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The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War
by Erik Larson
Published
April 30, 2024
Pages
559 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Crown
Available Formats & Prices
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$14.99
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$18.79
Paperback
$31.11
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$0.00
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About This Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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 “riveting 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’s 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 Major Robert Anderson, Sumter’s commander and a former slave owner sympathetic to the South but loyal to the Union; Edmund Ruffin, a vain and bloodthirsty radical who stirs secessionist ardor at every opportunity; and Mary Boykin Chesnut, wife of a prominent planter, conflicted over both marriage and slavery and seeing parallels between them.
In the middle of it all is the overwhelmed Lincoln, battling with his duplicitous secretary of state, William Seward, as he tries desperately to avert a war that he fears is inevitable—one that will eventually kill 750,000 Americans. Drawing on diaries, secret communiques, slave ledgers, and plantation records, Larson gives us a political horror story that captures the forces that led America to the brink—a dark reminder that we often don’t see a cataclysm coming until it’s too late.
Introduction
At the threshold of the Civil War, 'The Demon of Unrest' transports readers to a time when America was torn by the clashing ideals of liberty and domination. Through richly woven narratives, it explores the personal struggles and profound transformations of its unforgettable characters as they navigate a landscape fraught with moral dilemmas and fierce conflict. Each page unfolds a tapestry of ambition, sacrifice, and the relentless quest for redemption against a backdrop of rising tension and impending war.
Key Takeaways
Deeply examines the moral complexities individuals face amid national conflict. Highlights the impactful role of personal choices and their far-reaching consequences. Brings a fresh perspective on the Civil War through richly developed characters.
Detailed Description
As the nation teeters on the brink of division The Demon of Unrest' introduces a cast of characters grappling with their own internal demons. This gripping saga takes us from plush parlors to battlefield trenches weaving together strands of ambition and allegiance revealing how the impending conflict reshapes destinies. Bound by family ties and personal conviction each character confronts their notion of duty and betrayal.
Their intertwined lives reflect the tumultuous landscape of a nation on the verge of war motivations driven by desires for power justice and survival. Through their journeys readers witness the tensions that fuel a whirlwind of unforeseen events. The elegant prose captures an era painting vivid imagery of a country fractured by ideology but united in its shared humanity.
Battles rage not only on the fields but within hearts forcing crucial choices between the cause and conscience love and legacy survival and sacrifice. With harrowing authenticity the novel invites readers to ponder the price of hubris and the profound bravery found in the quietest moments of despair. At its heart it is a story of transformation drawing parallels between the external upheaval and the profound internal revolutions of its unforgettable characters.
As the pages turn the saga builds a mosaic of struggle and redemption creating an evocative narrative that lingers challenging readers to explore the boundaries of loyalty courage and integrity at history's crucial precipice.
Standout Features
The novel's vivid portrayal of moral conflict blurs the line between hero and adversary presenting a multi-dimensional view that invites reflection and discourse Its seamless blend of historical context and character development offers a fresh perspective on a well-trodden era making history personal and relatable The rich evocative language and intricately woven plot deliver an immersive reading experience engaging both the heart and intellect ensuring its timeless relevance and appeal.
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Based on 8038 ratings
Customer Reviews
A detailed account of the lead up to the beginning our Civil War and the fall of Ft. Sumter
The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson, tells the story of the events leading up to the beginning of the American Civil War. The book covers the period from 1807 until the surrender of Ft Sumter in April 1861, but most of the story covers the events from the election of President Lincoln in November 1860 until the surrender. The story is very detailed and is based on diaries, journals, correspondence and news reports during this time. Larson identifies the leading proponents of secession: James Henry Hammond, of South Carolina, owner of over 300 slaves, and Edmund Ruffin, of Virginia. Larson also notes the raid on Harper’s Ferry by John Brown in 1859 and the effect it had on the entire south on the subject of secession. The story then goes on to the period from Lincoln’s election to the fall of Fort Sumter. Starting with South Carolina’s first debate on secession through the act itself on December 20, 1860, and their intent to seize all federal property and arms in the state, the fate of Fort Sumter was a major dilemma. Situated in the center of Charleston harbor it controlled ingress and egress to Charleston. South Carolina, considering themselves an independent nation, sent a delegation to Washington to negotiate relinquishing the fort to South Carolina; however, even President Buchanan knew formally negotiating with South Carolina would be seen as recognizing their independence. Throughout the whole crisis Buchanan did nothing decisive wishing to leave the crisis to the new President after he was inaugurated on March 4. Meanwhile, South Carolina, joined by the other states as they seceded, were building and fortifying batteries surrounding Fort Sumter. Even after Lincoln’s inauguration confusion, misunderstood orders and uncertainty of what action to take delayed any attempt to reinforce and resupply the fort; even when an attempt was finally made in April confusion on who had the authority to assign the navy ships to the mission meant that the Powhatan, the most powerful warship in the Navy, did not take part in the expedition. The relief fleet arrived too late to save the fort. This was an excellent, detailed and long account of the events leading up to the beginning of our Civil War. All of the important people leading up to this crisis were identified and their roles explained. This book is worth reading for those who want to know how to avoid such a crisis in the future.
Excellent story telling and a worthy time investment
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I grew up in Pennsylvania, just outside Gettysburg, but have lived in Charleston, SC for over 10 years now and in SC for over 20. I found the author's bias toward southerners - their attitudes toward Yankees (yes, it's still a thing), their idea of honor, their society structure, etc. - all very accurate and very obviously telling. The author made no qualms of making his belief that the Civil War was exclusively based on the protection of slavery well known in the book. However, in Charleston the belief is (still) that they were fighting for State's rights and to protect their way of life, not necessarily to protect their right to own slaves. Larson truly hit the nail on the head with the dichotomy of the war's driving force and couldn't have more accurately captured the attitudes of those times and still now. Fort Sumter was vividly described and easily allowed readers to visualize the site, even for those who have never been here in person. My only negative for the book is that I felt some of the side stories could have been minimized just to keep the focus on the war. Ms. Mary Chestnut's storyline in particular I didn't feel contributed much to the story of Fort Sumter and the start of the Civil War, but would be an excellent basis for any number of spin-off stories about life in that era and/or in Charleston. If I could give this book a 4.5 out of 5, I would. Larson's research was impressive and obviously thorough. My only point deduction comes from the length that I think could have been cleaned up a little bit. Otherwise, this is a very worthy investment of time for history lovers!
Good book. Excellent narration voice.
First and foremost, I am reading along to the audible version of this book and the narrators voice is amazing. I highly recommend buying by the the book and the audible on this one. This is the second Erik Larson book I've read, "Devil in the White City" being the first. With Devil the biggest criticism was that the duel narratives were disjointed and sort of crammed together. I agreed with this. Reading this book is so much more cohesive,and therefore easy to get into. The civil war isn't even one of my favorite historical eras and I am addicted. Erik Larson really knocks this out of the park. I highly recommend trying this book on for size, it's intrancing.
