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

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

• 
  s.penkevich

  Eric Larson releasing a Lincoln Civil War history right before Father's Day in the US is a publishing slam dunk.
• 
  Deanna Hammond

  Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest review.
  
  I was ecstatic to be chosen to read this ARC. I am not an avid NF history reader, but years ago a friend gave me a copy of Devil in the White City because she knew I loved true crime. That began my love affair with Mr. Larson’s books!
  
  I read other reviews that said there is a lot of his research material included in this book, and that it sometimes got tedious. I did not find this to be the case at all. Yes, he includes the research and identifies the sources. But I would hope if you are reading history you would want sources stated and verified. I also felt that his research really fleshed out the people involved.
  
  This is a fascinating book that explores all events leading up to the Civil War. It is so interesting to see through diaries and court accounts and senate reports the thoughts and actions of Anderson, Lincoln, Ruffin, and a myriad of other people. We see them as real people from childhood to adulthood. I love that through the author’s detailed approach, the reader is able to see every component that led to this war. I learned a lot of new information, and found the population of South Carolina at that time fascinating, and also frightening.
  
  There is disturbing personal information about Anderson that had me seething. The description of slave life is detailed and heartbreaking. Larson does not gloss over this- he paints a very real yet heartbreaking visualization.
  
  I feel that we need to know the history so that we can learn from it, and pave a brighter future.
  
  I highly recommend this book!!!
• 
  Georgette

  Been reading this- slowly- for months since I got the ARC in Jan. Finally finished it! Larson is simply awesome at writing history and making it interesting- in this case, American history, Civil War era. Those who know me well are aware I love world history more because what a messed up, intriguing web they wove overseas. The US history is pretty cut and dry- and staid and restrained compared to Russian history. Don't yell, it's true! This was easier to take due to Larson knowing how to spin a yarn out of threadbare plaid.
• 
  Linda

  An extremely well researched account of the months leading up to the attack on Ft. Sumter and the beginning of America’s Civil Wall. This saga is filled with intense depictions of the spiral into a devastating time in our history and the effects on the actual characters involved in the war of secession. This narrative reads like a novel and I came away feeling like our present circumstances draws a parallel to this important, dangerous time when emotions ruled logic and overruled the Constitution.
  
  Highly recommended!
• 
  Lori L (She Treads Softly)

  The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson is a highly recommended in-depth look at the months between Lincoln’s November 1860 election and the surrender of Fort Sumter which lead up to the Civil War.
  
  Larson brings to bear his penchant for presenting extensive historical research in a vivid, compelling manner in the telling the story of a deeply divided nation and the events leading up to the start of the Civil War. "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."
  
  For those who enjoy any and all historical accounts surrounding the Civil War, The Demon of Unrest will be a welcomed addition to your library. This has been hailed as one of the most anticipated books of the year. Personally, ever since I read Isaac's Storm, still a favorite, reading any new Eric Larson book is a necessity. The presentation was compelling and the research is extensive, but I'll sheepishly admit I wanted the narrative to move along just a little bit faster. However, I know several Civil War buffs who will revel in the details.
  
  In the opening Larson does write, “I was well into my research on the saga of Fort Sumter and the advent of the American Civil War when the events of January 6, 2021, took place.” Rather than be so specific and pinning the current ideological divisions on one day, it might have behooved him to simply say that turmoil and division between Americans is present again. Thanks to Crown Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
  
  http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/0...
• 
  Mark

  It's a safe bet that the typical read of Demon of Unrest will not be picking the book up because they have developed a sudden interest in the fall of Fort Sumter; rather they are relying on Erik Larson to make any story interesting. They won't be entirely wrong, but this isn't Larson at the top of his form. Sections involving the fort seem a little drawn out with too much detail, and the story of the southern states' secession from the Union is one that many of us have read about a few too many times already. Nevertheless, there is some good stuff here with some of the personal dynamics involving Abner Doubleday and the senior officer at Fort Sumter (Major Robert Anderson) being pretty interesting, and the double-dealings of Lincoln's Secretary of State, William Seward, are quite astonishing.
  
