A Biographical Dictionary of the World's Assassins

by George Fetherling

The compelling, tragic and often bizarre life stories of history's famous and infamous assassins, now collected in one comprehensive, easy-to-use volume. The names are well-known, but how much do you... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679310517
• ISBN13: 9780679310518
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Random House Canada
• Length: 391 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A must-have for assassin groupies

This book is a treasure chest for those of us who are fascinated by those flesh and blood Eumenides who have felt called upon to bring the great ones of the earth to account for their crimes, real or imagined. The author provides an wonderfully encyclopedic account of history's assassins, in all countries and eras. I have only two complaints- 1. he omitted the great Cassius Chaerea, the assassin of the Emperor Caligula, and 2. In his listing for Lee Harvey Oswald, he gives credence to the various conspiracy theories surrounding the Kennedy assassination. Besides that, this is an excellent catalogue of that select group of men and women who barged their way into history with a single bloody act.

A morbid trivia buffs dream!

I borrowed this book from a friend. I loved all the little trivia. It helps that the author included assassination attempts (including those who were deluded enough to think a pistol loaded with tobacco would kill Queen Victoria). Including those who may not have done any actual harm but meant to makes the book a little less predictable. It's not all "this one killed that one and here's why." Each summary is about 1-3 pages long. Which is just long enough to give details but not too long to get bored with them. Things I have learned about assassins. 1. Always succeed. The punishment is much worse if you don't. In fact, I think the author nicluded a little too much description on some deaths 2. Never be anyone who is related to an assassin (if the assassin isn't trying to kill you there is still a good chance you'll go mad or be punished for his/ her act. 3. Don't be the guy who catches the successful assassin. It never ends well. 4. Never piss off a woman (see Henriette Caillaux) 5. Generally avoid being royalty. Your relatives are all out to get you. The only criticism I have is that is is missing two major figures. Saddam Hussein and Orlando Bosch.