Crown The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War

The Demon of Unrest brings the tense months before the American Civil War vividly to life in a gripping saga of hubris, heartbreak, and heroism at the nation's breaking point.

Acclaimed author Erik Larson traces the fraught stretch from Abraham Lincoln's election through the crisis at Fort Sumter, revealing the miscalculations, personal dramas, and acts of courage that pushed the country toward war. Drawing on diaries, letters, and period sources, the narrative follows politicians, soldiers, and ordinary citizens caught in a cascade of decisions that would reshape the United States.

• Immersive nonfiction that reads with the tension of a novel
• Focus on the critical prelude to the Civil War and the Fort Sumter standoff
• Richly researched portrait of leadership, loyalty, and national fracture
• Ideal for readers of narrative history and Civil War studies

A compelling choice for history enthusiasts seeking a deeply human account of how a divided republic slid into conflict.