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

The inspiration for the Netflix series Death by Lightning - coming soon! - 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.

Author: Candice Millard
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 06/12/2012
Pages: 432
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 7.90h x 5.10w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780767929714


Review Citation(s):
New York Times Book Review 07/15/2012 pg. 28
Christian Century 12/12/2012 pg. 22

About the Author

Candice Millard, the New York Times-bestselling author of The River of Doubt, is a former editor and contributing writer at National Geographic magazine. She lives in Kansas City with her husband and children.