David O. Stewart

On his deathbed, former Ohio Congressman and prosecutor of the Lincoln assassination conspirators, John Bingham, tells his doctor Jamie Fraser, that Mary Surratt divulged a secret to him that, if known, would shatter the republic. He took that secret to the grave. The idea of this secret peeked Fraser's curiosity. It is 1900 and 35 years after the assassination. As he is helping Bingham's family sort his papers, he finds a large collection of materials related to the assassination and begins to read up on it. When he is called to attend a colored woman who has had an accident and finds out that she was Mary Surratt's help he can't help asking a few questions. Speed Cook, colored hotel owner, ex ball-player and would be newspaper publisher is at first upset about Fraser's questioning of Rachel Lemus, but then also becomes intrigued when Fraser tells his story. The two decide to spend some time researching and trying to discover the secret. So begins a tale that takes them to IN, NY, MD, and DC. It soon becomes apparent that somebody does not want the secret discovered leading to several violent episodes. Both Fraser and Cook discover a lot about themselves on this search that will effect their future. Stewart has taken a paragraph entry from an obscure biography of Bingham and several unanswered questions about the conspiracy and formed an interesting what if story.… (more)

(K)(2007)The story of the inner workings of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphie in 1787. Very good & readable account of the dirty work of creating a country from whole cloth.Booklist:This is, of course, a story that has been told before. But like most great stories, it is worth retelling, especially when told exceedingly well. Stewart, a former law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell, is a fine writer whose narrative unfolds like a well-structured novel. He begins with a description of the unsettled period just before the convention, as states quarreled with each other and a group of indebted farmers burned courthouses in Massachusetts. He describes the halting moves toward a Constitutional Convention that essentially were launched at a sparsely attended conference at George Washington's home at Mount Vernon. The narrative gathers steam as the convention begins in the sweltering heat of Philadelphia. Here Stewart artfully shows the roles played by the key players as they grappled with issues as varied as the rights of states and the future of slavery. In Stewart's view, the true genius of these founders was their understanding that free, popular government must be based upon compromise. General readers will find this work stimulating. Jay FreemanCopyright ? American Library Association.… (more)

David Stewart has given us a very readable and in accessible history of our country’s critical framework the Constitution. Many concepts we have glossed over and take for granted and it’s worth reading if for no other reason to inform ourselves how this young country struggled with some of its most difficult issues arrived at a Constitution that still holds together today. He tells a story of deep division and dissension among representatives from the southern states the northern states this small states the big states. Somehow the representatives stayed together that summer to conclude and agree on a final document. As I read this in January 2021 it is a timely read and I think one that others should look back to to help us understand and solve our current divisions.… (more)