Though we know a lot about the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln, the motivations of the president’s assassin are not often discussed. Jennifer Chiaverini explores the inner world of one of the most notorious men in American history in her novel, FATES AND TRAITORS. Imagining the inner thoughts of John Wilkes Booth and the people who loved him, Chiaverini finds uncharted areas on a well-worn path.

In history books, John Wilkes Booth makes his debut performance at the Ford Theater, but FATES AND TRAITORS narrates the events leading up to his history-altering decision. The motives of one of the most infamous assassins is the focal point, and influences that precede his most known performance fill in the foreground of the novel. As is Chiaverini’s signature, she expertly weaves well-researched facts with narrative in a way that demands your attention.

"Chiaverini imagines the fate of the traitor’s loved ones and thus pulls the American people into a history they didn’t know they missed."

The book mines Booth’s personal letters and the biographies and opinions of the past few decades to create a compelling portrait of the man who is often seen as nothing more than a historical menace. Chiaverini gives a voice to the women in his life to bring perspective, color and humanity to Booth. We see him through his mother’s eyes as a child who has the same hang-ups of all young boys, hoping to live up to the example of his father. We follow him through his adolescence, trying to understand the world, how it relates to him, and the many ways his sister, Asia, is able to help him in his understanding. From his sweetheart, Lucy Hale, we watch as Booth struggles to adapt to a world changing in ways with which he does not agree. Through the voice of Mary Surratt, we hear the genesis of the infamous plan to kill a beloved president.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book is Chiaverini’s wrestling with the nuances of Booth’s morals. Born into an abolitionist family, he was the outlier of the Booths in his Confederate sympathies. From the vantage of his loved ones who didn’t share his radicalized views, Chiaverini can dole out equal parts condemnation and humanity. In FATES AND TRAITORS, Booth becomes more than a player on the stage of history. He becomes human.

Overall, the book achieves the goal of adding color and life to scenes we know well. There are moments, especially in the later pages, when Chiaverini’s pace feels slow and overly methodical. For example, Mary Surratt’s character seems to be built on a few key characteristics, too little to be able to understand why she consented to help Booth, but a large section of the novel is told from her perspective. These instances are helped along by a sense of anticipation built from the inevitable rise and fall of Booth, a story we already know.

Chiaverini imagines the fate of the traitor’s loved ones and thus pulls the American people into a history they didn’t know they missed.