  A solid read but far from essential. After reading Larson's last book about Churchill and the Blitz, and this new account of the outbreak of the civil war, I hope that Larson switches back to writing about more obscure topics.
  
  Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing a pre-relase electronic copy.
• 
  Louise Hulewsky

  I listened to this one and I didn’t like the narrator. Great well researched book.
• 
  Sally

  On the list for "Goodreads Members' 63 Most Anticipated Books of 2024"
• 
  Laura✨

  Erik Larson, a master of historical nonfiction, delivers yet another compelling work in "The Demon of Unrest". As someone who counts Larson among my top 5 authors, I was thrilled to secure an advanced reader copy.
  
  At first glance, the topic—centred around the tumultuous period from Lincoln's election to the firing on Fort Sumter—might seem familiar. After all, the American Civil War has been dissected and analyzed extensively. As a history major with a focus on US history, I was initially disappointed when the book showed up on Goodreads a few months in advance as I doubted I needed yet another schooling on the subject. However, Larson's deft touch transformed my initial doubts into genuine engagement.
  
  Larson's commitment to historical research shines through every page. Organized into an almost daily chronology, his incorporation of first-hand accounts and primary quotes breathes life into the events and historical figures. His narrative style keeps the tension high and made me speed through this book quickly. Whether it's the political maneuvering in Washington or the soldiers' grim preparations for battle, Larson's vivid descriptions transport us to the heart of the action. Larson deftly weaves together multiple perspectives from diaries, letters, and newspapers, creating a tapestry of human experiences against the backdrop of impending war. The pacing is relentless, mirroring the urgency of the times and the looming conflict to come.
  
  As a devoted reader of Larson's works, "The Demon of Unrest" didn't disappoint. It reminded me why I admire Larson and why the wait time between books is worth it — his ability to unearth and meticulously research forgotten stories, illuminate pivotal moments, and leave us pondering the echoes of history.
  
  I highly recommend it to fellow Larson fans, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a gripping account of a nation teetering on the brink of civil war.
  
  This was an ARC review for NetGalley.
• 
  Casey Wheeler

  This book is well researched and written. I have read several previous books by the author and this one does not disappoint. It deals with the five months of events leading up to the Civil War with the election of Lincoln and the assault of Fort Sumter. Larason does a very good job of covering both sides of the of the building conflict and the emotions that it revealed. A must read for those interested in the Civil War.
  
  I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page
• 
  Karen

  THE DEMON OF UNREST
  BY: ERIK LARSON
  
  About 4.5 Stars!
  
  I met non-fiction author Erik Larson more than two decades ago at an Author event at a popular Independent Bookstore outside of Boston where the bookstore hosts him whenever he publishes a new book. He has a way of building suspense to his subject of history that he endeavors to illuminate. My first impression was that he is down to earth. This was when he published,
  The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America, which remains my favorite. It seemed to be well received by the many booksellers where I met him. It additionally is considered the number one favorite out of all of his books. Then I met him again for his book,
  Thunderstruck. That one ranks number two of readers favorites of his books.
  Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History, was published before his two that I mentioned that I attended his Author book reading and signing events, ranks number three of readers favorite Erik Larson's books. The ranking number four of reader favorites is called,
  In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin However, the most recommended to my amazement ranks number five of readers favorite Erik Larson books is called,
  Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania. That one happens to be my second favorite of this illustrious author. He has written many more non-fiction and fiction books, but those are the top five that rank as readers favorites in order of popularity.
  
  I have the one published before this one which was also a bestseller about Winston Churchill and the London Blitz called,
  The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz, but I haven't read it yet. In this one which chronicles in minutia every detail of the five months between Abraham Lincoln who won the Presidential election in November of 1860, through April of 1861 when the Confederacy fired on Fort Sumter which started the Civil War. All of these details included, I thought making for a much more denser reading experience is called,
  The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War These fraught five months draw on numerous sources such as diary entries and extensive meticulous research make for a riveting reading experience.
  
