THE DEMON OF UNREST A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War

This compelling audiobook about the beginning of the Civil War gains resonance from its parallels with today's divisions and drift toward violence. Will Patton's narration fits Larson's authorial voice, which is frank, factual, and artfully judicious in tone. Patton suggests historical voices, but his delivery is nuanced and understated, never showy. Brief chapters track the months leading up to the assault on Fort Sumter. The inactivity of the outgoing Buchanan administration, the separate preparations for defense and for attack in Charleston Harbor, Lincoln's arrival in disguise at the nation's capital--everything marks a widening separation. The attack on Fort Sumter is usually seen as a mere curtain-raiser, a spark that could have ignited a dozen different places. This outstanding audiobook tells a very different story. D.A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2024]