guard Mr. Raymond – Publisher of the New York Times Ch 7 *Petroleum V. Nasby – Comic author John A. Dix – Union commander of the Department of the East *William Dennison – Postmaster General after Blair Major Eckert – Union officer Noah Brooks – Journalist from CA, Lincoln’s second term secretary Ch 8 *Mr. Walsh – Druggist in Navy Yard, Washington *Mr. Lloyd – The Surrat’s tenant in MD Mr. and Mrs. Holohan – Surrat’s boarders in Washington *James Speed – Springfield attorney, brother of Joshua Speed, nominated for Attorney General *Charles S. Prescott – Smuggler William H. Reynolds – Smuggler Ch 9 Alexander H. Stevens – Confederate Vice President John A. Campbell – Former Supreme Court Justice, Confederate negotiator R.M.T. Hunter – Former Senator, Confederate negotiator Lewis Payne – Conspirator, aka Lewis Powell of Mosby’s Raiders, “The Terrible Lew” George Atzerodt – Boatman, smuggler, conspirator *Avonia Jones – Actress Major French – Director of Lincoln’s second inauguration *Hugh M. McCulloch – Secretary of Treasury after Fessenden Ch 10 Mr. Crook – Tad Lincoln’s bodyguard James Ord – Commanding General, Union Army of the James Mrs. Griffiths – Wife of Union general Mrs. Ord – Ord’s wife Major Seward – Seward’ nephew General Weitzer – Union officer at Richmond Ch 11 Laura Keene – Comic actress Miss Harris – Daughter of Senator Harris Major Rathbone – Miss Harris’s fiancé Isaac – Lincoln’s friend from Chicago Tom Pendel – White House doorkeeper Emma Schuyler – Daughter of Charles Schuyler, Princess d’Agrigent *Prince d’Agrigent – French aristocrat, Emma’s estranged husband Critical and Public Reception The critical reception of the book has been widely varied. With a rating of 4.21/5 stars from 8,256 ratings on Goodreads, the wider public mostly enjoyed the narrative as a work of historical fiction. Common themes among reviewers were the novel’s entertaining style and accessibility. The Washington Post also wrote a positive review at the time of publication, praising Vidal’s well practiced craftsmanship in skilfully creating a satisfying read. This positive praise was reflected in The New York Review of Books. The book was also subject to critical backlash, primarily from academic historians. Roy P. Basler contends that much of Lincoln’s life never happened as told by Vidal. This historical inaccuracy extends to the character’s personalities and physical attributes. Significantly, Vidal faced intense criticism for his depiction of a racist Lincoln, and a syphilitic deranged Mary Todd