''Booth'' is a novel by

Karen Joy Fowler Karen Joy Fowler is an American author of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction. Her work often centers on the 19th century, nineteenth century, the Woman, lives of women, and social alienation. She is best known as the author of the b ...

, published in 2022. It is a

historical novel Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the setting of particular real historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to oth ...

about the family of

John Wilkes Booth John Wilkes Booth (May 10, 1838April 26, 1865) was an American stage actor who Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, assassinated United States president Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. A member of the p ...

, the assassin of

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

. Fowler wrote "I did not want to write a book about John Wilkes. This is a man who craved attention and has gotten too much of it; I didn't think he deserved mine. And yet there is no way around the fact that I wouldn't be writing about his family if he weren't who he was, if he hadn't done what he did."

Plot summary

The novel starts in 1822 when British actor, Junius Brutus Booth and his partner migrate to the United States. They would have 10 children, 6 of whom survived to adulthood. It is told mostly from the points of view of three of the siblings, Rosalie,

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

and Edwin. There are also short chapters which show important moments in the life and career of Abraham Lincoln. The novel follows the lives of the Booth siblings starting with their childhoods in rural

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

, then still a slave holding state. Three of the sons, Junius, Edwin and John follow their father in becoming actors, and the story particularly follows the career of Edwin who goes on to become one of the most celebrated actors of his day. John's growing radicalisation during the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

is also shown through the eyes of his siblings. The climax is the assassination of president Abraham Lincoln in 1865, by John Wilkes Booth. The novel follows the effect this has on the Booth family rather than the assassination itself.

Reception

''Booth'' was named on the longlist for the 2022 Booker Prize.

References

{{Authority control 2022 American novels G. P. Putnam's Sons books English-language novels Assassination of Abraham Lincoln