Peter Bassett

I have read all of Larson’s books. I have also read many non-fiction history books. A common problem with the latter is that they are written by academics for academics - loaded down by minutiae and driven by a fear of reprisal if any marginally relevant fact or scenario is omitted. Larson and David McCullough are my two guys who can write interesting and engaging history for non-historians without plumbing the depths of marginalia. Never realized how little I knew about the imminent Civil War until I read this book. I found it fascinating, illuminating, thoughtful and sometimes drole. The lead characters are sufficiently developed and Larson (mostly) avoids getting down into the historical weeds. An interesting and worthwhile read.