  At the same time, going back and forth within the timeline takes concentration and paying close attention and still was almost impossible for me to remember all of the dates when too many details and dates of when things occurred. Basically, my most memorable moments were about Major Anderson's actions who was the United States commander in charge of Fort Sumter and his decisions. Another memorable thread was the dates of Abraham Lincoln's certification of the electoral votes on February 13, 1861, his Inauguration on March 4, 1861 and all of his quoted eloquent responses to what was taking place within those five months which he couldn't act since President Buchanan was still in charge. President Buchanan was a Democrat who seemed to take a passive role wanting to get through the rest of his administration in peace. President-Elect Lincoln had a yard sale in Springfield, Illinois to fund him and his family's journey to Washington on February 9, 1861. He sold furniture from his home which this book listed one eager buyer who was Samuel H. Melvin, a Springfield dealer in medicinal drugs and supplies. According to a receipt signed by Lincoln on the same date Melvin spent $82.25 on the following items:
  6 chairs
  1 Spring Mattress
  1 Wardrobe
  1 Whatnot (a cabinet with open shelves, equivalent to a French etagere)
  1 Stand
  4 Comforters
  The Lincolns stayed in a hotel, Chenery House, for their final days in Springfield. On February 11, 1861 was Lincoln's last day. This is just one example of the thousands of factual information presented.
  
  In a former chapter there was a woman named Dorothea Dix who reported that there was a coup-like group who were planning on assassinating Lincoln on the last leg of his train journey in Baltimore. Pinkerton and his detective agency were warned which allowed Lincoln to get off his train and switch schedules of traveling the last leg of his journey to Washington City incognito in disguise. He thwarted those who wanted to bring him harm. At Lincoln's arrival to the hotel in Washington he attended a Peace Convention where at the time the seventh State of Texas had also Seceded from the Union. Among the delegates at the convention was a man named William Rives who represented Virginia. He received a request from Lincoln as well as other Southern delegates to return to the Willard Hotel for a second meeting where he vowed to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act and protect slavery in the states where it already existed. One of the guests ominously named Charles Slaughter Morehead, a former Senator of Kentucky, earnestly asked Lincoln to remove all Federal troops from Fort Sumter "lest violence break out and a fratricidal war." At this Rives warned Lincoln that if he attempted coercion, his own home border State would not hesitate to secede. Lincoln told Rives if Virginia stayed in the Union he would withdraw the troops from Fort Sumter. There would be much miscommunication and duplicitous actions to follow by Lincoln's Secretary of State William Seward that would transpire along with the Southern instigator Edmund Ruffin whose infamous first shot was fired at Fort Sumter. Major Anderson's men were outnumbered twenty five to one.
  
  It is worth noting that the Senate received the amendment proposed by the Peace Convention and promptly voted it into oblivion, 28 to 7. It never went to the House of Representatives. "But a vestige survived in the form of a parallel constitutional amendment proposed in the House by a Representative Thomas Corwin of Ohio and in the Senate by William Seward that guaranteed Congress would not interfere with slavery where it existed. This vestigial stub fared better. The House approved it by a vote of 133 to 65; the Senate did likewise, 24 to 12. Lincoln later forwarded the proposed amendment, the original thirteenth, to all state governors, including those in the Confederacy, for ratification by their legislatures. He neither endorsed it nor denounced it. As he saw it, the amendment merely made explicit--'express and irrevocable'--a principle already embodied in the Constitution and one he himself had espoused many times."
  
  "Only a few states would ultimately ratify the amendment before events made it irrelevant. Known to future centuries as the Shadow or Ghost Amendment, it remained an active congressionally (Sic) approved but unratified (Sic) amendment into the twenty-first century, theoretically still open to a final vote by the states."
  
