Reflections on the Battle for Fort Sumter and the Relevance of the Civil War Today

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Exploring the pivotal battle for Fort Sumter in the Civil War and its profound impact on Lincoln's resolve, leading to a call for volunteer troops and the beginnings of a full-fledged conflict. The chapter also draws parallels between historical events and modern-day circumstances.

Erik Larson is probably the most successful popular historian working today. His books, which include “The Devil in the White City” and “The Splendid and the Vile,” have sold a staggering 12 million copies. His latest, “The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War,” debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times bestsellers list this week. It’s a gripping account of the five months between Abraham Lincoln’s election and the outbreak of the Civil War — a 163-year-old chapter in our history that Erik says is alarmingly relevant.

Host: Caleb Bissinger

Guest: Erik Larson

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