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)

Why the war started

Most Civil War books focus on battles. This book explains why the war happened. Full of fascinating vignettes, such as: Did you know that there was a 13th amendment that made slavery perpetual? A must read for anyone interested in Civil War history.

Loved it.

Fantastic narrator . Detailed facts wrapped in human story of political and social climate

good first lerson accounts

i enjoyed the book. i enjoyed reading the first hand accou ts from both side.

Necessary

Things don't just happen. Thee is a reason for something as cataclysmic as The American Civil War. This book, exhaustive in its detail, lets one understand how and why this period in history was inevitable.

Somewhat Irritating “Pop History”

Getting to the finish line was an effort. I agree with many of the reviewers who point out the author’s obvious biases in framing “good guys vs bad guys” narratives, but, even as I struggled through such pretentious neo-Transcendental-isms as “like a lead weight, (it) teathers the phrase to earth, keeping Lincoln’s prose from rising into poetry. The reader longs to cut it loose”, I will say that I did learn a few things about the time period that I did not already know.

Fascinating.

Goodheart has presented one of the best looks at the situation that gave rise to the Civil War that I have experienced. The narrative flowed like a novel. There are vital insights for the modern American political millieux as well. After many years of fascination with and reflexion on the Civil War, I gained a number of new ways of sorting out the "then and now" realities of a still divided nation. Kudos to the narrator for his skillful presentation of intricate, historical information. Well done!

Excellent Play by Play of USA's Tumultuous 1861:

Adam Goodheart does an excellent job of making you feel like you are there, right beside the other participants, in this incredibly immense and polarized year of 1861 in the United States.

I could not be more impressed with the attention to detail, as Goodheart's ability to craft scenes allows the emotions of the moment to transfer to the reader some 150 year later. Literally, I got "goose-bumps" during certain exchanges between President Lincoln and his detractors. It could not be more amazing his foresight against the backdrop of history.

I highly recommend this book, and I am certain you will realize there is much you don't know about the events that led to the Civil War. In addition, I promise a change in perspective on both this era in history and the people involved.

I find this book is best at 2x speed.

another unique perspective on the Civil War

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

I would listen again. Goodheart does a terrific job showing what people actually thought & felt, mostly in the north, as developments built toward a Civil War most did not want or anticipate, and none felt would turn out as a 4 year bloodbath.

What did you like best about this story?

Usually we think about history, without much intellectual effort, as if the participants knew what was going to happen in their tomorrow, in their next year. And of course that is not the way things happen. Goodheart's strength is showing that.

Great start to study 150 anniversary of Civil War

Superb way to start studying the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. This book uses 1861 as a starting point but goes back and forth in time weaving relevant details and stories into the events of 1861. The book 1861 is a combination of great material and great storytelling. It makes a terrific audiobook.

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