  The above is a fascinating point, that in my humble opinion might have averted what was to come tragically and heartbreaking for the United States as the Civil War. I think that many things contributed to the war and Erik Larson has woven a fine tapestry of them in his newest offering. Since the South was so worried about the abolitionist North and thinking one of my favorite President's Abraham Lincoln, would interfere with their enslaved populations. Since this book documents that South Carolina's decision to secede and they were the first to do so; all because of Lincoln's election. Furthering Charleston's claim on the Forts and land where Federal troops were ordered by the armed forces in charge to remain. Major Anderson's sympathies were towards the South, but his duty to remain on Fort Sumter by the government unless him and his men were in danger he ended up honoring his duties to the U.S. military. He sent the women and children away as he witnessed the increasing Confederacy arm themselves with every passing day. He was so understaffed compared to the South's gaining more armed rebels surrounding his recent post at Fort Sumter. Inadvertently, Lincoln sent the same reinforcements to two different places in error. With the food sources depleted it's not surprising that the outcome was how Civil War transpired. The Confederate South seemed determined to wage war even though it was empathized throughout this book they held themselves with a heightened sense of chivalry and honor.
  
  As Erik Larson was beginning to work on this extremely detailed window of history he relays he was watching the January 6, 2021 insurrection that took place. He refers to the word insurrection many times when describing events taking place during this five month period with documented facts backing up this time during history. He uses quotation marks to encompass the words spoken by a multitude of the people when they say something to further the narrative. Diaries, journals, planters records,letters, books, etc., are drawn from which give this non-fiction work called,
  The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War authenticity.
  
  I should back up and say that when Lincoln who was a Republican won the election in November of 1860, South Carolina was the first State to Secede from the nation in response to it. Charleston, South Carolina was the area where there were many people who when the State Seceded wanted the Forts inhabited back. Major Anderson was the person who decided to leave Fort Moultrie and moved to Fort Sumter which was not yet finished. Fort Sumter was better strategically located should there be an attack from the increasingly armed Charleston and the rebel seizure of Fort Moultrie and Castle Pinckney. When Fort Sumter was fired upon by the Confederate South is what would eventually be the start of the Civil War, with a loss of 750,000, American lives.
  
  After South Carolina Seceded first, next was Mississippi, third was Florida spurred on by an agitator named Edmund Ruffin, from Virginia. Next to Secede were Alabama and Georgia followed by Louisiana. Jefferson Davis from Mississippi was elected President of the South who at first reluctantly took the position. He was a graduate from West Point and he fought in the Mexican War. Montgomery was named the Capital of the South. There are many, many sources drawn from an immense bibliography that Erik Larson has taken quotations to recreate what is said by the massive amount of individuals that populate the pages of this tumultuous five months. The author often cites different statistics; for example in terms of money, he translates the monetary value of the costs then, and converts the amounts in today's worth. There are too many people to name in a book review that encompass this masterfully written work. As I said, the minutia of every detail, dates, and people involved has no doubt been a monumental undertaking by this author. He gives a telephoto lens into everything that happened from what is an impressive amount of diverse points of views from the full gamete of acting participants within these five months time. Recommended to readers interested in history. Definitely an eye opening account to Civil War fans. This is another well written book by Erik Larson that I really enjoyed.
  
  Publication Date: April 30, 2024
  
  Thank you to Net Galley, Erik Larson and Crown Publishing for generously providing me with my fantastic eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
  
  #TheDemonofUnrest #ErikLarson #CrownPublishing #NetGalley
• 
  Elspeth

  Larson is a master of making nonfiction compelling and as much like fiction as you can. In this book, he outlines the lead in to the Civil War and the beginning of Lincoln's tenure as our 16th president.
  
  It was very interesting hearing about the back story of some of these major players in the Civil War and runup to it, including the Senator who had "consensual" relationships with his nieces and later his slaves; and how many of the Southerners were at the same time saying that slaves were "not human" and "built to work in the fields" but they were also afraid these slaves would attack them as they slept? Clearly the Southerners wanted to be American royalty, dressing up their slaves in livery and having them serve at parties. Interesting, considering the royalty and those concepts are major reasons we left England to start a new country.
  
  The book does really get into the weeds, as it were, and might be most interesting to real Civil War aficionados, but there were parts that I really was interested in, mostly the gossip about the characters that were involved rather than the battles or politics of trying to keep us out of a war.
  
  While this was not my favorite Larson book, even though I am interested in the Civil War time period in that area, I highly recommend Larson's books as an engaging way to learn about history and hear about some lesser known stories.
  
