George Alfred Townsend

eBook, ePUB

The Life, Crime, and Capture of John Wilkes Booth (eBook, ePUB)

The Untold Story of America's Most Notorious Assassination

Beschreibung

In "The Life, Crime, and Capture of John Wilkes Booth," George Alfred Townsend presents a compelling narrative that intertwines biographical detail, political commentary, and sensational journalism. Written in the wake of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, the book employs a vivid prose style that captivates the reader while situating Booth within the turbulent context of the Civil War era. Townsend'Äôs meticulous attention to both Booth's personal life and broader historical implications sheds light on the motivations that led to one of American history's most infamous acts of violence, making the text a vital contribution to both literary and historical studies. George Alfred Townsend was an esteemed journalist and war correspondent whose experiences during the Civil War informed his perspective on the events surrounding Lincoln's assassination. His background allowed him to weave together firsthand accounts and prevailing societal sentiments, providing depth to his portrayal of Booth. Townsend's fascination with crime and morality, alongside his keen observational skills, equipped him to analyze the complexities of Booth's character and the implications of his actions on a nation still grappling with division. This book serves as a critical exploration for readers interested in American history, biography, or the intricacies of human motives. Townsend's rigorous analysis and dramatic storytelling render it an engrossing read, inviting historians, students, and curious minds alike to reflect on the shadows of ambition, fame, and infamy that shaped a pivotal moment in U.S. history.

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Autor

George Alfred Townsend (1841 - 1914), was a noted war correspondent during the American Civil War and a later novelist. Townsend wrote under the pen name "Gath", which was derived by adding an "H" to his initials and inspired by the biblical passage II Samuel 1:20, "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askalon." He originally wrote for the Philadelphia Inquirer and in 1861 he moved to the New York Herald. He is considered to have been the youngest correspondent of the war. In 1865, Townsend was Washington correspondent for the New York World, covering the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and its aftermath. His daily reports filed between April 17 - May 17 were published later in 1865 as a book, The Life, Crime and Capture of John Wilkes Booth. Immediately following the war, he married Elizabeth Evans Rhodes of Philadelphia. By 1868, he had become one of the most quotable Washington correspondents, working for the "Chicago Tribune" and, after 1874, for the "New York Graphic." His letters, published several times a week, were several columns long and included lively word-portraits of politicians and opinion. He established and edited, with an Ohio journalist and politician, Donn Piatt, the Capital at Washington, D.C., in 1871, but parted company with Piatt soon after. In 1884 Townsend began building a baronial estate in the Catoctin Mountains called "Gapland," near Burkittsville, Maryland. Gapland was built on the site of the Battle of Crampton's Gap and is in close proximity to the battlefields of South Mountain and Antietam. The estate was composed of several buildings, including Gapland Hall, Gapland Lodge, the Den and Library Building and a mausoleum (notable for its inscription of "Good Night Gath"). In 1896, Townsend built the War Correspondents' Memorial Arch, the first such monument tribute to war journalists. His novels included The Entailed Hat (1884), which fictionalized a true story of a woman named Patty Cannon who kidnapped free blacks and sold them into slavery. Townsend's other works include the short story collection Tales of the Chesapeake (1880) and the novel Katy of Catoctin (1887). The Gapland estate is now Gathland State Park. Several buildings still stand, including Gapland Hall (which is the park headquarters) and the mausoleum. Townsend left Gapland in 1911 and died three years later in New York City. He was buried in Philadelphia. The site was given to the State of Maryland and in 1949 became Gathland State Park.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Good Press
• Seitenzahl: 192
• Erscheinungstermin: 29. November 2019
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 4057664588654
• Artikelnr.: 58436819