overlooked by historians who mainly cling to ‘facts’) he does tend to overdo it a bit. It seems like Thomas Goodrich is trying to uncover every single memory of every single citizen in every single town about the aftermath concerning every single feeling after the assassination. I feel he could have cut back on many of these instances of recollections he presents and still have told a great tale.
There are many elements of this tragedy that the author focuses a shorter amount of attention to, such as the plot to kill (or kidnap) all of Lincoln’s high level cabinet members including Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of state Frederick Seward. Yes, these events are mentioned, but there’s not a lot of intricate details about the planning and failed execution that one may find in other historical works. The same can be said for the pursuit of Booth as he tries to escape towards Maryland and is eventually shot and killed inside a burning warehouse. We do read about the events, but not as much detail as one may wish. Again, though, the main goal of the author seems to be more about the broken spirit of the country and how the citizens tried to cope.
Speaking of the spirit of the country, we also read quite a bit about the capture, trial, and execution of four of the conspirators who were involved. Although “involved” might not be the best word to use. We read about how three of the four doomed individuals probably only had a very minor role in the events and certainly didn’t deserve death by hanging, but the mood of the country was so dark and the citizens were rapaciously wanting revenge, that lesser heads end up prevailing. There’s a quite a bit here about the actual event, and it’s quite sad, scary, and tragic to read about the events and how people who didn’t deserve to die in such a way were forced to feed the fire of the ignorant mobs.
For novices who know little about the assassinations, or even for readers who are very familiar with the events, this book was a good introduction or supplement to one’s historical education about arguably the darkest time in the country’s history. One has to seriously ponder that the path of the United States might have been much brighter had Lincoln lived and guided the country through the aftermath of such a terrible ordeal.
As the subtitle suggests, this book does a great job showing the “great American tragedy” that John Wilkes Booth’s bullet set in motion, and many would argue has never recovered. As tragic as the U.S. Civil War was, this book takes place immediately after the surrender at Appomattox. Abraham Lincoln is re-elected for a second term, and the entire union is relieved and ecstatic at the victorious conclusion of the war. Obviously, there are still some on the losing side that can’t (not “won’t”, but “can’t”) accept the outcome, and confederate sympathizer and well-known actor John Wilkes Booth’s gun ends the very short time of jubilation and manages to plunge the nation right back into turmoil.
Yes, the details of the assassination and the aftermath are told to us here, but what makes this book different is how this event sparked panic, fear, and a lot of ridiculous speculation into the minds of the common man in the streets of Everytown U.S.A. Citizens everywhere are mad and unnerved and frivolous witch hunts are conducted everywhere en masse in the midst of frenzied mobs. If you even look suspicious, you could find yourself at the end of the lynch man’s rope. Also, God forbid if you manage to say anything negative about the recently deceased president, or if your neighbors don’t think you’re “mourning enough”. This was a crazy time.
Although the author does give these events their due diligence (and we must remember that much of this turbulence in the streets has been overlooked by historians who mainly cling to ‘facts’) he does tend to overdo it a bit. It seems like Thomas Goodrich is trying to uncover every single memory of every single citizen in every single town about the aftermath concerning every single feeling after the assassination. I feel he could have cut back on many of these instances of recollections he presents and still have told a great tale.
There are many elements of this tragedy that the author focuses a shorter amount of attention to, such as the plot to kill (or kidnap) all of Lincoln’s high level cabinet members including Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of state Frederick Seward. Yes, these events are mentioned, but there’s not a lot of intricate details about the planning and failed execution that one may find in other historical works. The same can be said for the pursuit of Booth as he tries to escape towards Maryland and is eventually shot and killed inside a burning warehouse. We do read about the events, but not as much detail as one may wish. Again, though, the main goal of the author seems to be more about the broken spirit of the country and how the citizens tried to cope.
Speaking of the spirit of the country, we also read quite a bit about the capture, trial, and execution of four of the conspirators who were involved. Although “involved” might not be the best word to use. We read about how three of the four doomed individuals probably only had a very minor role in the events and certainly didn’t deserve death by hanging, but the mood of the country was so dark and the citizens were rapaciously wanting revenge, that lesser heads end up prevailing. There’s a quite a bit here about the actual event, and it’s quite sad, scary, and tragic to read about the events and how people who didn’t deserve to die in such a way were forced to feed the fire of the ignorant mobs.