  I received a promotional copy and am giving an honest review.
• 
  Donna

  Before reading this title, I was roughly aware of the facts about the time between Lincoln's election and the shelling of Fort Sumter. To whit, the South didn't like the results. of the election and there was so much anger in the slave states that Lincoln had to disguise himself to complete his train journey to Washington to take the oath of office. Then, within a few months, Sumter was shelled, and the Union forces left quietly. There are mountains of gaps in this story, and Erik Larson is just the author to fill them in. Along with Candice Millard, he is someone who can write about history that is fairly well known and turn it into a page-turning adventure.
  
  Larson paints Lincoln as someone who needed to grow quite a bit to cope with unimaginable levels of danger at this juncture of American history. Fortunately he did. Along the way, there is a rich cast of characters - Mary Chesnut, whose diaries painted a detailed view of the Southern perspective, The others include, the rich and handsome planter, politician and rogue Richard Manning, Edmund Ruffin a secessionist firebrand who was given the "honor" of firing the first cannon shot against the fort, and Frances Pickens, South Carolina governor, who tried to honorably work with the Union commander Anderson to broker out a bloodless solution to the confrontation.
  
  I had always imagined that the battle was over in a matter of hours, but the truth is that the Union troops fired back bravely for more than a day. This book should be a regular for book discussion groups because it contains considerable information about why the southerners were so angry. Slavery was the bedrock of their economy and they were afraid that Lincoln would free the slaves. Many people today seem confused on this point, and Larson's book will set the record straight for those capable of learning the truth. Larson has turned in another great and illuminating read.
• 
  Traci

  Received ARC
  
  While the book was extremely well researched, it read more like a history textbook than any of Erik Larson's other books. As a fan of his work, I was excited to read this one. While I walked away with more knowledge of the start of the civil war I felt like I was slogging through it.
• 
  Anne Morgan

  Erik Larson, known for Devil in the White City and The Splendid and the Vile, among many others, this time takes on Fort Sumter and trying to understand (and explain) the root causes behind the American Civil War.
  
  Americans may think they know the basics: Lincoln got elected, South Carolina seceded, Fort Sumter was fired on, there was a war. But Larson takes us into the deeply human and often tragic months between Lincoln getting elected and the firing on Fort Sumter. Were there moments when things could have been different? When different choices could have caused massively different outcomes?
  
  The surprising truth is that, as Larson shows us, Northerners and Southerners as a whole did not understand each other. And had not for decades-if ever. The Southern aristocrats who made up the politicians most Northerners met with were hot-tempered, extremely proud, and always on alert to having their honor offended at the slightest provocation. And they had largely managed to convince themselves that there was nothing wrong with slavery. So the louder abolitionists in the North became, the more offended the South became. Abolitionists said the institution of slavery was evil, Southerners heard that they themselves were evil.
  
  Add to this hot-heads who had been arguing that Southern states should have separated from the Union for decades, and the situation had been rife for rebellion longer than many were willing to admit. One person who doesn't come out of Demon looking good is outgoing President Buchanan. Buchanan acts oblivious to everything until he can't avoid it any longer (I particularly loved a quote by Georgia representative Toombs who tells Buchanan he's been in the midst of a revolution for over a year, he just hasn't noticed it.). His only goal is to get to Inauguration Day without violence so he can dump the problems on Lincoln and any states that leave happen under Lincoln's watch instead of his. But when South Carolina seceded letters show partying Southerners go to the White House, assuming Buchanan will be happy as well. There's no record of whether Buchanan partied too, but the fact that Southerners in Washington assumed he was on their side did not help issues moving forward. The level that rumors and misunderstandings played in politics of the day was surprising to me.
  
  Reading about the experiences of the people in Fort Sumter itself were some of the most interesting parts for me. Major Anderson, conflicted between his natural feelings for his home in the South and his sworn oath to the US Army (a conflict many military men would have to deal with)- on top of having to make a lot of decisions himself that he shouldn't have had to make, was especially someone I felt for. He knew pretty early on his decisions had the real potential to spark a war if he wasn't careful, and he had almost no feedback from his superiors to help guide him. He was in a no-win situation and I expect plenty of people would have surrended the fort a lot sooner than he did. His sections of the book helped explain a question I never knew I had: what made Fort Sumter so important and such a flash point that we connect it with the start of the war?
  
