"As a reference, [this book] is a success; macabre and fascinating, well-researched and concise. It is one of those rare reference books that can be read with considerable pleasure from cover to cover."–Quill and Quire Review (Canada) Why is Max Hödel, who attempted to kill Germany’s Wilhelm I, considered to be one of the least successful assassins in history? How much do you really know about the inner life of John Hinckley Jr. who shot President Ronald Reagan in a misguided attempt to impress actress Jodie Foster? How did the notorious Renaissance villain Cesare Borgia manage to have his brother-in-law stabbed in the middle of crowded St. Peter’s Square? Now, this enthralling book reveals the tragic and often bizarre life stories of more than 200 of the world’s most infamous assassins. Packed with fascinating facts, George Fetherling provides an overview of the history of assassination and outlines the five psychological types of assassins–from the politically motivated to the vengeful. George Fetherling (Ontario and British Columbia, Canada) has published fifty books of poetry, fiction, essays, history, biography, and criticism (under the name Douglas Fetherling.)