Demon of Unrest

Max Pearl reviewed Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson

Amazing view of a relatively short time period

5 stars

This book just covers 6 months or so of the beginning of the Civil War, focused on Fort Sumter. It portrays characters largely unportrayed in any historical accounts of the time that I've read (I've read several.) I think between these two strategies, this is one of the more compelling accounts of this period of time. The author also spends a lot of time describing the environment and culture of Charleston and South Carolina at this time. I would highly recommend this if you are at all a fan of 19th century US history.

xylogx@bookwyrm.world reviewed Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson

A gripping story of narrative history

4 stars

In the prologue Larson explains that he was inspired to tell this story by the events of Jan 6th as a way to compare the current election certification crisis with the last time it happened in order to show the mood of the country and the factors that lead to its happening. After completing the story I feel like he largely succeeded. Through his usual brand of narrative history telling he focuses in on a few points that illustrate how the different sections of the nation were thinking and the divide between them. While I feel like the telling of the southern viewpoint is well told, I think it is pretty far from today’s political climate. I find it more akin to the current denialism of climate change and vaccinations. In both cases you have an opposition that has convinced itself of viewpoint that is vulnerable to rational arguments using …

In the prologue Larson explains that he was inspired to tell this story by the events of Jan 6th as a way to compare the current election certification crisis with the last time it happened in order to show the mood of the country and the factors that lead to its happening. After completing the story I feel like he largely succeeded. Through his usual brand of narrative history telling he focuses in on a few points that illustrate how the different sections of the nation were thinking and the divide between them. While I feel like the telling of the southern viewpoint is well told, I think it is pretty far from today’s political climate. I find it more akin to the current denialism of climate change and vaccinations. In both cases you have an opposition that has convinced itself of viewpoint that is vulnerable to rational arguments using facts and has built itself a defense built on narrative story telling and identity-based cultural elements. I found his recounting of the Chivalry and the southern honor culture well done in this regard. Overall I really liked this book and feel Larson has earned another feather in his cap with this one on narrative history telling.

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GB

rated it

Nov 9

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