Review: Destiny of the Republic

In a thrilling tale almost fit for a drama on the big screen Destiny of the Republic a Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President, written by Candice Millard is story that follows the lives of historic characters present during the time of the presidential assassination of James A. Garfield. Millard takes an interesting approach in telling the historic tale by writing on the sides of James A. Garfield, and his assassin Charles Guiteau. Intertwined within the book are also the stories of inventory Alexander Graham Bell, British surgeon Joseph Lister, and American surgeon William Bliss.

The beginning of Destiny of The Republic Candice Millard mentions Garfield's early years leading up to the election of 1880. One reason why American citizen greatly admired Garfield was due to the fact that he had humble beginnings which served as a symbolism of American growth and prosperity. Growing up poor, fatherless and the youngest son of homesteaders, Garfield was raised by his mother and older brother after the death of his father. During the beginning of the Civil War Garfield left school to fight on the side of the Union as a lieutenant colonel in the forty-second regiment in 1861.

Millard highlights some political ideals Garfield held which she explains were beyond his time. Garfield advocated for education, the poor and the treatment of African American. No doubt issues he had witnessed first hand. After the Civil War Garfield served as a congressman in Ohio where he advocated for equality among the African American race. Up until taking the presidential office Garfield still advocated for those same issues he had as a congressmen, while never allowing congress or his political party’s to change his mind. For example, in his inaugural address in 1881 Garfield spoke on the issues of equal rights among the African American community. A choice that was risky with a nation who just endured a civil war, however still he remained undoubtedly loyal in his beliefs, leaving nothing up for interpretation.

Another topic the book tackles is the medical practice by which doctors and physicians used while in the midst of exploring different types of methods that were still controversial at the time. One of those methods was the concept of germs believed by Joseph Lister, who also invented antisepsis medicine which prevented infection by destroying germs. This came in handy from preventing doctors from performing dangerous amputations in efforts to contain the infection from spreading. Unfortunately for James Garfield the knowledge of germs had not reached the mainstream medical field in the United States, one of those physicians included an accredited doctor named William Bliss. Attending physician to president Garfield after the attempted assassination of Charles Guiteau, Bliss had been under enormous pressure to save Garfield. It is through this pressure and ignorant pride which led the well known physician to mistreating Garfield.

National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/health/25garf.html. Last accessed 12 June 2017. 

The most impressive element that I had found when reading Candice Millard’s book was the extensive amount of research she had done before writing. In almost every paragraph she direct quoted the person she had been mentioning at the time. In every scene, conversation, or event she wrote on had been thoroughly cited. Not only was her research visible throughout her book, but didn't distract from her narrative. Each quote has been brilliantly crafted into her work in a way that enhanced her book as a whole rather, than having her quotes take a life of its own. Unlike most mistakes authors do when attempting to show their readers that the topic had been thoroughly researched.

My one main concern with this book however was how bias it was. Although Millard did use a great detail of direct quotes, I found that when addressing characters she chose to add quotes that painted the characters to appear a certain way. For example when first introducing James Garfield, Millard states “A tall man with broad shoulders and a warm smile, Garfield was, in many ways, the embodiment of the Centennial Exhibition’s highest ideals” (Millard, 71).  In contrast Millard introduced Charles Guiteau into her book as, “to his mind, which had long ago descended into delusion and madness...he was one of God's chosen few” (Millard, 54). Since the beginning of her book the reader has a clear understanding of what direction Millard intended to take her story and throughout her book her tone never changes.

Candice Millard has a fastening way of capturing moments in time during the 1880's. Before and after the election, before and after the assassination. As a reader I felt as if I was witnessing it all for the first time. I credit Millard's writing style by her extensive research, and use of direct quotes. Had Millard not written the book the way she did, I would’ve had serious suspicions while reading her book. Although at times she was biased, she matched up any opinion she stated with a direct quote from a primary source. As a history student I was trying to critique her book as best I could while reading, but couldn't help but get lost in the story and forgetting myself. Although going into the book I understood what the ending was going to be, I kept finding myself clinging to any chance of hope that everything I had known was wrong. Which is a strange thing to wish for as a history major. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book for what it was, and everything it wasn’t supposed to be as a bibliography.

Bibliography:

Millard, Candice. Destiny of The Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President. New York: Doubleday, 2011.