Book Review of
The Demon of Unrest

Lynn's Review

Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson is a saga of hubris, heartbreak, and heroism at the dawn of the Civil War. It was published in 2024. 

Erik Larson brings Civil War history to life in Demon of Unrest. 

Abraham Lincoln became President on November 6, 1860. Although the Civil War had not begun, the nation was bitterly divided, and southern states were seceding. 

The Demon of Unrest covers Lincoln’s election, the transfer of power, and the crisis and shelling of Fort Sumter. 

I have not read many nonfiction books about the Civil War, but I want to learn more about it. I have several Civil War books on my to-be-read stack for the year. 

Erik Larson packs a lot into this almost 600-page book. However, it is only a small part of the Civil War’s events, people, and politics. 

My husband and I heard Erik Larson speak about The Demon of Unrest in 2024 during his book tour, and we really enjoyed hearing about the research and writing process for the book. 

I have read so many mixed reviews on this book. I liked it and am very glad I read it, although it isn’t my favorite Erik Larson book. The Devil in the White City still holds that spot; The Demon of Unrest was still well worth reading. 

The Demon of Unrest was a slower read for me than the other Erik Larson books that I have read. At times, it just had too many facts and details, and I had to set the book down and come back to them. This wasn’t a book I could read quickly, but I do think it is an important book for learning more about the Civil War. 

For me, this was a four star read. I really enjoyed it, but can’t quite give it five stars.