The President and the Assassin

I was debating going between 3 and 4 stars for this but ultimately erred low.

While the synopsis does say that it is “the story of the momentous years leading up to that event”, I feel like that doesn't adequately portray just how much of the book isn't about the assassination. There is the opening chapter and the last 40 or so pages, and that's it. The rest is about anarchism, McKinley's and Czolgosz's paths, the Spanish-American war... It's just so much about other things that I feel it should have had a different title or something.

The synopsis also says “The two men seemed to live in eerily parallel Americas”, which I don't even really know what that's supposed to mean. Other than that they both lived in Ohio for periods (McKinley moreso than Czolgosz), I didn't find much parallel about their lives, let alone anything eerily parallel. The only thing I could see is “how these two men, each pursuing what he considered the right and honorable path”, but even that doesn't feel right for what I actually read.

Ultimately this book was fine. I learned more than I ever wanted to about the Spanish-American war, but the information about anarchism was interesting (though mostly focused on Albert Palmer and Emma Goldman). I'd really only recommend it if those are your interests. If you're going into it expecting more about the actual assassination, I'd look for a different book.