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.

I love that Erik Larson makes nonfiction and history accessible and interesting to a larger audience. There are a number of people in my life who have talked about how The Devil in the White City got them back into reading, and they get excited about every new Larson release. I just wish his writing style worked better for me. I thought if any Larson book would work for me, it would be one about the American Civil War, and I did like this more than anything else I've read by him.

Larson begins the project by referencing the January 6th attack on the US Capitol, the only time he references modern politics, but that comment leaves the reader thinking about the event (and the entirety of the Trump years) through the whole book. He then uses personal narratives of several people to tell the story of the 1860 election through to the first shots at Fort Sumter. His research is thorough and the narrative is engaging. As one of my friends said, "I keep thinking I'll stop at the end of a chapter, and then he drops something that just makes me want to keep reading!" In that respect, it is an easy read but there is something that doesn't quite work for me and I haven't been able to put my finger on it.

TLDR REVIEW

The Demon of Unrest
By Erik Larson

Read with:
Audiobook 🎧
Ebook 📱
Hard cover 📕

Rating: 👁️👁️👁️👁️/5

Goodreads rating: 4.29

Certified Unputdownable? No.

🛗 pitch: Inside the minds and events of one of the most riveting moments in American history

Thoughts:

-I have read and watched A LOT about the Fort Sumter crisis. This was the first time I’ve felt like the people involved were human and not historic abstractions. I feel like this is Larson’s super power.

-This was actually my first Larson, and I definitely see the hype around his storytelling.

-Unbelievably well-researched.

-Pairs well with Ken Burns’s Civil War, which I watched alongside reading this book 🥰

-I’m under no illusion that this book is for everyone. Like most history, it’s definitely still dry. However, if you’re interested in trying some historical nonfiction, this is much more accessible and interesting than 90% of what’s out there.

-Your dad will LOVE this book

-This was definitely my favorite Civil War-related nonfiction I’ve read. I could see re-reading this in a few years.

-Audiobook was awesome, read by Will Patton, one of my favorites out there right now

So sometimes you want an in-depth, focused, academic historic tome on a subject and then sometimes you want the popular history version. Erik Larson has always succeeded in providing excellent narrative histories of events and I’ve enjoyed his books since I read Devil in the White City. His last few books had focused on the twentieth century and World Wars, all of which I would highly recommend, especially Dead Wake about the sinking of the Lusitania. So this book, which focused on the run up to the beginning of the Civil War and the battle of Fort Sumter, was a bit unexpected. And maybe because I have been listening to the excellent podcast, the Civil War & Reconstruction, this work just fell a bit flat for me.

Larson provides a chronological examination of the events that led up to the first battle of the Civil War, the increasing tensions in the nation as the Southern states tried to ensure that slavery could move into the new territories while the Northern states advocated to make sure that the “peculiar institution” remained only in the places it was already established. Since South Carolina was the first state to secede and Sumter was in Charleston, Larson focuses most of his attention for the first half of the book there, specifically on James Hammond and the chivalry culture that was prevalent throughout the South. Larson also follows Edwin Ruffin, an Virginia planter who was a strong proponent for secession.

While I understand the need to examine how the U.S. got to the point of accivil war, the time and attention spent on these two specific individuals just threw me for some reason. Larson quotes heavily from Mary Boykin Chestnut, as many historians of the period do since her diary, kept throughout the war, provides a first hand account of the Southern planter culture’s thoughts. Hammond and Ruffin are both fairly despicable characters, one a vainglorious blowhard that raped four of his underage nieces and the other a strident racist who cherished his ability to fire the first cannon of the war and cheered the death of Northern soliders at the Battle of Manassas. The South was full of people like these two for sure but there is also a very real economic discussion for why the South chose to fight. I am not sure why Larson focused on them and the culture of the Duel Chivalry; did he think that it would ensure the reader saw the Southern planter culture as ridiculous (which really it was)? If so, the writing somehow misses the mark and the reader is left feeling a little bit uneasy by all the attention lavished on these people who subjected and abused a whole class of people for their own comfort and gain.