  I had a little trouble getting into Demon at first- possibly because when I started it I could only read small sections at a time and I think the beginning of the book would benefit from reading in a large chunk in one sitting to really get into it. There are a lot of people to get to know and some time traveling to get really settled into understanding the 1860 "present" (Larson backs up and gives up some pre-1860 Southern history so we understand where the Southern mindset is and that the idea of seceding isn't something new to them). But once I got settled in the book I really enjoyed it, because there was so much behind-the-scenes history Larson was showing me that I hadn't known about before. As always, Larson uses letters, diaries, and other first-hand accounts to make the events spring to life for the reader- which I love.
  
  While not his best book in my opinion, The Demon of Unrest is an excellent, well-researched book that Larson's fans should enjoy. Full of the drama, pathos, and absolute humanity that draws you into an excellent history book.
  
  I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
• 
  William de_Rham

  Erik Larson has done it again: He’s written a terrific book!
  
  This time, his subject is the Civil War; specifically, the five months leading up to it, beginning with Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 election victory and ending with South Carolina’s attack on Fort Sumter. A product of first-rate research, it’s a very well-told story that presents the historical figures (both famous and not-so-famous), the political issues, the events, and the attitudes and tenor of that time.
  
  Some of the events covered include:
  
  Lincoln’s election (and Southern reaction to it);
  
  The Buchanan administration’s ineffective and/or harmful responses to the mounting crisis;
  
  Efforts to man and supply the federal forts in and around Charleston, including Fort Sumter;
  
  Various state secession conventions and the formation of the Confederacy;
  
  The counting of electoral votes in Congress (having some similarities to the events of 01/06/2021);
  
  Lincoln’s journey from Springfield and his stealthy arrival in DC amidst fears he would be assassinated;
  
  Lincoln’s inauguration and first months in office; and
  
  Preparations for, and the actual battle at, Fort Sumter.
  
  Larson's settings range from Springfield, Ill, to New York City, to Philadelphia, to DC, to Charleston. He explores the parts played by well-known historical figures such as Lincoln, Buchanan, Jefferson Davis, John Brown, General Winfield Scott, William Seward, and Edward Stanton; and by lesser-known men and women such as Fort Sumter’s commander, Major Robert Anderson, and some of his officers (including Abner Doubleday, baseball’s “inventor” and future Union general), secessionists James Henry Hammond and Edmund Ruffin, and Southern loyalist and diarist Mary Boykin Chestnut. His depictions of Lincoln are not unique, but they do paint a very human portrait of the President.
  
  Larson amply covers the politics of the times. In particular, he explains how the South’s insistence on maintaining slavery (rooted in its racism and fear of economic harm) and the North’s demands that it be abolished (arising from the belief that slavery was fundamentally evil) formed the unbridgeable chasm that caused the war. I found his depictions of slavery and the pall that “peculiar institution” must have cast over day-to-day living in the South truly memorable.
  
  A master storyteller, Larsen enlivens his tale with a good deal of suspense as well as occasional humor. Some sections had me on the edge of my seat, even though I knew the outcome. Others had me chuckling.
  
  In short, “The Demon of Unrest” is an excellent book, well-suited for any reader interested in the Civil War.
  
  My thanks to NetGalley, author Erik Larson, and publisher Crown Publishing for providing me with a complimentary ARC. All of the foregoing is my independent opinion.
  
• 
  Carole Barker

  How human egos and other imperfections led a nation to civil war.
  
