The Demon of Unrest | Erik Larson

I've read almost all of Larson's books and always enjoyed them. This is the latest and it's really strong and disturbingly timely by focusing on the days leading up to the start of the Civil War--the fall of Fort Sumter.

It's been a while since I read Larson, but this one feels a bit more like a history than a history-as-told-through-the-lives-of-individuals-we-never-heard-of. But I learned a lot, but it's pretty dense so I wouldnt' classify it as a quick read.

One big thing I learned was that there were fears about Lincoln being assassinated before he even took office. Maybe others knew that but I certainly didn't. He actually travelled to Washington DC in cognito to avoid assassins. The book also draws from the diaries of others including Mary Chesnut, Edmund Ruffin and others.

It's history so there's no spoilers but there's also not a lot to say about it other than, read it. The fragility of the Union has a disturbing parallel these days. Also, there's a great woo-woo moment at the end that reminded me of the story of how John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day (July 4), 50 years to the day of the Declaration of Independence. Just writing that still gives me chills.