The Gunman And His Mother, Steven Beschloss
The Gunman And His Mother, Steven Beschloss
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The Gunman And His Mother
Lee Harvey Oswald, Marguerite Oswald, and the Making of an Assassin

Author: Steven Beschloss

Narrator: Tom Parks

Unabridged: 2 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 07/30/2024


Synopsis

The narrative of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy has been told from many points of view, most significantly in the wave of books exploring the Warren Commission's findings and the conspiracy theories that followed. But for journalist Steven Beschloss, the story of Lee Harvey Oswald began with the troubled bond with his mother.

Drawing on public records, key interviews with Marguerite Oswald and other family members, and Lee's own writing and statements, Beschloss traces the origins of an American tragedy back to the lonely boy who couldn't find a way to belong and the unstable mother. Often left to his own devices, young Oswald read heavily, skipped school, and hatched plans to make his mark on the world. The Gunman and His Mother reveals the complex parental relationship that turned a boy into a killer responsible for a crime that changed American history.

This updated edition includes material from never-before-seen files containing Marguerite Oswald's personal writings, as well as a series of lawsuits Marguerite brought against various people. Not only do these documents complete the portrait of Lee's mother, but given her attacks on the media, conspiratorial mindset, and her sense of grievance, their inclusion sheds new light on our current political climate.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Teri on January 01, 2014

I'm a little obsessed with the whole JFK assassination thing. I've read a lot of books about JFK, Oswald and the assassination. The Gunman and His Mother: Lee Harvey Oswald, Marguerite Oswald, and The Making of an Assassin goes behind the man accused of shooting the president and give the reader ins......more

Goodreads review by Hank on September 22, 2017

Not much new here for those of us that know the story. It does demonstrate how set up Oswald was by his mother to have something go seriously wrong. (Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All t......more

Goodreads review by Sandra on January 29, 2018

A cautionary tale This child never had a chance. Tossed from person to person. His Mother, so wrapped up in herself, to raise her kids. She failed as a parent. Could have got Lee help, chose not to.......more

Goodreads review by Margaret on May 20, 2020

Very interesting material on oswald’s mom Very thoughtful observations on opportunities missed in oswald’s life especially his early teenage years in New York. Obviously, his mom wasn’t well mentally or emotionally either so it would have taken a miracle for lee to come out half way normal. Surprisin......more

Goodreads review by Donna on May 24, 2021

I never knew about Lee Harvey Oswald's life as a boy. No wonder he turned out as he did his mother was not a good parent and never got him the help he needed. If only she had history would have been so different. She seemed to care more about money and publicity.......more