Too often, history books never provide context outside of the event(s) they're covering. The reader is left in a vacuum, with little idea of the other events happening simultaneously. This book aims to rectify that by taking the summer of 1876 as the focal point, and showcasing all of the events and people that were making headlines during that time. It allows the reader to see the big picture, and to make the connections that wouldn't be present in a book with a narrow focus. I look forward to seeing what books Wimmer writes going forward.