Even if this book had no text, I think that anyone truly interested in Lincoln would want it on their bookshelf. The father and grandfather of the two authors Frederick Hill Meserve collected thousands of photographs related to Abraham Lincoln. Three hundred of them have been gathered in this book, some published for the first time. Particularly interesting is a series of portraits of Lincoln from 1846 to 1865. Another standout is a photograph of Lincoln's second inauguration. Enlarged details show John Wilkes Booth in a privileged place, as well as most of the conspirators in league with him in a somewhat less prominent place, but right in front of the camera.

The text tells the story of the assassination and continues until the final burial in Springfield, the twenty days of the title. It is detailed and moving, although it raises some interesting questions at the same time. Interpolated into this, is, in brief, the story of the trial of the conspirators and the resulting execution of four of them, which took a longer period of time. This section is the weakest of the book; there is no bibliography or notes, and I missed them the most here. I had been particularly interested in the issue of their guilt or innocence, and while the Kunhardts speak vaguely of governmental tampering with the witnesses, there is no substance nor anyway to track it down. ( )