For novices who know little about the assassinations, or even for readers who are very familiar with the events, this book was a good introduction or supplement to one’s historical education about arguably the darkest time in the country’s history. One has to seriously ponder that the path of the United States might have been much brighter had Lincoln lived and guided the country through the aftermath of such a terrible ordeal.
August 3, 2025
The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln is chronicled in Thomas Goodrich's book The Darkest Dawn: Lincoln, Booth, and the Great American Tragedy. The book's intricate and captivating story is praised in reviews; it stands out for fusing the "care of the historian and the flair of the fiction writer.
From the moments inside Ford's Theatre to the ensuing manhunt and national mourning, the book's narrative immediacy allows the reader to be immersed in the events leading up to the assassination. An account as detailed and up-to-date as today's news is given by the writing. It discusses the tragedy, the hunt for the culprits, and the response of the country.
I respect its historical significance, and this is a remarkable book among the Civil War novels I have read.
One of the most tragic incidents in American history, its effects on the country, and the eventual prosecution of the conspirators are all covered in the book. It is important to note that Thomas Goodrich is a writer who has authored other books about the Civil War and related subjects. I found the book one I would recommend due to its detailed and vivid account of the Lincoln assassination.
From the moments inside Ford's Theatre to the ensuing manhunt and national mourning, the book's narrative immediacy allows the reader to be immersed in the events leading up to the assassination. An account as detailed and up-to-date as today's news is given by the writing. It discusses the tragedy, the hunt for the culprits, and the response of the country.
I respect its historical significance, and this is a remarkable book among the Civil War novels I have read.
One of the most tragic incidents in American history, its effects on the country, and the eventual prosecution of the conspirators are all covered in the book. It is important to note that Thomas Goodrich is a writer who has authored other books about the Civil War and related subjects. I found the book one I would recommend due to its detailed and vivid account of the Lincoln assassination.
February 7, 2024
The author nonjudgmentally shows the impact of the presidential assassination on Americans of the time. He goes into great gory medical detail about the bullet wound, followed by a long, detailed, death spiral. Weirder moreso; the cadaver is wheeled around from Philadelphia, to NYC, to Ohio, to Chicago while it is being continuously re-taxidermied as it putrifies.
This book is prodigiously researched, but still 100-some pages too long.
The author throws in everything he can find, much which can be condensed with the skills of abstracting, paraphrasing, etc. He cut and pastes entire newspaper articles/editorials with no effort to excise the bland or tangential info, and making no effort to avoid redundancy.
This book is prodigiously researched, but still 100-some pages too long.
The author throws in everything he can find, much which can be condensed with the skills of abstracting, paraphrasing, etc. He cut and pastes entire newspaper articles/editorials with no effort to excise the bland or tangential info, and making no effort to avoid redundancy.
August 11, 2019
A nightmare relived
I've read a number of books on the Lincoln assassination, but none has done a better job of describing what it must have been like to live through the experience. Mr. Goodrich 's book is both a poignant testament and a vivid portrait of this original American nightmare.
I've read a number of books on the Lincoln assassination, but none has done a better job of describing what it must have been like to live through the experience. Mr. Goodrich 's book is both a poignant testament and a vivid portrait of this original American nightmare.
September 25, 2024
Excellent book! A fantastic, easy read on the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln; the details and accounts mentioned are fascinating. A bit repetitious at times, but overall, top notch. A must read for students of that period of history.
March 13, 2025
Interesting read, but much of the information was what I had read before in previous books. Did contain some new insights, especially about the night President Lincoln was assassinated and the tragic events of that particular night.
June 20, 2013
Bravo, Mr. Goodrich! I have never found a more comprehensive and easy to understand description of the days leading to the Lincoln assassination. His detail was so good, I asked him for, and received, his permission to use his information in that portion of my novel, ALL PARTS TOGETHER, that dealt with the killing of Lincoln.
August 21, 2008
A great read about the assassination of the 16th president, and how the capitol and nation were thrown into chaos. Anyone interested in American history should read this.
June 13, 2015
Not the most captivating telling of Lincoln's assassination, but this book does clarify the plot headed up by Booth and how the other characters were involved.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews