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

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The inspiration for the Netflix series Death by Lightning – now streaming! • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The extraordinary account of James Garfield’s rise from poverty to the American presidency, and the dramatic history of his assassination and legacy, from the bestselling author of The River of Doubt.

“Crisp, concise and revealing history…. A fresh narrative that plumbs some of the most dramatic days in U.S. presidential history.” —The Washington Post

James Abram Garfield was one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president. Born into abject poverty, he rose to become a wunderkind scholar, a Civil War hero, a renowned congressman, and a reluctant presidential candidate who took on the nation’s corrupt political establishment.

But four months after Garfield’s inauguration in 1881, he was shot in the back by a deranged office-seeker named Charles Guiteau. Garfield survived the attack, but became the object of bitter, behind-the-scenes struggles for power—over his administration, over the nation’s future, and, hauntingly, over his medical care.

Meticulously researched, epic in scope, and pulsating with an intimate human focus and high-velocity narrative drive, The Destiny of the Republic brings alive a forgotten chapter of U.S. history.

Look for Candice Millard’s latest book, River of the Gods.

From the Publisher

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anchor Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2012
Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0767929713
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0767929714
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.15 x 0.86 x 7.98 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #4,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #4 in History of Medicine (Books) #8 in US Presidents #23 in Murder & Mayhem True Accounts
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