Erik Larson never fails to disappoint! This book provides me a keen insight into this critical period in U.S. history. A thoughtful and
evocative deep dive into South Carolina's antebellum culture and it's impact on creating a delusional vision of Southern greatness.

Once again Larson has brought history to life. This nonfiction book about the events leading up to the first shots fired in the Civil War is filled with details from both sides of the conflict that Larson gathered in his extensive research. He scoured books, letters, journals, newspaper accounts, diaries and museums to put together a scrupulously detailed account of the months preceding the first shots fired at Fort Sumpter.

As always, his book includes the author’s extensive listing of bibliographic citations of the sources of the facts he presents. There are no embellishments or editorial commentary except for his note to the readers at the beginning. The events and people are presented in detail as Larson describes Charleston and Washington activities in a country on the verge of civil war.

What becomes clear is the South’s adherence to a code of behavior and the North’s tension over agreement with Lincoln‘s policies. Some individuals are torchbearers for secession and some are willing to thwart the duly elected President. Each side has factions that cause clashes within their own loyalties and demonstrate confusion and contradictory actions. Caught up in the conflict is Major Robert Anderson who is commander of Fort Sumter. He receives little support in his job of overseeing the Union Fort off the coast of Charleston, SC. As more states secede and the soldiers at the fort become more cut off from supplies and communication, Anderson is trapped in a vise that’s an untenable situation.

Larson’s prowess as a writer is evidenced by the popularity of his books. This will be another shining addition to his books that shine the light on events that shaped our world.

Absolutely loved this book from start to finish, and the narrator for the audiobook was fantastic. Larson was very thorough in his research, and for something who lives in South Carolina, this made for a fun read about these beloved places and a crucial part of history.

Erik Larson does an amazing job of writing non fiction that reads like fiction. You are immersed in the story and I love it!

Larson continues to be a great researcher and in his newest book brought together many accounts to lay out the events of the beginning of the Civil War. Larson does a good job of making things readable, although there were of course a lot of names and motives to keep track of. Overall, readers interested in learning more about the onset of the Civil War will find this one informative.

Though this isn't the nail-biter some of the reviews make this one out to be, I learned a lot. What I like most about Larson's non-fiction, aside from its readability, is its fair presentation of many perspectives. It was nice seeing all the participants as full people. There aren't just good guys and bad guys; some people are very conflicted, and like with Benedict Arnold, many of their questionable choice come from a very human place.

It was interesting seeing all the little misunderstandings that led to the Civil War, and the big personalities. I didn't know much about Buchanan, and as a Pennsylvanian, I apologize.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I shared profusely as usual.

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson is a historic nonfiction about what happened in the five months between Abraham Lincolns' election and the start of the Civil War. Civil War history is generally not something I'm interested in but Erik Larson makes history very readable. I would recommend this book if you are a fan of Erik Larson or are interested in the history of the Civil War.

As someone who sticks with mainly fiction and horror at that Erik Larson’s books always fascinate me and this one was no different. His amazing attention to details and staggering research makes reading about the civil war and its real life horrors something you devour. I will never not read a book by this author. Huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc. 5⭐️

Erik Larson never misses for me - his books are so intricately detailed and researched. This one for me was about a subject I don't know too much about - the early days of the Civil War. I found it so poignant how many parallels there are between this subject matter and today, and Larson's coverage of this was quite timely. The primary sources - diaries, letters, etc. and the amount of detail included as a result was not boring, but rather gave color and shape to a time that for many can feel black and white and unrelatable. I plan to give this to my father for Christmas!

Interesting section of history for Larson to choose, as always. But I find American history just a little less interesting than some of the stuff he's done previously. His narrative voice is still second to none.

I make it a point to read Larson's books and am rarely left disappointed. This is no exception (although his comparison of the startup of the Civil War to Jan.6, 2021, is an overstatement to say the least). I appreciated his research, as always, to the intricacies of this time leading up to the first shot fired at Fort Sumter. We learn more of Lincoln's beginnings in his race and election, as well as specific accounts (Mary Chesnut's diary, for one) of life in Charleston at the time. I found those personal details most interesting as I read about prominent and lesser-known figures as they anticipated (whether excitedly or with dread) the start of this conflict.
Larson's narrative nonfiction style is what keeps me, as a typically fiction reader, coming back. As always I look forward to his next offering.

Erik Larson writes do vividly and so captivatingly. I couldn’t look away and was totally swept up. Really enjoyed this read

Another winner for Erik Larson. He has a talent for sharing stories from history in a way that is both enjoyable to read and easy to understand.

Of course I learned in school that the Civil War began when the South fired on Fort Sumter. But that was it. It just happened out of the blue. I was never told, and I had never stopped to think about what lead up to it.

Wow, to the hubris. Edmund Ruffin - Given the "honor" of firing the first shot on Fort Sumter after many of years of stirring people up against the north and pushing his peers toward secession. The more I learned about this man, the more I was astounded by his gall in all facets of his life. Incredible! Mary Chestnut, what a malicious, self-center, shallow, little... On the northern side, Seward was certainly less mean-spirited, but not less conniving and certainly taken with himself.

Wow, to the heartache. If Lincoln had known the drama, the vise of tension, the ploys hiding ploys that he was walking into the first day in office, would he have run for office?

Wow, to the heroism. - Major Robert Anderson. His ordeal was incredible, staggering. How did he stand for as long as he did?

Erik Larson has made an incredible contribution to our accessible history with his meticulously researched volume. He brings key players to life and helps us understand the atmosphere of the period and how this tragedy for our nation unfolded. Let's not let hubris carry us into more devastation.

I gave Devil In The White City 4 stars, so I was excited to receive an arc of The Demon Of Unrest, however, this one wasn't for me. I found it dry, however the author obviously did a lot of research. I have a minor in history - so on paper this should have been up my alley. There were too many names and dates to remember. It felt like a really long lecture. Hoping his next book will be more exciting. Some patrons have told me they liked the historical parts the best and like learning about the Civil War, so that's who I would recommend this.

I have almost obsessively tried to read and finish this book, but I am DNFing at 15% after I really just cannot finish it. I love Erik Larson books and was very excited to read this, but this book reads differently--maybe because of its subject matter-- than his other books.

Erik Larson’s “The Demon of Unrest” brings to life the time just before the start of the Civil War. This is not only a great historical book, but a book that is also timely in today’s times as we might be closer than we have ever been to possible civil war than we were since 1860. Larson’s books are so great in that they contain so many details, but are readable and accessible to the casual reader. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in the Civil War, American History, or perhaps current history as there are many similarities.

5+++ stars!

As always Erik Larson has written a comprehensive and extremely well-researched story of the tensions and unrest that led us into the Civil War. This is one of those books that just pulls you right in. Larson has this amazing talent for making history feel like a grand adventure novel. Instead of just dumping a bunch of dates and events on you, he dives deep into the minds of the people who lived through these moments. It’s like you’re right there with them, experiencing everything firsthand.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Once again Larson does it again. The research was phenomenal. Fort Sumter, Lincoln and the civil war what a trifecta.