The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson

4.7 (13)
$35.00
Size:No Size

Product Details

Web ID: 19012568

The author of The Splendid and the Vile brings to life the pivotal five months between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the start of the Civil War in this reexamination of a nation in tumult Los Angeles Times A feast of historical insight and narrative verve . . . This is Erik Larson at his best, enlivening even a thrice-told tale into an irresistible thriller. The Wall Street Journal on November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln became the fluky victor in a tight race for president. The country was bitterly at odds; Southern extremists were moving ever closer to destroying the Union, with one state after another seceding and Lincoln powerless to stop them. Slavery fueled the conflict, but somehow the passions of North and South came to focus on a lonely federal fortress in Charleston Harbor Fort Sumter. Master storyteller Erik Larson offers a gripping account of the chaotic months between Lincoln's election and the Confederacy shelling of Sumter a period marked by tragic errors and miscommunications, enflamed egos and craven ambitions, personal tragedies and betrayals. Lincoln himself wrote that the trials of these five months were so great that, could I have anticipated them, I would not have believed it possible to survive them. At the heart of this suspense-filled narrative are…

  • Product Features

    • Erik Larson Author
    • Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
    • Publication Date: 04-30-2024
    • Page Count: 592
    • Hardcover
    • U.S. History
    • Age range: Adult
    • Nonfiction
  • Materials & Care

    • Product labels for all quilted items (filled apparel, home textiles, and accessories) are available online.
  • Shipping & Returns

    • California and Minnesota customers call 1-800-289-6229 for Free Shipping information.
    • For complete details, see our Shipping and Returns policies.

Ratings & Reviews

4.7/5

13 star ratings & reviews

Write a Review
9
4
0
0
0
6 months ago
from Ohio

Excellent book

You may think you know about Fort Sumter and how the Civil War began, but this book takes you there. I couldn't put it down.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

6 months ago
from Greenville SC

Best book in a few years

Best book I've read in a few years. Thought I knew all about the Civil War. I've been to Fort Sumter, lived close to Fort Moultrie - I know SC's past. Boy was I wrong. This book (roughly 500 pages) goes into detail about everything from the time of Lincoln's winning the Presidency to just after Fort Sumter failed. And if you think you're gonna bog down in the details, ya don't. Of course I know the basic story, but I turned the pages quickly - I was stunned - maybe astonished - at the reasoning the South had for their slaves. I couldn't fathom any logic to their arguments. You've gotta read the book. And Mary Chestnut, the Yankee or North HATER - she got her comeuppance in the end. A character I'd never heard of - Edward Ruffin - stirred up various states to get them to secede. It's hard to know who hated the North more - Ruffin or Chestnut. But he also paid for his hatred in the end. I can go on and on but just get the book and be stupefied. I am still in disbelief.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

7 months ago
from North Texas

Detailed account of the beginning of the Civil War

Erik Larson is one of my favorite non-fiction writers and I was excited at the opportunity to read his newest book, The Demon of Unrest - A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War. The Demon of Unrest is different than other books by Erik Larson. The book starts at the time of Abraham Lincoln’s election and inauguration, and the start of the secession of the southern states, led by South Carolina. We see the Buchanan Administrations indifference, weakness and failures that left the US military serving in southern states vulnerable to attack. Lincoln was walking into a tinderbox and a Nation divided. Southern proslavery extremists were fomenting secession and if necessary, war so they could maintain their standard of living and wealth built on the backs of enslaved human beings. Erik Larson did a tremendous amount of research and tells the story of what happened from many different viewpoints. He compiled the personal narratives from diaries and wove them together with many historical records to document this time in history. I was most compelled by Fort Sumter’s commander, Major Robert Anderson, and President Abraham Lincoln. There were so many details that it kind of overwhelmed the personal side of the story and what the people went through and endured. The Demon of Unrest is a long book and it took me over two months to read. I was about 20 percent in to the book and I almost called it quits. I was disgusted by the moral depravity of James Henry Hammond that was shared in too much detail. I would like to have had that summed up without going into the gross details of this vile man. If I had it to do over again, I would have skipped that section. Since I respect Larson’s writing, I decided to give another try. I am glad I finished the book. I found it hard to comprehend and relate to the southerner’s mindset, tolerance, and approval of slavery. My favorite chapter was the epilog that summed up the how the war ended and impacted the various people whose stories were included in this historical book. I would like to have had several charts or overviews on the timeline and the people from both the north and south, with their titles and a brief description. It would have helped me as I was reading through this historical narrative. Erik Larson started off the book talking about January 6th and related it to the Civil War. Other than a reflection of a Nation divided, I did not see the comparison. It was a bit off-putting. If you love history, especially US history or the Civil War, or are an Erik Larson fan, I recommend this book. I would like to thank Crown Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

8 months ago
from Pennsylvania

Vividly brings history to life

As in all of his books, Erik Larson vividly brings history to life in this well researched account of the lead up to the American Civil War. Covering the months from Lincoln's election to the beginning of the war, this reads like a page turning thriller with a full cast of characters from both sides of the conflict. Highly recommended

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

9 months ago
from Rochester Hills

Well Researched

I absolutely love the way Erik Larson takes all these small pieces of history and weaves it into a compelling story that is over 180 years old. His research is impeccable and a deep dive into the subject. There is so much detail I learned about this period, that I wished he was my history teacher in high school. Now, if he could have a follow up book on Gettysburg.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

9 months ago
from De Pere WI

A visceral look at the beginnings of Civil War

I am not a civil war buff. Most of what I know about the civil war is what everyone knows - the major battles, the generals, Lincoln's role, and so forth. I picked up this book because I've admired Erik Larson's other books and wanted to know how he would approach this issue. I was not disappointed. Larson's book is different than other histories for two reasons, First, the bulk of the book takes place in the years, months and days leading up to the battle of Fort Sumter. Second, he tells the story from the point of view of various people involved using primary sources like diaries, letters, telegraphs and first hand accounts. These two factors together give the reader an angle that is much more visceral, much more personal, and much more informative of the process. Given where we are in this country today, it was very interesting reading about the arguments about states' rights vs. slavery, the attempts to assassinate Lincoln, and the possibility that the electoral vote would not take place. Similar issues are swirling today. Does that mean we are close to revolution? Perhaps. I learned so much from this book and highly recommend it. Many thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for offering me the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

9 months ago
from Oregon

Fascinating Historical Narrative

A thoroughly addictive narrative that read like a thriller--I was racing to get to the conclusion. A+

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

9 months ago
from Bentonville, AR

AMAZING READ!

Erik Larson comes through again with an eye opening book about an unspeakable part of the history of the United States. The run up to Ft. Sumter is one of the most harrowing parts of our history. The ignition of 4 years of brutal war was a long time coming, but the months between Lincoln's election and the first shots, were a time when the deaths & freedom of so many hung in the balance. This detailed exploration of that time is stunning. I was a little taken aback to realize how many of the key players of the US Army were actually southern sympathizers. A strong sense of duty was sometimes the only thing standing between Union and Confederacy. Shocking to say the least. I love Larson's writing style. He takes you there. You know these people. You witness these historical events as you were actually there. From fussy Buchanan, who wanted nothing more than to go home to Major Anderson and his cunning moves to keep possession of Sumter....you are along for the ride. It makes it accessible to all instead of a stuffy historical retelling. This story takes you from where we were then to where we are now. And leaves you with questions of where we are going. Thank You, Mr. Larson for you stunning retelling!

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com