  We all learned about the Civil War in history class during our school days, and were taught that the different ways of life in the North vs the South led inevitably to war…agrarian vs industrial societies, slavery vs abolitionism, and so on. And while all of that was accurate, there was so much more at play particularly in the months leading up to the start of the war, the months between the election of Abraham Lincoln as President and the shelling of Fort Sumter. Southern gentlemen of the class known as the chivalry for whom honor was a matter for which they would willingly die (or kill); men in the government and military who had ties to and sympathized with the Southerners, the loyalties of some in concert with those sympathies while for others they were in conflict, and Cabinet members of the newly elected President who would work against the government they had sworn to serve all came in to play. We all know how the story ends, but in this latest book by author Erik Larson we are shown in great detail how, where and why it started.
  It has been over twenty years since I first read a book by this author. It was called Isaac’s Storm and was about the deadly 1900 hurricane in Galveston TX, a storm of which I had never heard. I am more a reader of fiction than non=fiction, but the story Mr. Larson told was a compelling and fascinating read. I have enjoyed other books he has subsequently written, in large part because he takes a small piece of history and tells its story in a well-researched but very readable way. Perhaps because this topic can by no means be thought of as a small piece of history, I found The Demon of Unrest a more challenging read. There is a lot of story to tell, and given Mr. Larson’s impeccable research there are a lot of details. A devout fan of military history in general or Civil War history in particular will find a tremendous amount of information to absorb, but for me the level of detail distracted at times from the story he was telling. At close to 600 pages, this is an investment of time, but for those with a strong interest in the subject matter it will provide a great deal of satisfaction and enjoyment. Fans of Shelby Foote, Bruce Catton and James McPherson should absolutely add this to their shelves, and readers of other Larson books will likely do so as well. Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for allowing me access to an early copy of this well-researched and meticulously documented look at the inflection point of the Civil War.
• 
  Darla

  Here lay the greatest of ironies: In thirty-four hours of some of the fiercest bombardment the world had ever seen, no one was killed or even seriously injured, yet this bloodless attack would trigger a war that killed more Americans than any other conflict in the country's history.
  
  In our current political climate, clickbait and cable news are busily spreading a range of truth, propaganda, and sometimes outright lies. Even thought the 19th century citizens did not have the worldwide web, they found ways to spread the same kinds of information. Erik Larson started this book in the early days of the pandemic. We are the beneficiaries of his extensive research. Source information and notes on quotes occupy nearly 25% of the book which is a few pages shy of 600. I spent a week reading this book and it does take time to digest the contents. The book begins in 1860 and essentially ends with the evacuation of Fort Sumter on April 14, 1861. Four years later the United States flag would once again be raised above the fort -- a bittersweet occasion in more ways than one.
  
  Here is what I loved about this latest title from Erik Larson:
  🎌The personalities highlighted on both sides give us a snapshot of the times. Mary Chestnut, a planter's wife, is one of the most fascinating voices.
  🎌The election and establishment of the Lincoln presidency are highlighted. I value and respect his impact on US history even more than before.
  🎌I was woefully ignorant on the role Fort Sumter played in the beginnings of the Civil War. What a precarious position Major Anderson occupied as the leader of the fort.
  🎌In his signature fashion, Larson provides real-life quotes and anecdotes that bring the period to life in new ways.
  🎌Larson's description of his narrative as follows:
  I think of this central arc as a narrative spine, a Christmas tree; the fun part is finding and hanging the shiny ornaments, the revealing details hidden dep within the archives, diaries, and memoirs.
  
  Thank you to Crown and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
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  Pam

  I have read all of Erik Larson's books, and he is one of my favorite authors (along with David Grann) in this genre. Meticulous research, along with the ability to capture the reader's interest make his books a pleasure to read. "The Demon of Unrest" is a fascinating look at the period leading up to the Civil War, and reading it, makes me even more afraid for the state our country is in these days.
  
  I learned so much from this book: how James Buchanan was basically a milquetoast, Abraham Lincoln at first was for keeping the peace with slave states by letting them continue their despicable justifications for owning and basically abusing innocent black men, women and children. Thank god Lincoln came to his senses. Other characters I wasn't as familiar with, including Major Robert Anderson, in charge of Fort Sumpter, who had to make tough decisions without help from his superiors in Washington -- imagine what might have happened if there were telephones and internet then! The secessionist Edmund Ruffin, who was determined to get as many southern states as possible to leave the Union; his desires to be famous and admired were paramount in his quest. William Seward, who wanted power and would love to have been president instead of Lincoln. So many more characters who deserve mention: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Howard Russell, SC governor Frances Pickens, and Mary Todd Lincoln (who was a much stronger person than I ever gave her credit for). And many more.
  
