My Thoughts Be Bloody: The Bitter Rivalry Between Edwin and John Wilkes B Audiobook
Product description
A quick account of a historical subject and a deeply researched narrative serve different listening needs. My Thoughts Be Bloody is an unabridged audiobook about the bitter rivalry between Edwin and John Wilkes Booth, with a substantial running time for a more detailed account. It may suit listeners looking to explore the people and history behind the story rather than fit a short listen into the day.
Getting the most from it
At 19 hours and 24 minutes, this is a long-form listen, so it may work better across several sessions than as a single sitting. The subject centres on Edwin and John Wilkes Booth, customer feedback also describes the book as bringing in the political and social history of the period. That wider context is part of its appeal if you want more than a bare account of the rivalry.
The narration is by John Bedford Lloyd, and the edition is unabridged. If you are choosing it for a book club, the dramatic real-life story and historical background give listeners several angles to discuss. Readers’ comments also suggest that the narrative remains engaging despite its detailed subject matter, though individual tastes in historical writing will vary.
Technical overview
- Format: Audiobook
- Edition: Unabridged
- Listening length: 19 hours and 24 minutes
- Author: Nora Titone
- Narrator: John Bedford Lloyd
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
- Publication date: 19 October 2010
Why it’s worth it
The main draw is the combination of a family rivalry with a broader historical account. Buyers describe the research as thorough, particularly in its treatment of the Booth family, and say the book offers insight into life in the early and middle nineteenth century. Their comments also point to clear, engaging writing and a dramatic narrative, rather than a dry sequence of historical details.
That makes this a different proposition from a brief overview of Civil War-era history: the longer format leaves room for a more developed story and its political and social setting. It makes sense if you want an in-depth audiobook and are happy to spend time with one historical subject. The reported book-club appeal may also matter if you want a narrative with enough context to prompt discussion, rather than a purely introductory summary.
When it makes sense
Choose this when the Booth family, the rivalry between Edwin and John Wilkes, or nineteenth-century American history is the reason you are listening. The unabridged format suits someone prepared to follow a sustained account, while the narration gives the book a spoken format rather than requiring time with a printed edition. Not the best choice if you are specifically after a short listen: its stated running time is 19 hours and 24 minutes.
Customer feedback is notably positive about the research, readability and storytelling, but those impressions are not a substitute for deciding whether this subject and level of detail appeal to you. If your priority is a concise introduction, a shorter history would be a more practical starting point, if you want a fuller narrative focused on the Booth family and its historical setting, this audiobook is the more relevant fit.