This is the first Erik Larson book I’ve read (shocking, I know) but I’ve really liked it! It look ,e quite a while to get through it, but it was totally worth it. Larson provides so much detail and so many vignettes about such a pivotal moment in US history that I didn’t know all that much about. This “story” is so much more interesting than the 30,000 foot view we got in any history class or discussion.

Not quite as easy of a narrative read as some of Larson's past works. If you haven't read him before, then I think you might need a distinct interest in history already to pick this one up, whereas I found that I could recommend some of his older works to folks without any specific real interest in the content. I quite enjoyed this "play by play" of such a short period of time. For fans of his works already this is easy to recommend.

Erik Larson is one of our leading writers of non-fiction. In "The Demon of Unrest" his focus is on South Carolina and the tensions, politics, characters, power players that put the south on collision course with the federal government. He give us the Buchanan administration in unflattering light. The rabid secessionists of South Carolina and beyond, eager to go their own way, those who cling to the belief that slaveholders were necessary to the South's (romanticized) way of life, and the lack of a realistic view of the South by those in the North--and of the North by Southerners.

By concentrating on South Carolina, Charleston, and Fort Sumter specifically, Larson enables the reader to explore more fully the lead up to the Civil War, and the tough choices made by those inside the Fort, and by Abraham Lincoln. I found myself frequently thinking "I didn't know that!", though much has been written about the Civil War.

Once again, Larsen thoroughly researches, and presents his information in a novel-like book, gripping, informative, entertaining.

The Demon of Unrest dive’s into the turbulent five month period between Abraham Lincoln’s election and the surrender of Fort Sumter on April 14, 1865. Larson combined research from many sources, sharing the perspectives of men and women who experienced the events firsthand and left behind journals that are now in our national archives.

The events surrounding Fort Sumter are fascinating to read through, especially as southern hospitality and gentlemanly behavior are upheld, despite rising tensions.

Hello, unfortunately despite an earlier request I was approved for this book right before publication date, so I waited until my actual hard copy arrived to read and think about it after a long read. Sorry I'm usually not late. Anyway, here it is

My initial thoughts are mixed on The Demon of Unrest

I love the source material Larson uses, although...

1) It seems like a questionable choice to bleep out historical terms because of modern day sensibilities. You know people are going to just look it up if they don't know the word already (presuming they are here to learn). Are we here to be accurate and teach or just to soften everything down for current readers, which is exactly what I don't think a broadly reaching historical platform should be doing.

2) I personally don't like how much Larson's own views come through although I respect that he picked a tone and stuck with it throughout. I mean obviously we don't need to show the confederates any grace in modern day society but I have mixed feelings about how much critical thinking space he left open for readers (some).

3) After the infamous introduction where he compares Sumter to Jan 6th, it's a bit obvious that he wrote the entire book through that lens once he started putting it together. Yes we have rabble rousers and division today but I don't think the book is going to hold up well

4) it is nearly 600 pages long and extremely fussy and nitpicky with some details (and repetitive at times). I do wonder if Larson could have pared out, for example, Mary Chestnut's entire contribution about the Carolina social scene (because who cares who she had dinner with). People can read her diary if they really want, instead of quoting so much from it. She could have been...reduced.

5) I'm not sure how I feel about the organization. It seems like so many dates and different narratives are throwing some readers off. I'm indifferent but can see where the comments are coming from. Larson usually strives to write a narrative more than a historical document so the fixation on dates and such got me where it didn't in his prior books.

6) Frankly in 600 pages, some of it is just a lot more interesting than other parts. Where Harper's Ferry is largely considered to be the ignition point, Larson overlooked that for the most part and hyper focused on many small details related to other events, meetings, speeches, ideas, people, etc

7) Will Patton after switching to audio was the only way I possibly could have finished this book

8) All that said, I don't think it's bad that a book focused on the precluding political, social, and cultural scene instead of the war itself. Is this the narrative we need in 2024? Probably, since there aren't many people willing to read dry facts today and the ideas are more important than who fought whom where. It fits in with Larson's prior efforts

Long story short: lots of good content but needed to be whacked down another 100-150 pages and I had trouble with how focused Larson's lens is. That all said, Larson writes narratives not historical documents and I'm never sure how much his prior books contain this because I'm not as familiar with the history itself. I love how much he loves research but what did he turn it into? As I said, mixed feelings

I personally did not really enjoy this book. It felt like it dragged on and there was a lot of information that made it feel like it excessive. Erik Larson typically is a good author but I just felt like this one was not the best. It had some neat information that I did not know but it took me awhile to get through it.