  As a North Carolinian, I have been to Charleston and Fort Sumter and these places are as much characters in Larson's book as the people are. While some might argue that "The Demon of Unrest" is more factual like a textbook, I enjoyed the writing style and appreciate Larson's thoroughness.
  
  Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishers for the digital ARC.
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  Liz

  This fascinating book takes the reader through the months leading up to the start of the Civil War. It was a time of miscommunication, hubris, and leadership weakness/incompetence. It was also a time when honor was highly valued. It’s fascinating to see the communications back and forth - what was deemed expected protocol.
  Larson uses actual documents to show that the Southern States’ secessions were totally about slavery, not “states rights” as so many later would argue. Mississippi’s declaration clearly stated:
  “Our position is thoroughly identified with slavery- the greatest material interest of the world…its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth.”
  The book shows that war was inevitable, although Lincoln tried hard to prevent it. Compromise was never going to work when one side viewed the other’s position as evil, which impugned their honor.
  It was perfect timing for me to read this book as we just visited Charleston and saw many of the locations detailed here, especially Fort Sumter.
  As always, Larson has written a nonfiction that reads as easily as fiction. He keeps the focus on the individuals involved, giving us a real feel for who they were. I never had a feel for President Buchanan and now I’m embarrassed that he lived in my current home region. It took 160 years for another president to give him a run for worst President ever. I also had no idea that so many government officials, including a Supreme Court judge, held southern sympathies.
  Filled with fascinating facts, Larson has once again found a niche part of a well known time in history to delve into.
  My thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
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  Homerun2

  An impeccably researched exploration of the beginnings of the Civil War. Larson particularly incorporates the personal viewpoints of more than a dozen people on both sides, using historical materials and diaries and journals.
  
  This is not a neutral account. The view that comes across is that the South, with its lifestyle charade of being a continuation of the old chivalrous era of Sir Walter Scott, was in denial about the sustainability or morality of their slavery-based existence. And while many apologists claim still that the Civil War was not about slavery but about states' rights, Larson's careful examination of the actual documents involved makes it clear that the prime factor was the South's total reliance on slaves, their justification being that the slaves were not quite human.
  
  The arrogance of (in particular) South Carolina is still disturbing -- their hatred of the North, their feelings of superiority, their belief in their own invincibility -- reading it now makes those views sound delusional. There was a complete disconnect with reality and they were stunned by the destruction that the war caused. They absolutely believed their cause was just and so they would be victorious.
  
  Various political incompetencies are delved into. Buchanan and Seward are presented in a very unfavorable light. This was an infuriating book to read -- because you can't help but make a few connections to modern day hubris and look at divisions which rely on misinformation and arrogance. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
  
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  Melissa

  I am generally not a nonfiction reader; however, after reading (and loving) Larson’s “The Splendid and the Vile” in 2020 I was looking forward to reading his next book! My fiancé also enjoys reading Civil War history, so I had extra motivation to learn more about this time period and chat with him about it.
  
  Ultimately, I enjoyed this one! I learned so much history without it feeling like a chore. Larson writes in a narrative style that flows extremely well with intrigue, suspense, and emotional connections to the historical people he writes about. I was so invested at some points I got “mad” at my fiancé for telling me “spoilers” when discussing the book (as if almost 200 year old history could be a spoiler 😂). I did think the first half dragged just a bit- some of the background on the ancillary characters was interesting but maybe not essential to the central storyline. However, once Larson reached Lincoln’s inauguration the book really took off- I was racing through the pages to find out what happened next.
  
  Much to my fiancés excitement, I’m now inspired to read more about the Civil War and maybe even visit some of the places described! And at the end of the day, that’s all I really want from a nonfiction/history book- to keep me engaged, teach me something I didn’t know, and inspire me to learn more.