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

Will Patton artfully narrates Larson’s (The Splendid and the Vile) latest historical epic, tracing the five months following Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 election and the lead-up to the Civil War. Larson’s introduction booms with a striking parallel between today’s political divisiveness and the specter of violence that led to the nation’s most brutal conflict. Patton’s hallmark South Carolina drawl adds depth to this exploration of the Battle of Fort Sumter, capturing the grand narrative and intricate details. Larson emphasizes that enslavement is central to the conflict, though the voices of enslaved people are absent from the narrative. Instead, secessionist leaders, Northern power brokers, and Carolina aristocrats such as Major Robert Anderson, Edmund Ruffin, William Seward, and Mary Chestnut dominate the narrative, with their perspectives drawn from extensive historical writings. Patton’s performance is as meticulous as Larson’s descriptions, capturing the emotional undercurrents and giving voice to a large cast of characters. His pacing aligns seamlessly with Larson’s cascade of events and ideas. While generally well-performed, Patton’s portrayal of women’s voices occasionally comes across as saccharine. Larson himself provides a measured, clear reading of the author’s note and the closing acknowledgments.