BOOTH Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2022

English language book, English language review (at least I try): I happened to hear about this novel because it was a Booker prize nominee. It's an extraordinary book. We know what's going on from the start: John Wilkes Booth assassinates President Lincoln. But how did it happen, how did he become a murderer? And above all: who were, how did his parents and siblings feel, how did they act? This is primarily a family novel, following the Booth family through the years 1822-1865. We not only learn a lot about the family tragedies, but also about American history in the 19th century and family life at that time. And about stage acting, because this is also an artist's novel, the father Junius and the sons Junius Jr. and Edwin were the most famous American actors of their time. John W. Booth was also a well-known performer, but never had the class and fame of his father and brothers. However, the most important role is played by the women of the family - the mother Mary and the sisters Rosalie and Asia - as is so often the case, they are the ones who hold the family together. The book has an interesting style: half novel, half non-fiction, with the narrator repeatedly intervening, commenting and anticipating. I liked that. Also interesting: I own (see picture) the beautifully designed English edition, which looks wonderfully classic, historical and Shakespearean. The American edition, on the other hand, has a completely different design (purple cover with red birds and blue flowers), which is probably intended to emphasize the family novel character (the focus of which is actually the book), because the assassination itself plays a subordinate role. But whatever the edition, this novel is great.