Nine stars
Any reader with a passion for history can rely on Erik Larson to deliver a stellar tome, no matter the subject matter. In this book, Larson sheds light on those key months between the election of the controversial (at the time) Abraham Lincoln and the beginning of the Civil War. What began as a crisis that agitated both sides of the conflict, the fabric of the nation was soon torn apart, leaving Lincoln to begin his life as president juggling running the country and watching it dissolve before his eyes. While Larson makes some bold sentiments—going so far in the introduction as drawing parallels between this period and the January 6, 2021 insurrection—readers can stand behind much of what the author has to say and see many curious narratives that come together in the culmination of the book. A stellar tome with a great deal of research to support it, which is always a guarantee with Erik Larson at the helm. I cannot say enough about this book or its author!
The sentiments about slavery ahead of the 1860 national election proved to show just how much of a powder keg the United States tended to be. Erik Larson depicts this with a key set of vignettes, as he discusses the various states and some of their political giants. The talk of slavery and the righteousness of indentured servitude became headline news, creating quite the clash of minds and sometimes fists, all in order to show just how divisive the ideas could be at the times. The presidential election proves just as problematic, with ideas on all sides as well. Sitting President James Buchanan noticed the unrest and wanted only to get to the end of his term so that he might hand over the reins of power to someone else, leaving them to handle the mess.
The country was at odds with itself and knew that there would be tension, depending on who might win the upcoming presidential election. The South was bitterly holding onto the idea of slavery as needed and an essential part of the country's economic advancement. Many were sure that the Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln wanted only to abolish slavery and their sentiments could not be missed in many written publications. There was no way for Lincoln to assert that he was not pushing for abolition, but rather a halt to its further expansion. This idea was lost on many, going so far as to refuse to allow the Republican's name on the presidential ballot, which would make it harder to win the Electoral College and eventually capture the needed votes for a path to the White House. When the dust settled on November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln ended up being the surprise victor in a presidential race that proved tighter than many would have liked.
Larson clearly builds the tension during the time between the election and the inauguration of the new president. Tensions boiled over, first in South Carolina, and soon elsewhere. The voice of the Carolina delegates to secede from the Union forced the Buchanan Administration—fully in lame-duck status—to begin trying to quell the rebellion and ensure that the clashes remained contained. However, news from Fort Sumter proved to be too much and the feelings of compassion, with secret support within the Cabinet, left Buchanan to put out fires within his own group and trying to keep things calm, though he was toothless.
There was a push to kill Lincoln before he could be sworn-in as president, with a plot set to take him out while he was in Baltimore. Larson addresses this with a keen narrative that depicts the news arriving to Lincoln and how he utilised a quick switch and bait tactic to sneak into Washington and foil the plot. This proved exciting and was not the first time I heard about it, but the detail made it come to life for me, the curious reader.
Upon his swearing-in and inaugural address, Lincoln set about to begin running the country and quelling the increasing fires that quickly got out of hand. Lincoln was no military expert, but he had strong feeling that he would not push aside. His passion to keep the country together and hold firm that slavery would not subsume the nation left Lincoln ready to fight for his beliefs and hopes. Larson explores the tension within Washington and the larger country, as the battle soon became inevitable. Lincoln used his prowess and determination to pave the way to put out any enemy views, even as the South began setting up its own governing body and strong army. The clash was on and both sides felt they had the needed muscle to push their view upon the larger country. The Civil War was brewing and it only took one side to formally declare it on the other.
Erik Larson pulls on many forms of research to ensure he gets a full and complete narrative. His exploration of speeches, journal entries, newspaper article, and other forms of communication at the times ensures that the reader has as full a picture as possible to depict the drama that developed in the early stages of the unrest. The reader can (and should) feel as though they are in the middle of it all, many of whom will likely be in awe that such things could have been put to paper or uttered aloud. Larson pulls no punches with his tome and focusses on some key players who are sure to offer up great sentiments not seen before in books of this nature. Exploring the thoughts of Major Robert Anderson (Sumter's commander and a former slave owner sympathetic to the South but loyal to the Union), Edmund Ruffin (a vain and bloodthirsty radical who stirs secessionist ardor at every opportunity), and even Mary Boykin Chesnut (wife of a prominent planter, conflicted over both marriage and slavery and seeing parallels between both) offers up a personal view of events, on which the interested reader can feast. It also provides a narrative to follow throughout the book's progress.
Erik Larson proves his mettle once more with this piece, which far surpasses what I came to expect from this book. Larson's detailed depiction in this tome is supported with strong examples within well-developed chapters throughout. While dealing with only a short period of time, Larson is able to explore the strong values and passions of those who lived in the time (some of whom rose guns and muskets to defend their side of things). Larson is always able to shed light on issues in history and pull the reader into the middle of things, which he has done once more. This has whetted my appetite for further exploration of events, though I have read a number of accounts, biographical and strictly historical, of the US Civil War. Well done, Mr. Larson for lighting something inside of me to further my knowledge.
Kudos Mr. Larson, for yet another wonderful exploration of a piece of history I thought I knew.
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