First of all, your review is very compelling and makes me want to read the book. As someone interested in American History, I search for lessons of the past to explain the present (and future? shudder...) phenomenon of Trump. I'm not convinced the Lost Cause of the Confederacy explains it--but that's why I need to read the book! My interest in the phenomenon has led me to non-academic historian Eric Larson's latest book, "The Demon of Unrest." Larson's horror at the events of 1/6/21 led him to examine the period after Lincoln's election and before Lincoln's inauguration four months later, the period during which the Southern states seceded. The parallels between 1860 and today's red/blue divisions are stunning. Finally, I have to add that anytime I read the word "callow" I think of "The Fantasticks." and its song "Try to Remember." It might be a good time for a reprise of "The Fantasticks" on Broadway as life as we have known it, where civilized political behavior rules the day, continues to fade away.
First of all, your review is very compelling and makes me want to read the book. As someone interested in American History, I search for lessons of the past to explain the present (and future? shudder...) phenomenon of Trump. I'm not convinced the Lost Cause of the Confederacy explains it--but that's why I need to read the book! My interest in the phenomenon has led me to non-academic historian Eric Larson's latest book, "The Demon of Unrest." Larson's horror at the events of 1/6/21 led him to examine the period after Lincoln's election and before Lincoln's inauguration four months later, the period during which the Southern states seceded. The parallels between 1860 and today's red/blue divisions are stunning. Finally, I have to add that anytime I read the word "callow" I think of "The Fantasticks." and its song "Try to Remember." It might be a good time for a reprise of "The Fantasticks" on Broadway as life as we have known it, where civilized political behavior rules the day, continues to fade away.