We announce a third podcast novel:

CONSIDER THE ELEPHANT

The Life and Death of John Wilkes Booth as Told By His Brother Edwin

The common wisdom is that the men who have attacked American Presidents - Czolgosz, Guiteau, Fromme, Hinckley, Moore, Oswald, Zangara - were disgruntled, disturbed loners. That wisdom includes John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln, called a failed actor and a madman.

But the truth is that Wilkes was the matinee idol of his time; and the attack on Lincoln was not the act of a maniac, but a part of a plan developed at the highest levels of the Confederacy.

In "Consider the Elephant," by Aram Schefrin, the story of Wilkes' life and death is told by his brother, Edwin Booth, called "Ned." Ned was the greatest Shakespearean actor of his age, as was their father Junius in his era; and their brother June was an actor, too, though less successful than his brothers. The story is soaked in the ambiance of life in the American theater in the mid nineteenth century, and full of rich characters. It lays out in detail the path Wilkes took to the top of the celebrity heap, his growing involvement with the Southern rebels and the development in Richmond of the plot to kidnap - and later assassinate - the Union President.

You can download this novel at podiobooks.com and at booth.libsyn.com.

Our thanks to Bazooka Joe for interviewing the author on his small WORLD podcast! Joe presents some fascinating stuff - like us, for example. Why not subscribe? You'll learn a lot and have a great time doing it.

We found these two reviews of "Marwan" on Idiotvox:

"Brilliantly engaging."

"Marwan is a great podcast. It is funny, sad, interesting and most of all, a captivating look at the terrorists who attacked us. Mr. Schefrin's vivid description and subtle humor make this a terrific podcast ..."

And here's one from iTunes:

"Great audiobook! ... Highly recommended."

Now, assuming friends of mine didn't write this stuff, I appreciate the sentiments!

"Marwan" can now be found on Podiobooks.com. Podiobooks is the first and only location at which you can download podcasts of novels and other literary work by many different authors. You can choose how frequently you receive new chapters. And it's all free! Check it out!

 "This Podcast is a kind of closure to a terrible day in US History - for me. I live in one of the small towns in this book, they lived near us. I truly recommend this book. Well wrote and told." ocm185

Boston: September 11, 2001

The Day

Boston: September 10, 2001

Final preparations.

Boston: September 10, 2001

But there's no time for love. It's too late.

Boston: September 9, 2001

Marwan arrives in Boston, checks on the Saudis, reads Atta's instructions and falls in love

Hollywood, Florida: September, 2001

Marwan almost loses it.

Deerfield Beach, Florida: August, 2001

Marwan and Atta buy their tickets. Jarrah has second thoughts.

Delray Beach, Florida: August, 2001

Moussaoui is arrested. Atta picks The Day.

Las Vegas: August, 2001

Marwan and Atta go to Las Vegas to learn the "niceties"

Belle Glade, Florida: July, 2001

Marwan and Atta check out a crop duster

Spain: July, 2001

A little time off on the Costa Dorada

Hamburg: May, 2000

Marwan says goodbye to Bahaji

Paterson, New Jersey: July, 2001

Marwan and Atta go to Paterson, New Jersey

Hamburg: April, 2000

Bad Teeth takes over the finances.

Boston: July, 2001

Marwan and Atta check out Logan Airport, then fly to Las Vegas for another meeting with the West Coast cell.

Munich: January, 2000

Marwan, Atta and Jarrah go to Munich for a bit of business.

Delray Beach, Florida: June, 2001

The Saudi "muscle" arrive in Florida.

Hamburg: January, 2001

Bahaji's wedding.

 

Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. I'm in Florida with no power and no DSL - but Starbucks is finally open, so I'm posting wifi.

Hollywood, Florida: March, 2001

Marwan, Atta and Jarrah move to the east coast of Florida. Marwan and Atta travel to Las Vegas to meet the West Coast cell.

Kandahar: December, 1999

Marwan takes an oath of allegiance to Osama bin Laden, then returns to Hamburg on the eve of the Millenium.

Spain: January, 2001

The conspirators to go to Spain to arrange financing. Marwan talks to Jarrah in a restaurant in Dubai.

Kandahar: November, 1999

Atta tells Marwan about the World Trade Center plot. The Doctor begs Marwan to fly one of the planes.

Venice, Florida: December, 2000

Al-Shibh can't get a visa. Moussaoui will take his place. Marwan and Atta finish flying school.

Kandahar: November, 1999

Marwan arrives in Afghanistan

Venice, Florida: November, 2000

Marwan and Atta hear about the attack on the U.S.S. Cole.

Peshawar: November, 1999

Marwan goes to Pakistan and meets the Honey Man.

Venice, Florida: August, 2000

Marwan and Atta learn to fly. They find Ziad Jarrah playing basketball. Al-Shibh is having trouble getting a U.S. visa. Marwan flies a triumphant solo flight. Al-Shibh tells Atta and Marwan to watch for good news.

Hamburg: June, 1999

Marwan visits Atta more frequently. He finishes his German studies, but doesn't know what to do with himself. Atta suggests he move to Hamburg, enroll at TU Harburg in electrical engineering and move into Atta's flat when Bahaji gets married and moves out. Marwan agrees. In the summer, he visits his mother in Egypt, then luxuriates in Dubai. When he returns to Hamburg, Atta tells him he and al-Shibh are going to fight in Chechnya. He suggests Marwan come along. At first reluctant, Marwan agrees.

Norman,Oklahoma: June, 2000

Atta annoys the flight instructor in Norman. Marwan and Atta drive to Sarasota, Florida. Atta irritates the instructor there, too. They finally sign up at a flight school in Venice, Florida and rent a room in a private house. The fourth night there, Atta enrages the landlord's wife.

Hamburg: November, 1998

Al-Shibh goes to work on Marwan.

New York: June, 2000

Jarrah leaves New York for a flight school in Venice, Florida. A few days later, Marwan and Atta drive to Norman, Oklahoma, where they will be taking flying lessons.

Hamburg: November, 1998

Marwan visits Atta in Hamburg, meets Bahaji and al-Shibh. Atta tells him he's joined Osama bin Laden's jihad.

New York: June, 2000

Marwan finds Atta and Ziad Jarrah on top of the Empire State Building. Atta takes them to the World Trade Center.

The entire text can be read at www.marwanalshehhi.blogspot.com