The Approaching Fury

Voices of the Storm, 1820-1861

By: Stephen B. Oates

Narrated by: David Colacci, Susan Ericksen, David Sadzin

Length: 22 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Biographer and historian Stephen B. Oates tells the story of the coming of the American Civil War through the voices and perspectives of 13 principal players in the drama, from Thomas Jefferson and Henry Clay in the Missouri crisis of 1820 down to Stephen A. Douglas, Jefferson Davis, and Abraham Lincoln in the final crisis of 1861. This innovative approach shows the crucial role that perception of events played in the sectional hostilities that pushed the United States irreversibly toward a national calamity.

Nat Turner, William Lloyd Garrison, John C. Calhoun, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, George Fitzhugh, John Brown, and Mary Boykin Chesnut also provide perspectives. Each character takes a turn onstage, narrating critical events in which he or she was a major participant or eyewitness. For the dramatic monologues, Oates draws on the actual words of his speakers - in letters, speeches, interviews, recollections, and other recorded utterances - and then simulates how, were they reminiscing aloud, they would describe these events in which they were the principal actors or witnesses. All the events and themes reflect the historical record.

©1997 Stephen B. Oates (P)2021 Tantor

Most Entertaining Audiobook I’ve listened too!

Because “Civil War/Lincoln” is my favorite subject, I did a little research and was very curious about the style it was written. It was all new to me and I absolutely loved it. The multiple characters coming in and out, created its own energy and intrigue. Always wondering who and what was next. This is the first book that really helped me got to know the actual people(good/bad) who would play a major role in causing the Civil War. That time period had so many brilliant and just as many brutally evil characters, but all are endlessly entertaining. I was so mad it ended, I listened to it again back to back. This is a must listen for any Civil War, Lincoln enthusiast

Straight From The Horse's Mouth

Hear all the major protagonists tell you what is going on from their own points of view. First person American history at its best. All the narration was spot on. These 41 years tell you what our country was all about. Unfortunately the legacy of the era holds many truths still for us today.

Exciting experiment

in writing in first person voices, a selection of the some more well know pre-civil war historic figures the narrative portrays engagingly the conflicting concerns, aspirations, feelings and points of view characterizing the divisions between north and south, anti & pro slavery, of this time. This experiment in voices succeeded for me. The reviews that I have read thus far for "The Approaching Fury" have been glowing, I cannot but agree. This would make a great book for all kinds of interested students. The readers were convincing and varied, making listening to this book enthralling. Must say that this experiment in history presentation was exciting, and I feel fortunate to have experienced it.

Just buy it!

Excellent! I really enjoyed it. To be sure it’s an unusual format. The March towards the Civil War is told in the first person by 13 key players (Stephen Douglas is hysterical). I wasn’t sure I would like the format at first, but I must say I throughly enjoyed it. Actually, I would love to see this approach taken with other subjects.

Buy this book. You won’t regret it!

Very helful to understand US Civil War

Excellent organization and selection of principle individuals who voiced ideas and opinions that led to the war.

absorbing and informative

this book is a treasure trove effects presented in an engaging style. you get a good long time to absorb the details of many individual lives, major players in the lead up to the civil war. the individuals are well chosen and represent diverse viewpoints. it feels like acquiring an intimate knowledge of these individuals' biographies and characters, while at the same time gaining higher level facts about the societies in which they lived, and the major events leading to the war, with the interpretations given to them by the players themselves. the author has done the work to make reading these older voices easier for a modern reader. in sum, an excellent work.