A really fascinating bit of insight into the build up to the Civil War, with personal diary entries from both "sides". What really struck me was the whole chivalry aspect of the confederate contingency, and how it was approached through the lens of the dueling playbook. It also emphasized the fact that Lincoln's intent was never to eliminate slavery as it existed, something for which he is best remembered.
What, to me, makes it timeless is the fact that I think that anyone who's been in military service would identify with the frustration of dealing with government bureaucracy, the lack of support for soldiers in the thick of battle, and, afterwards, dealing what we now know as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Well done, although I felt like it ended too soon.

Thank you to Net Galley and Crown Publishing for an early copy of The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson

James Henry Hammond - Edmund Ruffin - William Russell - Mary Chestnut

The above names may not draw up images of the Civil War, but the speeches and writings of the these men and women along with the better known Major Robert Anderson, Edwin Stanton and many others lend volumes to Erik Larson's clear and engaging attempt to bring a detailed understanding of the events that led the Confederate States
of America to drive the North out of Fort Sumter as the symbolic beginning of America's Civil War.

Told through chapter headings which focus on the rules of dueling, Larson has drawn a comparison between this age-old practice in settling differences and what the United States faced in battles over slavery and states' rights. A challenge - a response - a "winner".

Erik Larson never falters in helping the reader understand the black, the white and the gray areas in this era of American history that resulted in the deaths of over 600,000 of its citizens. Some of the characters exhibit truly honorable intentions; others see only their own false belief system. The author does not rush or omit the details which help place a multitude of points of view into the debacle of Fort Sumter.

Abraham Lincoln's impending inauguration, his round-about travels to Washington to avoid assassination and his attempts to settle the fate of Fort Sumpter (Lincoln's spelling!) all play a role in the type of President he will become.

An Erik Larson endeavor is not to be missed. His sources of material are vast and are provided at the end of the book. Readers can take advantage of reading more, especially the diaries of those who lived this terrible time.

Erik Larson is one of the best narrative non-fiction writers in the game, and "The Demon of Unrest" is another winner. Tackling the start of the Civil War, fans and new readers alike will be captivated.

In _The Demon of Unrest_, Erik Larson once again captivates the reader as he answers his own question (articulated in Sources and Acknowledgements): “Exactly how DID the Civil War begin?” Framing the clash between North and South as an affair of honor, Larson introduces each new act in the drama with a relevant passage from _The Code Duello_. Using excerpts from letters, diaries, newspapers, etc, Larson traces the history of sectionalism from President Lincoln’s election to General Anderson’s surrender at Fort Sumter (with an epilogue to bring closure to the conflict). Larson’s signature style of narrative non-fiction— descriptive, engaging, and even witty at times, reminds the reader that the best part of “history” is always the “story.”