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Destiny of the Republic
- A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
- Narrated by: Paul Michael
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
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Publisher's summary
James A. Garfield may have been the most extraordinary man ever elected president. Born into abject poverty, he rose to become a wunderkind scholar, a Civil War hero, and a renowned and admired reformist congressman. Nominated for president against his will, he engaged in a fierce battle with the corrupt political establishment. But four months after his inauguration, a deranged office seeker tracked Garfield down and shot him in the back.
But the shot didn’t kill Garfield. The drama of what happened subsequently is a powerful story of a nation in turmoil. The unhinged assassin’s half-delivered strike shattered the fragile national mood of a country so recently fractured by civil war, and left the wounded president as the object of a bitter behind-the-scenes struggle for power—over his administration, over the nation’s future, and, hauntingly, over his medical care. A team of physicians administered shockingly archaic treatments, to disastrous effect. As his condition worsened, Garfield received help: Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, worked around the clock to invent a new device capable of finding the bullet.
Meticulously researched, epic in scope, and pulsating with an intimate human focus and high-velocity narrative drive, The Destiny of the Republic will stand alongside The Devil in the White City and The Professor and the Madman as a classic of narrative history.
From the Hardcover edition.
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In American Brutus, popular historian Michael W. Kauffman delivers a history that reads more like a best-selling novel. This definitive masterwork dispels commonly held myths and reveals the truth about John Wilkes Booth. Luring Southern sympathizers into a “noble” presidential kidnapping, Booth stunned his puzzled pawns by murdering Lincoln. From Booth’s early life and acting career to his escape and death, this meticulously researched book re-examines it all using a wealth of primary sources.
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informative
- By Sue Ogle on 11-27-20
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Dreamers and Deceivers
- True and Untold Stories of the Heroes and Villains Who Made America
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The new nonfiction from number-one best-selling author and popular radio and television host Glenn Beck.
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Astounding History stories gather life
- By Gil on 11-13-14
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Lee
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Robert E. Lee, one of the most famous figures in American history, vanished after his dramatic surrender at Appomattox. In fact, he lived only another five years, during which time he did more than any other American to heal the wounds between North and South during the tempestuous postwar period.
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An incredible leader
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American Scoundrel
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Interesting Good Listen
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Fifty years of service at the White House in various capacities, including bodyguard to Abraham Lincoln, William H. Crook's memoir brings an astonishing array of personal details of life in the executive mansion. His sensitive observations of Lincoln are especially moving.
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Terrible narration
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Lincoln
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A provocative and penetrating investigation into the rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, whose infamous duel left the founding father dead and turned a sitting vice president into a fugitive. In the summer of 1804, two of America's most eminent statesmen squared off, pistols raised, on a bluff along the Hudson River. That two such men would risk not only their lives but the stability of the young country they helped forge is almost beyond comprehension. Yet we know that it happened.
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Provocative
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Eleanor and Hick
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In 1932 Eleanor Roosevelt entered the claustrophobic, duty-bound existence of the first lady with dread. By that time she had put her deep disappointment in her marriage behind her and developed an independent life - now threatened by the public role she would be forced to play. A lifeline came to her in the form of a feisty campaign reporter for the Associated Press: Lorena Hickok. Over the next 30 years, until Eleanor's death, the two women carried on an extraordinary relationship.
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An Icon who was real.
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Daniel Stashower, the two-time Edgar award-winning author of The Beautiful Cigar Girl, uncovers the riveting true story of the "Baltimore Plot", an audacious conspiracy to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on the eve of the Civil War. In February of 1861, just days before he assumed the presidency, Abraham Lincoln faced a "clear and fully-matured" threat of assassination as he traveled by train from Springfield to Washington for his inauguration. Over a period of 13 days the legendary detective Allan Pinkerton worked feverishly to detect and thwart the plot, assisted by a captivating young widow named Kate Warne.
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Good if unbalanced
- By Rodney on 02-10-13
By: Daniel Stashower
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What listeners say about Destiny of the Republic
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Mel
- 02-08-12
Marvelous, Magnificent, Millard
I love to be blown away by a book!! I love that rare ocassion when you randomly pick up a book and hope it will at least hold your interest just until something else comes along, to listen half-heartedly, then--be drawn in thoroughly, completely--to the point where you forget everything around you and become so engrossed in the story that the house could be burning down around you and you wouldn't notice till your toes got hot!
