The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is a central drama of the American experience. Its impact is felt to this day, and the basic story is known to all. This account of the Lincoln conspiracy and its aftermath transcends the mere facts of that awful knight during which dashing actor John Wilkes Boothe shot Lincoln in the head and would-be assassin Lewis Payne buthcered Secretary of State William Sweard in his bed in his own home. This work transports the reader to one of the most breathtaking moments in history, revealing much that is new about the stories, passions, and times of those who shaped this tragedy.