New York City considers seceding, since its economic fortunes are tied to the South. But the Union buildup brings new money into the city, and New York decides to stay in the fold.

Adam enlists in the Union Army, as an aide to General Grant. His last advice to Ned: go to Europe and study.

There is no fighting going on, so Wilkes goes back to the stage. In Cincinnati, Maggie Mitchell offers to arrange an appearance for him in New York. Wilkes is afraid of that, since, to him, New York is Ned's city. But in Chicago he meets Raufer, a scenery man, who introduces him to magical new staging and lighting techniques - and Wilkes realizes that, with these, he can conquer New York.

Copyright © � 2006 Aram Schefrin. This work can be licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerive 2.5 License

To find out more about the facts on which this book is based, go to www.johnwilkesbooth.blogspot.com and click on the links.

Wilkes looks up a school friend, Michael O'Laughlen. He asks O'Laughlen to hook him up with Rebels in Maryland. O'Laughlen tells him that attempt on Lincoln's life has failed and that Maryland is under Federal martial law and is not going to secede. Then he introduces Wilkes to shoemaker Christian Emmerich and the Federal Marshal, George Kane. Kane is defecting to the South. At Kane's request, Wilkes agrees, rather than join a fighting unit, to stay in the North and help in the smuggling of contraband such as medicines across the lines to the South. Atfer Bull Run, Emmerich sends Wilkes to Philadelphia to pick up a package. Wilkes stays with Asia and tells her what he's doing. She is thrilled.

Copyright © � 2006 Aram Schefrin.

While Ned is performing in New York, South Carolina secedes.

The family gathers at Asia's for Christmas in Philadelphia. Asia is rabid against Abraham Lincoln; she tells the others what she has heard: that Lincoln will be murdered in Baltimore on his way to Washington, and that then the Rebels will take Washington and conduct a coup d'etat. Wilkes announces he is going to join the Maryland militia after the state secedes. Mother makes him swear he won't.

Matt Canning books Wilkes in Rochester and Albany, New York. Wilkes stabs himself during a performance when he falls on a dagger. Wilkes seduces his female lead, then abandons her; she stabs him and herself. South Carolina assaults Fort Sumter; Edwin Ruffin fires the first shot. Virginia secedes, and Wilkes decides that if he's going to be killed (it seemed likely, considering) it would be better if it happened fighting for the South.

Copyright © � 2006 Aram Schefrin.

This work can be licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerive 2.5 License

To learn more about the facts on which this book is based, go to www.johnwilkesbooth.blogspot.com and click on the links.

Desperately missing Mollie, Ned goes back on the booze. Concerned, Adam Badeau gets Wilkes to intervene with Mollie and get them back together. Ned asks her to marry him. She says "yes".

In Montgomery, Alabama, Maggie Mitchell takes Wilkes to hear the Prince of Fire-eaters speak.

Maggie Mitchell is played by Anita Boyer.

Copyright © � 2006 Aram Schefrin. This work can be licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerive 2.5 License

To learn more about the facts on which this book is based, go to www.johnwilkesbooth.blogspot.com and click on the links.

Asia objects violently to Ned's marriage to Mary. Out of respect for his family, Ned gives her up. Before he leaves Richmond, he gives Wilkes the lead role in Othello, and Wilkes makes his first appearance in his own name.

During Wilkes' second season in Richmond, John Brown raids Harper's Ferry, hoping to set off a slave insurrection, and panicking the South. Brown is quickly captured, but Southerners who want secession use Brown as an excuse.

Wilkes meets Ned in Boston, which is hysterical over Brown, and performs Richard the Third with him. Wilkes finds the town too staid. At a gathering after the theater, Adam Badeau (Ned's New York teacher and confidante) tells Ned he has heard that Mary is in Boston, acting in Charlotte Cushman's company, and is going to marry a Boston lawyer. Ned is devastated.

Back in Richmond, Wilkes joins the Richmond Grays and travels to Charlestown to watch the hanging of John Brown, then returns to begin his role as a national star.

Maggie Mitchell is played by Gwynneth Selinger.

Copyright © � 2006 Aram Schefrin. This work can be licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerive 2.5 License

To learn more about the facts on which this book is based, go to www.johnwilkesbooth.blogspot.com and click on the links.