The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Which literary genres does Larson draw from to depict the tumultuous period leading up to the Civil War? How do these genre conventions shape the readers’ experience of the text?
• How does The Demon of Unrest differ from a conventional history textbook? What do the text’s personal narratives add to the readers’ understanding of historical events?
• Compare and contrast The Demon of Unrest to And There Was Light (2023) or another nonfiction work about the Civil War. How do these texts differ in their approach to creating a historical narrative? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences and perspectives..

• What political, cultural, and socioeconomic issues from 1860 still exist today? Which of those issues have been resolved or significantly improved?
• What lessons from the Civil War can today’s leaders use to improve American society?
• How is the concept of honor portrayed in the book, and how does that concept differ in North and South? Do you agree or disagree with the actions in The Demon of Unrest taken in the name of honor? Is there a better moral standard that could be used to measure an individual’s values and responsibilities?
• Which character or characters do you relate to most in the text and why? How might their circumstances have been different if they were alive today?

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