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It has been several years since my Civil War class in college (shout out to my prof with unbelievable recall); but as I read DoU I was reminded that the missteps, misunderstandings and mistakes on both sides seemed to fan instead of douse the flames of war. The declarations of secession for many of the confederacy were honest; it was about slavery 1st and state‘s rights 2nd. A 4/5 ⭐️ read with contemporary insights.

Jefferson Davis - “Our separation from the old Union is complete. No compromise, no reconstruction can now be entertained.”

I suspended my hold so as to not read this at such a fraught time, but in a moment of weakness I downloaded it when it was again available. That was a mistake. It is a difficult read at this time in history.

Larson always tells history with multiple characters, motives, and events culminating in what you already know will happen, but still are riveted. Lincoln‘s arc shined in this one, some others dragged a bit. Still good writing, good warnings of not taking war and victory too lightly. Jan 6 was used as an associated event, but felt it actually needed more context to include it. What other parallels does Larson see in his research?

Erik Larson crafts a riveting narrative, blending history and suspense as he chronicles America‘s path to civil war. Through the lens of personal diaries and secret records, Larson vividly portrays key figures like Major Robert Anderson and Mary Boykin Chesnut, along with villain secessionist Edmund Ruffin. This gripping account reminds us how impending disaster often goes unnoticed until it‘s too late. A haunting and captivating political drama.

Only had to wait ~16 weeks for the new Erik Larson release on the lead up to the Civil War after the election of Lincoln. Having been born and raised in the South, I‘m 99.99% sure this book will soon be banned throughout the Southeast!

4.5⭐️ Really liked this latest edition of Erik Larson‘s excellent work. While not as gripping as The Splendid and the Vile, he does do justice the months between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the first shots of the American Civil War on Ft. Sumter. #2024 #summerreads #nonfiction #history

“I invite you now to step into the past, to that time of fear and dissension, and experience the passion, heroism, and heartbreak— even humor— as if you were living in that day, and did not know how the story would end. I suspect your sense of dread will be all the more pronounced in light of today‘s political discord, which, incredibly, has led some benighted Americans to whisper once again of secession and Civil War.”

Larson is a reliably excellent author of narrative nonfiction, and this is a great entry into his canon though not my favorite of his.

Larson covers the start of the American Civil War from Buchanan‘s poor decisions to Lincoln‘s inauguration and early state succession all the miscommunications that brought forth the bloodiest chapter in US history so far. He centers his narrative around Ft Sumter.

Just what you‘d expect from Larson—riveting and exhaustively researched. #BOTM

Links in comments below to author chat with Ken Burns, recent interview on Fresh Air and CBS Sunday Morning segment.

Just started this over lunch-looking forward to spending weekend with Larson!

#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl

I‘m really bad at paying attention to what is coming out, but I am looking forward to the tagged book and Billy Dee Williams‘s book.

#SundayFunday