In the case of Destiny of the Republic, it isn't the history of 20th president James Garfield alone that catapults this book into the category of toe-toasting "amazing"...it is the meticulous research and straightforward writing of former National Geographic writer and editor, Candice Millard--a truly great historian/author (and we could probably add detective). A book about Garfield would never have been tops on my Wish List, but I'd read Millard's first book, River of Doubt, (about Theodore Roosevelt's trip on the Amazon) and found it fascinating. Based on that read, I figured I had a winner. Now I have to say, Destiny of the Republic is even better, and I have a new picture of Garfield and wonder what might have been.
The book establishes the dignified character of Garfield, the high esteem the people had for him, his erudition, and his humanity. It goes into detail about the schizo plottings of the crazed assassin, Guiteau (and some fascinating history of the "insanity plea"). But, it focuses largely on the 79 day period while Garfield, Guiteau's led bullet lodged somewhere deep in his back, suffered at the hands of the woefully arrogant Dr. D. Willard Bliss, and the dedicated Alexander Graham Bell's fervent race against time to perfect his "induction balance machine" in hopes of locating the bullet and saving Garfield from Dr. Bliss, and therefore, Garfield's life. The details of the dreadful and ridiculously archaic treatments Garfield suffered through at the hands of the ignorant Bliss, and the account of the autopsy, are painful to read about and shed light on the great progress medicine has made. At his trial for the murder of Garfield, Guiteau nonchalantly admitted to shooting Garfield, but insisted that he did not kill Garfield, rather it was "malpractice killed Garfield."
A slower first half, but you'll be rewarded with a mesmerizing tale, some fascinating medical history and facts, all wonderfully narrated by Paul Michael. *If Candice Millard wrote the history books for school--the students would never miss a day. Fantastic read I highly recommend to history buffs and non-history buffs alike.
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113 people found this helpful
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- Paul
- 02-17-12
fascinating
I found this book to be quite fascinating-- a murdered president and the lunatic who shot him, Alexander Graham Bell and Lister and the beginning of germ theory. The book was so clearly written and narrated that it made listening a pleasure.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Jonathan Wilber
- 04-01-13
Excelent
I love history but sometimes Audio is slow. This was excellent. Looked forward to my commute each day to keep unfolding this story. Great listen.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 01-28-12
Every bit as good as "Killing Lincoln"
A must 'read' if you want to know the whole story of James A Garfield and the entire story surrounding his election, presidency, murder and the many people involved with his life and death. Many little know and interesting facts told in a manner that is quite interesting. If you have any interest in Presidents or an era don't pass this one up.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Like Stuff
- 07-19-13
Historical Accidents
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
If you love "ah-ha" moments or "wow! I never knew that was why" then you will love this book. I found myself so deeply enthralled in this book. It was the ideal companion to my long bike rides. I couldn't wait to share the neat anecdotes that I learned through listening to this story. President Garfield is a man we need to remember.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
The Greatest President We Forgot
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- michael
- 11-18-14
Amazing work of non-fiction
Where does Destiny of the Republic rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
It is among the best audiobooks I have listened too. I can not recommend this audiobook highly enough.
What did you like best about this story?
The entire story is simply engrossing in part because it is not one which most people are more than vaguely aware off.
What about Paul Michael’s performance did you like?
His entire performance is excellent.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Learning about how James Garfield rose from the depths of poverty and obscurity to the White House.
Any additional comments?
This is one of the best audiobooks I have listened too. I would recommend it to anyone, even those who might not ordinarily be interested in Presidential history.
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- Tropics
- 10-29-12
Garfield and 19th century medicine
Excellent story about a person and subject I knew little about. It is tragic that this happened to this good man.
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- Susan Eliason
- 08-20-12
Interesting
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes to friends interested in history
What was one of the most memorable moments of Destiny of the Republic?
The advances in medicine I take for granted.
Which character – as performed by Paul Michael – was your favorite?
Garfield
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I felt sympathy for the suffering Garfield endured.
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- JoeyS
- 06-09-12
Already Re-Listening
Would you consider the audio edition of Destiny of the Republic to be better than the print version?
For my first audio edition adventure I would have to say I am rather impressed. Reading a book of this type would prove nearly impossible.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Destiny of the Republic?
The events that took place immediately after the shooting.
Which character – as performed by Paul Michael – was your favorite?
President Garfield followed by Alexander Bell
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
This book has me feeling amazed about all the suffering that has lead us up to this point.
Any additional comments?
This book was very exciting! Great story telling!
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- JOHN
- 12-13-12
Enlightening
Where does Destiny of the Republic rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Top 5
What other book might you compare Destiny of the Republic to and why?
Team of Rivals
Did the narration match the pace of the story?
Yes, although I found the chages in voice pitch a little irritating.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
no
Any additional comments?
no
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