Product Description

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 know about the inner lives of John Hinckley Jr.,  who shot Ronald Reagan in a misguided attempt to impress actress Jodie Foster, or Mark David Chapman, who, after shooting John Lennon, sat down on the sidewalk to continue reading The Catcher in the Rye? And what about the world's not-so-famous assassins? Find out what happened when Carlito Dimahilig attacked Imelda Marcos with a bolo knife (and how one of her many famous pairs of shoes came into play!), or why Max Hödel could be considered one of the least successful assassins in history.

With breadth of study and a keen eye for detail, George Fetherling has compiled a fascinating and very readable compendium -- the first of its kind -- of more than 200 biographies of assassins from all periods and countries, for the scholar and general reader alike. Fetherling also provides an overview of the history of assassination, outlines the five psychological types of assassins and gives a run-down of the most useful literature in the field.

Ideal for students, historians, history buffs, psychologists and readers interested in biography and true crime, this book is a must have window into the lives of those who have drastically shaped the history of our world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1538187 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.73 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 391 pages

Amazon.ca
The term assassin shares origins with the Arabic hashish, giving new meaning to the term "smoking gun." In fact, according to author George Fetherling, "the name assassin was (originally) applied to any member of a splinter group of Ismaili Muslims, who, beginning in the late eleventh century, were thought to take the drug prior to committing their acts of mayhem and terrorism." Today, it is generally understood that an assassin is one who attempts to kill a public official, head of state, or other person in authority.

A Biographical Dictionary of the World's Assassins is a sometimes macabre and generally engaging compendium of life stories--from the infamous to the relatively obscure--of those men and women who have, for a variety of reasons, sought to deliberately kill a "powerful person." Although most of the victims are political or religious figures or social activists, the list also includes three professional criminals, two singers, two actors, as well as a fashion designer, banker, publisher, explorer, playwright, industrialist, and radio talk show host, to name a few. The perpetrators--ranging from Michael Abram, who attempted to kill ex-Beatle George Harrison, to Vera Ivanovna Zasulich, the Russian revolutionary heroine who twice shot the chief of police in St. Petersburg in 1878--make a fascinating crew of ideologues and zealots, sociopaths and fanatics. Chock full of memorable, anecdotal detail, Fetherling's Dictionary is a unique addition to "assassination literature," and has something for the true crime fan, the historian, the psychologist, and the general reader alike. --Svenja Soldovieri

From the Back Cover
“…you can have quite a lot of fun with A Biographical Dictionary of the World’s Assassins. A sort of Assassination for Dummies, it’s a great little reference book of potted biographies of assassins from all eras and ports of call….There’s even a handy index of victims…A Biographical Dictionary of the World’s Assassins is a goldmine for trivia buffs.” —Toronto Star

“This handy collection of patriots, madmen and killers…is a welcome addition for a crime writer. This is no ordinary compendium of rogues, footpads and murderers. An assassin is the aristocrat of killers; an assassin is the killer of aritocrats and celebrities…Fetherling’s A Biographical Dictionary of Assassins is a useful, often amusing, usually reliable addition to the field of criminology, while being at the same time a ready aid to the general reader who enjoys a romp through history following a new unifying theme.” —Howard Engel, Globe and Mail

“We all know the names Lee Harvey Oswald and John Wilkes Booth. But who assassinated the Archduke Ferdinand in 1914, igniting the First World War? So asks George Fetherling in A Biographical Dictionary of the World’s Assassins.” —National Post

“Fascinating…Entertaining and provocative. Some fo the crimes he details are simply heinous, while others beg the question: at what point does the defence of liberty justify murder?” —Georgia Straight

“Assassins is well researched, readable and interesting.” —Vancouver Sun

“The book is made for browsing. A reader can learn not only about the momentous political assassinations in history, but also about the stabbing of tennis star Monica Seles by a deranged fan of her rival…or the murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace by an American serial killer.” —Edmonton Journal

About the Author
A Biographical Dictionary of the World's Assassins is George Fetherling's first venture into true crime. As Douglas Fetherling, he has published fifty books of poetry, fiction, essays, history, biography and criticism. He lives in Ontario and British Columbia.