Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
RSS Feed
In February, James L. Swanson published his book Manhunt, which is a narrative of the pursuit and ultimate killing of John Wilkes Booth by Federal forces. The book covers a period of twelve days, and is the most detailed narrative of these events yet written.
This book has lots of problems. First, and foremost, the author states specifically that he takes liberties with sourcing. He adopts the old “I don’t want to bog down the reader with frivolities like notes” trick, which many do when they’re trying to cover up the lack of depth of their research. This book fails to meet my tests for academic standards, which makes it difficult for me to endorse it.
At the same time, it’s a fabulous read. Swanson’s style is easy and fast-moving, and it really reads more like a novel than it does history. The best way to describe it is to call it pop history. From my perspective as a serious researcher, I always have trouble endorsing that sort of a work. At the same time, well-written pop history will probably help to bring new readers to the Civil War, just as the Ken Burns film generated new interest in the war when it debuted.
I think that the thing that bothers me the most about this book is that it was obviously written as a means of boosting interest in the forthcoming film that is going to be made. It’s almost like this book was written to drive movie ticket sales, and not the other way around, as most books that are turned into films usually work. I have already addressed the most interesting aspect of this forthcoming film: how 64 year old Harrison Ford is going to pull of playing 31 year old Lt. Col. Everton Conger, the secret agent who commanded the force sent to hunt down booth.
The way I see it, this book is, at best, a very mixed bag. I can only hope that it won’t generate an whole new generation of poorly researched pop history.
Scridb filterComments
Comments are closed.
Sponsors
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Back to top
Blogs I like 
- Andrew Duppstadt
- Andy Etman
- Blue Gray Daily
- Bob O'Neill
- Bottle Rocket Science
- Brooks Simpson
- Bruce Long
- Charlie Knight
- Civil Warriors
- Corey Meyer
- Craig Swain
- Damien Shiels
- Dave Powell
- David Woodbury
- Dimitri Rotov
- Drew Wagenhoffer
- Emerging Civil War Historians
- Harry Smeltzer
- J. D. Petruzzi
- Jack Dempsey
- Jim Miller
- Jim Rosebrock
- Jim Schmidt
- John Hoptak
- Kevin Levin
- Kraig McNutt
- Lee Hutch
- Mannie Gentile
- Mark Grimsley
- Matt Lively
- Michael Aubrecht
- Michael C. Hardy
- Michael Lynch
- Mike Block
- Mike Noirot
- Mysteries and Conundrums
- Rea Andrew Redd
- Richard J. Bell
- Richard McCormick
- Robert H. Moore, II
- Robert Redd
- Scott Mingus
- Scott Patchan
- Sean Heuvel
- Steve Light
- Susan Wittenberg
- Ted Savas
- TOCWOC
- Tom Clemens
- You Stink! blog
- Civil War Sites
- Central Ohio Civil War Roundtable
- Civil War Trust
- CWDG Online
- Dennis Morris
- J. David Petruzzi
- Ohio Civil War 150
- Ohio in the Civil War
- One Continuous Fight: The Retreat from Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, July 4-14, 1863
- Pennsylvania in the Civil War
- Plenty of Blame to Go Around: Jeb Stuart’s Controversial Ride to Gettysburg
- Randy Drais
- Rush’s Lancers, also known as the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry
- The Books of Eric J. Wittenberg
- Wade Sokolosky
- West Virginia in the Civil War
- Woodbury Historical Tours
- Compilation Blogs
- Other Sites
- Our sponsors
- Publishers of Civil War History
- Popular Pages
- Archives
Your surmise is correct. IIRC, the author mentioned that the movie rights were purchased before the book was even written. I’d never heard of Swanson before and that surprised me. I bet many writers would like to get to know his editor/agent.
Yeah, I know we are supposed to suspend disbelief when it come to age, but I agree that Ford playing Conger is ridiculous…like that guy in his 60s (or at least he looked that old) playing John Bell Hood in the Turner Gettysburg movie.
Thanks for the info, Drew. Just as I suspected.
Boy, I sure would love to sell the rights to one of my books before I went to the bother of writing it…..
Eric
Yeah, try to figure out how they get a starring role out of a very minor character in the book – Conger doesn’t even appear in the book until it is 2/3 over, notable only because he was with Booth in his final hours. The “stars” of this book are Booth and Herold. Conger was a bit player.
If I can pick my female “aides-de-camp”, I would love the role of Judson Kilpatrick in the movie adaptation of your Monroe’s Xroads book. I am much better looking than JK but I am the same age.
Drew,
LOL. For your sake, I’m very glad to hear that you’re better looking than Kil-Cavalry. Then again, that doesn’t take much. 🙂
Eric
Eric:
My approach for an enjoyable book like Manhunt, which runs swiftly but not too deep, is to purchase the audio version and listen to it on my long Atlanta commute. That way I can enjoy the narrative flow without being troubled by the lack of references, etc.
I agree with the Harrison Ford/Conger concerns expressed above–not just the age difference, but unless they are going to change the script a good deal from what actually happens (and Hollywood NEVER does that, right?), then Conger is a minor character at best. The main character, of course, is Booth. And who plays him? Someone said Johnny Depp–hmmm. Too bad C. Thomas Howell is too old now . . . Or how ’bout Joey from “Friends”? [insert smiley face thingie here]
Russ,
Books on Tape is about the best thing for a book that lacks depth, as this does.
Matt LeBlanc is too old. I vote for Orlando Bloom. He’s actually about the right age.
Eric
Eric,
Just wanted to fill in a little for the other posters.
In the book Conger, et al are portrayed as minor characters. Up until the time they set out aboard the John S. Ide on their way to find Booth, no one had heard of any of them, other than Lafayette Baker (who oversaw the operation from the friendly confines of Washington). But in terms of the manhunt itself Conger (more so than Byron Baker-who is Lafayette’s cousin-and to a lesser extent Edward P. Doherty, who had command of the detachment of the 16th New York Cavalry) was a major character. I believe he was put in charge because of several reasons, not the least of which is his familiarity with the Virginia countryside which he got as commander of the First District of Columbia Cavalry as well as the confidence that Lafe Baker had in him. It should be noted that of all the people on the manhunt Conger had the least business being there because he had been shot through the hips twice and almost had his left arm cut off with a Confederate saber during the war. I don’t want to make this a book but Conger’s role in the manhunt was so great he was given the bulk of the reward money ($15,000). Swanson’s book is tripe, but given the reception it has garnered, unfortunately we will be hearing of it for years to come.
Best wishes
Rob Wick