by Sarah Vowell
First published 2005
Sarah Vowell takes a dark tourism road trip, visiting the sites of presidential assassinations. From Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. to the Texas School Book Depository, she uncovers the grim history behind these landmarks. With mordant wit, Vowell ponders the personalities and motivations of the assassins, offering fresh perspectives on America's past. Along the way, she reflects on the nature of political violence and its enduring impact on the nation's psyche. Assassination Vacation is a morbidly fascinating examination of how the shadows of the past can still linger in the present.
Genres: history, crime, non-fiction, biography-memoir, true-crime, american-history
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: dark-academia, road-trip
Setting: United States
258 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster
Content warnings: death, violence