As a 32-year-old native South Carolinian, I felt especially attached to this book. Having spent my entire life living less than 2 hours from Charleston, and Fort Sumter, I have never taken the time to fully appreciate or understand the importance of it historically. This book filled in the gap of the story and has created in me a desire to visit and better understand the story behind Fort Sumter.

Most of this story centers around Fort Sumter (or, Sumpter, as Lincoln so incorrectly referred to it throughout his life) and the impact it had on starting the Civil War. The story told by Larson spans the years leading up to the Civil War, starting in the final year of Buchanan’s presidency and spanning through the surrender of Fort Sumter and first shots fired in the Civil War. It includes key moments throughout that multi-year span, like Lincoln’s election, the first Secession Conference, and the eventual surrender of Fort Sumter.
Larson’s story is perhaps one of the most well-researched and immersive non-fiction stories I have read in many years. A fact evidenced alone by the length of his Bibliography and Sources list at the conclusion of the book. The historical context and integration of so many historical figures into the story help to paint the perfect picture of the attitudes and thoughts behind slavery, secession, the Confederacy and the Union. His ability to weave together so many sources to create such a powerful narrative is impressive, but I would expect nothing less from the wonderful Erik Larson.

I rarely provide 5 stars, but strongly believe this book deserves all 5 of them. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a new nonfiction read.

I owe a debt of gratitude to Erik Larson, the publisher and NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for me to enjoy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a bit of a slog to get through and I didn't feel like I learned anything particularly new by reading it. Very dull.

Erik Larson is my favorite nonfiction writer. He has this amazing ability to write moments from history that are like reading a fast paced thriller. I devoured his previous books - Devil in the White City being my favorite. This, however, was a slog for me. It took me 2 months to finish and put me in an epic reading slump. I kept having to put it down. The subject matter was very interesting and there were some “characters” that were fascinating (Lincoln (obviously), Anderson, Ruffin, even a bit of Mary Chestnut 😂)- but I found there was no real narrative pulling everything together. It read more like a textbook to me than a novel - which is FINE, but not what I expected from Erik Larson. I will say the last 20% or so it picked up a bit and I especially loved the Epilogue and Coda. Also, the opening bit about January 6 turned me off. I am not a proponent of that day by any means, but equating it to the events preceding a bloody Civil War felt icky. Anyway, I will still look forward to reading more from Larson - his books are always tackle an interesting niche of a popular subject matter and they are meticulously researched. Immense thanks to @netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy - even though I couldn’t finish it in time for pub day!

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.
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. 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. This is the fourth of Larson's books that I have read. I am always interested in the topics he pursues, and this one is no exception. Being a history major and Southerner, I have often read about the firing on Ft. Sumter that started the Civil War, but I have never read about this time, the characters involved, and the sacrifices that were made. The author gives so much detail, that I had to take it slowly, hence the 3 month span between the requesting of the book and this review as, not only does the author include an amazing amount of detail in his writing showing his extensive research, most of his books run around 500 pages not including the additional notes and bibliography. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone interested in history. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request to read this outstanding book.

I’ve enjoyed Erik Larson’s other books, and I enjoyed this one too. He skillfully makes long-past events seem fresh to readers and shows how these events were not set in stone. The Demon of Unrest is no different, but it takes on additional meaning with Larson’s brief mention of January 6th in the introduction– the bloodiest period in our nation’s history is the result of numerous large and small actions from both private citizens and government officials.

Erik Larson posses that rare talent of writing an historical narrative that reads like a novel, but is drawn from extensive historical research. Addressing the communication, mis-communication, and the psychology and personalities of the various politicians and statesmen, he has constructed a “play by play” narrative of events leading up to the bombing and surrender of Fort Sumter.
Highly recommended for those with an interest in Civil War history.

First, let me thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mr Larson does not disappoint. I’ve read several books of his and they are always top notch. Like most of us I was aware of the story of Fort Sumter. But certainly not to this extent. The details here are riveting.

Like other books by Larson, I found this one a bit of a slow starter. But I think that is due to the complex storytelling that he does. With that said, it isn’t too long and you find yourself in a position on not wanting to put the book down. The story continues to build and build as you wait for the moment you know about. The drama is very thick. Such intricate storytelling. I fantastic read that revealed much more to the story that I thought I already knew.

