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)

Great

Would you listen to 1861: The Civil War Awakening again? Why?

Well presented, great detail

What was one of the most memorable moments of 1861: The Civil War Awakening?

The evolution of the "Wide a Wakes"

What does Jonathan Davis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Voice tone and inflections --- adds something special

Any additional comments?

Well done

An excellent book

This is an excellent book and as such I can highly recommend it as I learned a great deal from it.

history come alive

wait until you meet the characters iyou probably never heard of before. such as Elsworth, a clerk beloved by Lincoln who started a Zuauve regiment.. they were more like acrobats than soldiers. so much drama'

Great account of the early years of the Civil War

Throughly enjoyed this book,well written and researched. Great job of cover many aspects of the lead up to war.

Not what I expected

I was expecting another Civil War shoot-em up, with endless battle details. This book was terrific and dealt with the deeply rooted causes of this war. I have read and listened to many books on this conflict, but I learned many things I had never known. One of the most surprising was that Northern abolitionists loved the Declaration of Independence, yet felt totally betrayed by the Constitution.

The author traces the progress of ideas through the lives and writings of important historical figures who we seldom hear about.

Amazing Book

The Civil War didn't start in 1861 and it didn't end in 1865. The war started before our Revolutionary War and is still being fought today throughout our nation. It was great to be able to listen to this book and see that the war wasn't a black and white event but was an example of the constant give and take we have still today. The book was just a slice in time of our constant struggle as a nation to realize what it means to be "We the People..."

OK...... not great....

This book does give (lots) of background info to the start of the war....... But the narrator needs a lesson on pronunciation...... Some of the words made me cringe..

you think you know all about the Civil War -- but

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The writing and use of primary sources make this a book I would recommend to perfect strangers on the street, and of course my friends.

Who was your favorite character and why?

History of the people important and influential at their time and moment. Mentions all the big players but scurries up close to draw out the "ordinary" people , dispelling some generalizations made in other histories of this event and time. Liked the small vignette of the pony express rider flying past the men heading west from Fort Churchill (hope I have recalled the correct fort now days later after listening in the car on I-5) ) with the wooden poles for the transcontinental telegraph. This is just one example of the exactness and usefulness of the detail in this book.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Perfect. Clarity of diction and the dash of emotion needed for conveying this harrowing and momentous time.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Three parts, I-5 = I almost did! but YES.

Wonderful History

This is how history ought to be written and narrated. Goodheart pulls together a multitude of strands and weaves them into a image of the US in perhaps its most critical year.

Davis does the book justice with clear, consistent and engaged narration. I listened to this audiobook twice a few months apart.

Primer for Understanding Civil War

If you could sum up 1861: The Civil War Awakening in three words, what would they be?

Slavery Sucks...how is it possible to sum up that book in 3 words!?

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

Don't know. Haven't learned about the Civil War since I was in grade school in the 19th century

What does Jonathan Davis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great readers like Mr. Davis brings the story alive. If you just read it, the material might get a little dry.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were several. The standoff at Fort Sumter was pretty bizarre. It might have started the war when it all seemed a little silly. I also enjoyed reading about President Lincoln. Can't wait to see the movie.

Any additional comments?

Generally, I liked the book because I wanted to better understand American History in that era. I never realized how slavery was such a big deal back then...especially viewing it in 21st century lens. Slavery was simply despicable and was somehow allowed to continue in the slave states. It's hard to reconcile All Men are Created Equal in the Declaration of Independence while the author of this document owned (and fornicated with) slaves. Go figure.