By Kavita Mistry
by Anthony Conty (Parkville, MD): “The Demon of Unrest” by Erik Larson focuses on the months between Abraham Lincoln’s election and the start of the Civil War, requiring much research, as with most of his work. The facts seem new, like you are reading fiction, especially those about James Buchanan and his role in overseeing the secession of South Carolina and the beginning of the conflict.
When I read that the novel would focus on the time between Lincoln’s victory and Fort Sumter, I did not at first recognize how much verbal promises from Buchanan laid the groundwork for distrust and anger. When the South Carolina governor demanded a surrender, every act came off as aggression or escalation. It was a mess that few could navigate.
My history buff friends will know about the assassination attempt before Lincoln’s inauguration, thwarted by a railroad president and others, but novices like me will find it quite fascinating. The author often uses “coercion” when Lincoln tries to walk the line between doing what is right and appeasing the South. No one knew how aggressive he would be.
The cast of characters, especially Major Robert Anderson and Governor Francis Perkins, shows the resolve on each side. Lincoln had friends like an ex-con, Stephen Hurlbut, who thought they had the connections to make a difference. Communication between the two sides was weak. Letters went undelivered, and many assumed hostility without confirmation, leading to uncertainty about intentions and goals up North.
Once we inevitably reached actual violent wartime, I felt the disarray and chaos associated with Fort Sumter. I grew to know some characters well enough to experience the horrors fully. When you are a Marylander, the Civil War is a big deal. Most of BookBrowse’s picks for Best Nonfiction have plentiful research, unlike anything I could ever pull off myself.