Would definitely recommend.

Title: Demon of Unrest
By: Erik Larson

Genre:
Non-Fiction, History, Civil-War

A way with words…an excerpt from Larson’s writing.

“The oars were audible before the boat came into view, this despite a noisy wind that coarsened the waters of the bay. It was very late on a black night. The rain, according to one account, "fell in torrents, and the wind howled weird-like and drearily." In recent weeks the weather had been erratic: seductively vernal one day, bone-wrackingly cold the next.”


Summary/Review:
This is the first novel I have read by Erik Larson. His talent for bringing non-fiction writing to life as if it were fiction, is refreshing! His words are eloquently written, and his novel inspires the reader to think critically, which in turn creates an unforgettable piece of work. I was blown away! Larson places a microscope on a large chunk of history and breaks it down to the tiniest slice in order to help the reader understand each character and the motivations of our past. Highly recommended!

Thank you Erik Larson, Crown Publishing, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#eriklarson
#thedemonofunrest
#nonfiction
#fortsumter
#netgalley
#advanced reader editions

This was a bit hard to get through at times but I really enjoyed it. The minute by minute accounting of the approach of war was overwhelming but really important. It gave a great indication of what it would have been like to live through it, and Larsen did a great job of explaining multiple points of view.

Erik Larson writes a wonderful book, and while I appreciate some of his less political works more, this was an interesting snapshot of a part of the Civil War history that I really hadn't known too much about. One thing Larson does well is paint a picture without insinuating what is to come, which means that as you read, you can almost forget that you actually know how it ends!

Some interesting, if scary, parallels to the present day, which makes it both terrifying and reassuring.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this novel in exchange for a review.

Just as impressive as Larson’s previous works, The Demon of Unrest weaves forever history and backstory to create a riveting read.

Please read this review knowing that I have read two other Erik Larson books, and loved them both, and still plan to read two others. I love WWII historical fiction and non-fiction so I'm not new to "tough" subjects. This one, however, was just too much for me. I made it to the section on Hammond's "affair" (read: r*pe) of his teenaged nieces and I had to take a break. By that point I was 20% in. When I came back to it, I said I would read at least halfway, but I just can't read anymore.

Aside from it's "problematic" themes, this also doesn't read like the other Larson books I've read. I'm really missing that flowy narrative where I feel like I'm reading a fiction, but with all the facts of non-fiction. If you're particularly into this region of history, I would definitely recommend giving it a try, but it was a miss for me.

You will learn more about the immediate events leading up to the Civil War then you ever did in history class. But instead of a broad, general view of politics and economics, Larson focuses on the men behind the scenes. Featuring the passively frustrating President James Buchanan, his treasonous Secretary of War John Floyd (outsmarted by Unionist yinzers!), recently elected Abraham Lincoln, incestuous planter James Hammond, adamant secessionist Edmund Riffin, no-nonsense abolitionist Capt. Doubleday, and sympathizing but duty-first Major Anderson, the commander at Ft. Sumter. But despite the efforts of Northern compromisers and Unionists, war was inevitable. Problem was, the "petulant" gentlemen of the South all knew it was an awful, outdated institution. But the money was too good. Risking war and the deaths of hundreds of thousands was worth it to preserve their lifestyle. Out of the 169 South Carolina white slavers who decided on succession and the fate of an entire nation, 40% all went to the same college and the decision took eight minutes. It will shock you.

What I love most about this book is that Erik Larson gets right to the point: "The crux of the crisis was in fact slavery. This was obvious to all at the time, if not to [20th century revisionists] who sought to cast the conflict in the bloodless terms of states' rights." The Civil War occurred because a small, incredibly rich, white portion of the population wanted to preserve their "chivalrous" way of life, on the backs of millions of individuals. What's more, Larson quotes Southern planters and politicians directly, so there's no denying it. He cuts the rose-tinted, magnolia blooming, sweet tea drinking atmosphere with a knife and I'm here for it. I especially enjoyed reading about Anderson's rogue night mission to move all the men from Ft. Moultrie to Ft. Sumter. You could feel the tension and I thought that was particularly well written. Another excellent work from Mr. Larson!

read it, liked it...but wondered why he chose THIS tale to tell? So much has already been done so I expected ..i don't know, MORE> Def not his best.