Finally, when it came to the battle itself, Larson goes back and forth between the powers that be in Washington, the commanders at the forts outside Charleston, and the government of the Confederacy, in a somewhat jarring fashion and it was hard to follow the narrative. It might have worked to have just followed Captain Anderson at the Fort and then provided a detailed analysis of what was going on behind the scenes once Larson had described the battle.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad book, but I don’t think it was Larson’s finest. Taking on the Civil War, an area of history that has been written about by some of the greatest historians of the last fifty years, is a tough task; I am not sure that there was much added to the canon. If you are someone with just a passing interest in the Civil War and are looking for a good place to start reading about it, this might not be a bad place to start but I think there are just so many other books that provide excellent insight into this first stage of the war.

Also, I need to give a shout out to The Civil War & Reconstruction podcast, it took them almost 35 episodes to get to the first battle of the war so that should tell you what a thorough job they are doing!

THE DEMON OF UNREST, by Erik Larson, is a entertaining chronicle of the beginnings of the Civil War. Using the initial conflict at Ft Sumter as a guidepost, Larson uses public speeches and edicts, personal diaries, journalist's reports, amongst other historical documents to recount an amazing time in our country's history that has some eerily similar characteristics to politics today.
Larson writes books like they are epic movies. The reader can feel the intensity in the air, picture the scene of the action, and connect with the emotions of everyone involved. Larson also uses facts from journals and other historical items to make sure he is telling the right story, but he also uses logic (and admits as such within the book) to connect the missing dots so that reader can see the greater story. The key players, from Lincoln, to Major Anderson, to Edmund Ruffin are fascinating individuals that much of who they are are lost to history (save Lincoln) who Larson has brought out their humanity like never before.
I'm normally not a Civil War reader, but once I got into this book I couldn't put it down because even though I knew what was coming, I felt like I didn't and was excited to find out all of the things I didn't know about the start of the Civil War. THE DEMON OF UNREST is a great read and I think most readers will find it compelling from beginning to end.

Brilliant. Fantastic. Engaging. Very thought provoking. And very much a larger-than-life Erik Larson book.

As with the last five nonfiction books I have recently read, I went into this knowing a little about the subject matter: as someone who has read quite a bit of Civil War material, I was pretty sure I had read about Fort Sumter and that much of this would feel familiar, even if it was just a little bit.
AND, much like what has happened with the previous books I quickly found out how wrong I was [which was totally okay, because that meant I was going to LEARN something - my favorite thing]. So I settled in, prepared for a master class lesson in the first "battle" of the Civil War [make sure you read the notes by the author at the end - they add some great information to the overall story]; what I got was all that and SO much more.

I *knew* the war had started at Fort Sumter, but that turns out to be the extent of my knowledge. What I did know about was Lincoln's trip to Washington as the President-elect, the danger he faced [all while not really believing that the danger was real], and the protection Lincoln received from The Pinkerton's [including the great Kate Warne], due to two amazing books I read on this subject [The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Kill Lincoln Before the Civil War by Daniel Stashower and Better Angels: A Kate Warne Adventure by Jeff Jensen and George Schall - Illustrator, a graphic novel about this very trip and the bravery this amazing woman exhibited].
Everything else, from President Buchanan being a less-than-stellar leader [especially at the end of his presidency; he could not shake the dust off fast enough], to the POV's of the Southerners [that Mrs. Chestnut was a real piece of work, and I am so glad I never had to meet Edmund Ruffin, or read his vitriolic diary] who were on the forefront of the war, along with their thoughts and beliefs [these parts of the book were deeply uncomfortable, as they should be, and also deeply disconcerting given today's political unrest], was all new to me [not the overall vitriol of the South, but the very words and thoughts of them] and it was mind-boggling to see everything unfold as it did.

WHAT an amazing history lesson this has been! I enjoyed every bit of it [even the uncomfortable parts, because we will never grow if we are unable to read the hard stuff and LEARN from it] and hope that many read and learn from this amazing book as well.

Very well done!!

**A note about the narrator: Will Patton is one of my absolute favorites and I was so excited to see him as the narrator of this book. He does such a fantastic job and made the 1 1\2 month wait for this audiobook [from the library] totally worth it!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Erik Larson, Will Patton - Narrator, and Crown Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another winner for Erik Larson! I love his work and his writing style. He's able to make nonfiction read like a novel. I've read all of his work and with this being as far back into history as he's gone, I hope he goes back further!