1861: The Civil War Awakening

By: Adam Goodheart

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 18 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

As the United States marks the 150th anniversary of our defining national drama, 1861 presents a gripping and original account of how the Civil War began.

1861 is an epic of courage and heroism beyond the battlefields. Early in that fateful year, a second American revolution unfolded, inspiring a new generation to reject their parents' faith in compromise and appeasement, to do the unthinkable in the name of an ideal. It set Abraham Lincoln on the path to greatness and millions of slaves on the road to freedom.

The book introduces us to a heretofore little-known cast of Civil War heroes - among them an acrobatic militia colonel, an explorer's wife, an idealistic band of German immigrants, a regiment of New York City firemen, a community of Virginia slaves, and a young college professor who would one day become president. Adam Goodheart takes us from the corridors of the White House to the slums of Manhattan, from the mouth of the Chesapeake to the deserts of Nevada, from Boston Common to Alcatraz Island, vividly evoking the Union at this moment of ultimate crisis and decision.

©2011 Adam Goodheart (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Winner, History, 2012

“With boundless verve, Adam Goodheart has sketched an uncommonly rich tableau of America on the cusp of the Civil War. The research is impeccable, the cast of little-known characters we are introduced to is thoroughly fascinating, the book is utterly thought-provoking, and the story is luminescent. What a triumph.” (Jay Winik, author of New York Times best-sellers April 1865 and The Great Upheaval)

"Engrossing .... Tension is palpable on every page .... Goodheart's book is an impressive accomplishment, a delightful read, and a valuable contribution that will entertain and challenge." ( Harvard Magazine)

"Exhilarating ... inspiring ... irresistible ... 1861 creates the uncanny illusion that the reader has stepped into a time machine." ( New York Times Book Review, cover review)

"In his marvelous book... Goodheart brings us into 19th-century America, as ambiguous, ambitious and fractured as the times we live in now, and he brings to pulsing life the hearts and minds of its American citizens." ( Huffington Post)

“Jonathan Davis's narration sets the scene with hints of foreboding, creating a feeling of tension about the impending war. He draws listeners into stories of people like recaptured slave Lucy Bagby and future president James Garfield….Goodheart's meticulous research and lively writing will appeal to any history buff.” ( AudioFile)

"Beautifully written and thoroughly original--quite unlike any other Civil War book out there." ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

1861 - North of the Mason Dixon...

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

A good book if you are interested in the B characters in the pro-Union camp. The author writes very little about southerners and very little about happenings in the south. Bull Run gets about a page and a half but Elmer Ellsworth gets page after page. If you are looking for the vast scope of happenings in 1861 I would suggest you look elsewhere.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I was glad the book was over. It was interesting but narrow in scope.

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Davis – was your favorite?

not applicable

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no

A good introduction to the war

Where does 1861: The Civil War Awakening rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

1861: The Civil War Awakening is a good introduction to the Civil War, depicting the lives of many characters in the months that lead to the war, in particular from the Union side. Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, Robert Anderson, Jessie Fremont are among the main point of views described. The book gave a vivid sense of time and context, in particular regarding the speed of media information, the telegraph, the background of people involved, the anti-slavery movement and the political opinions surrounding the election of Lincoln.

What other book might you compare 1861: The Civil War Awakening to and why?

By its own admission, 1861 wasn't structured as an average historical chronicle of facts, but showed a large range of point of view in different positions (from Fort Sumter to California) to provide the reader a general context of the casus belli. It wasn't a retelling of the war but an introduction to the cultural and political contexts that gave birth to the war.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really liked the inclusion of women abolitionists and the California Society for the wire.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, it's an historical analysis, not a novel.

Too long

The book was really interesting, but too long. It rambled in many parts and seemed lacked cohesiveness. The narrator was awesome and got me through the boring parts.

Great exploration of the early days of the war.

A fascinating look at the secession crisis and the very early days of the war.

Wow did I learn a lot

Sometimes it felt like "Groundhog Day" the movie -- going back over and over the same time. Fascinating to get such a complete national view of the run up to the war. Great accessible history. I would recommend it highly for anyone who simply wants to learn more about America. Staunch defenders of the South -- watch out -- the author does not allow revisionist history pretending that it wasn't about slavery. Staunch Northerners watch out too...not everyone in the North was a far-sighted abolitionist. A great read.

Societal look at the coming Civil War

Goodheart gives great insight into the events leading up to the Civil War. One would think this has been well covered by other books, but Goodheart tells the events from the perspective of everyday citizens and the thoughts and fears of the time. The Wide Awake movement was very interesting. This is a very good addendum to anyone who likes to read about the Civil War and wants to dig beneath the stories of Lincoln, Lee, Sherman and the other leaders trust into the center stage of history.

A snapshot of the feelings before the great crisis

While a historical account, you will not find stories of battles and the men who fought them, or grand strategy. What you will find here and what the author clearly conveys is the feelings and the ways of life of Americans on the cusp of its greatest challenge since its existence. If you want to know what people thought while this crisis was developing and not lost cause OR unionist revisionism of what people thought after the dust had settled, then this is a must read

Moving and enlightening

I first learned of this book by hearing author Adam Goodheart interviewed by Terry Gross on Fresh Air. My interest was immediately aroused, and I'm very glad I purchased "1861-The Civil War Awakening". To read this detailed account of the first year of the Civil War provided me with a fresh perspective. Adam Goodheart mentioned in his interview that he wished to shine a spotlight on the very beginning of a historic war, seeing parallels with 9/11. (In that what may be later viewed as a "natural unfolding of history" is, at the time, often chaotic and uncertain, and profoundly influenced by key individuals. A most colorful as well as eye-opening account, at least for history novices like myself.

So Many Things Make Sense Now

This book put so many things about the beginnings of the civil war into perspective for me. I really did not know many of these things. It helps me make sense of it all. Of course, no war makes sense, but now I can see better how it came to be. For example, I never really understood about Fort Sumpter, and now I do. I think I had it backwards in my mind, something like the north firing on the south who were in the fort. Truth is, it is exactly the opposite of that. I also did not realize the role California, Kansas and other non-southern states played in the war. I certainly never understood how Lincoln's view of slavery and the war changed over time. I did not realize that the war was, at least outwardly, not about abolition, but about state's rights. As time went on, it had to be about slavery. How could half of the country fight for freedom and then turn around and approve slavery for the other half of the country? And many more interesting things. I really want to read this book again sometime. I am sure it will be even better the second time.

Prelude to the war

The author presents the lead up to the war with explanations of incidents and the characters involved. Its fascinating and riveting stuff although a bit of background knowledge of the war is required. A great listen and well read by Jonathan Davis.