Delving into the tumultuous period surrounding Abraham Lincoln's election and the onset of the American Civil War, this historical chronicle by Erik Larson captures the slow-burning crisis that split a nation on the brink. 'The Demon of Unrest' intricately weaves the narratives of key figures entangled in this era of hubris, heartbreak, and heroism. From Major Robert Anderson's loyalty conflicts to Edmund Ruffin's secessionist provocations and Mary Boykin Chesnut's internal turmoil over slavery and marriage, Larson exposes the human elements catalyzing war. Equally overwhelmed and resolute, Lincoln grapples with political schemes and the specter of war, fraying at the fabric of America—a calamitous time told through diaries, communiques, and plantation records.