Assassination Vacation

Sarah Vowell exposes the glorious conundrums of American history and culture with wit, probity, and an irreverent sense of humor. With Assassination Vacation, she takes us on a road trip like no other -- a journey to the pit stops of American political murder and through the myriad ways they have been used for fun and profit, for political and cultural advantage.

From Buffalo to Alaska, Washington to the Dry Tortugas, Vowell visits locations immortalized and influenced by the spilling of politically important blood, reporting as she goes with her trademark blend of wisecracking humor, remarkable honesty, and thought-provoking criticism. We learn about the jinx that was Robert Todd Lincoln (present at the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley) and witness the politicking that went into the making of the Lincoln Memorial. The resulting narrative is much more than an entertaining and informative travelogue -- it is the disturbing and fascinating story of how American death has been manipulated by popular culture, including literature, architecture, sculpture, and -- the author's favorite -- historical tourism. Though the themes of loss and violence are explored and we make detours to see how the Republican Party became the Republican Party, there are all kinds of lighter diversions along the way into the lives of the three presidents and their assassins, including mummies, show tunes, mean-spirited totem poles, and a nineteenth-century biblical sex cult. more

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ProductReviews83/100 (96 Reviews)

Recent Reviews

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Aug-15-2009; Very Enjoyable Read; I'll be brief in light of the dozens of other review of this book. Assassination Vacation is essentially a fun, summer read. The topic is fascinating and I thought the historical trivia was well researched and presented in a way that...; read full review | report as inappropriate

1/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Jul-24-2009; Go on your own vacation and stay away from her drivel.; This book is more about her thinking she is cute and witty than an interesting topic. She rambles on and on and throws in more pop culture comparisons than anything noteworthy or historical. At times it seems that she is making up...; read full review | report as inappropriate

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Jul-18-2009; Great, unique read; Immensely entertaining and extremely informative take on interesting chapters in American history. Has aspects of travelogue, political humor, memoir, current events--all combined in SV's unique voice. Have given this book to several...; read full review | report as inappropriate

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Jun-22-2009; American History From Left Field; Sitting somewhere between a history text, a travelogue, and personal memoirs this book takes an especially unique approach to American History. Unlike the typical history book which can read like the transcript of a college lecture...; read full review | report as inappropriate

Selected Reviews

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Aug-15-2009; Very Enjoyable Read; I'll be brief in light of the dozens of other review of this book. Assassination Vacation is essentially a fun, summer read. The topic is fascinating and I thought the historical trivia was well researched and presented in a way that...; read full review | report as inappropriate

3/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Nov-30-2008; A good read, but flawed; This was the first book by Sarah Vowell I've read, although I've been familiar with her work on NPR for many years. Since Sarah Vowell came to fame by writing personal stories and essays, it comes as no surprise that this book is more...; read full review | report as inappropriate

1/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Jul-24-2009; Go on your own vacation and stay away from her drivel.; This book is more about her thinking she is cute and witty than an interesting topic. She rambles on and on and throws in more pop culture comparisons than anything noteworthy or historical. At times it seems that she is making up...; read full review | report as inappropriate