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1861: The Lost Peace
From award-winning historian and New York Times bestselling author of April 1865: The Month That Saved America Jay Winick, a gripping, fly-on-the-wall account of the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln's decision to go to war against the Confederacy.
1861: The Lost Peace>/i> is the story of President Lincoln's far-reaching, difficult, and most courageous decision, a time when the country wrestled with deep moral questions of epic proportions.
Through Jay Winick's singular reporting and storytelling, readers will learn about the extraordinary Washington Peace Conference at the Willard Hotel to avert cataclysmic war. They will observe the irascible and farsighted Senator JJ Crittenden, the tireless moderate seeking a middle way to peace. Lincoln himself called Crittenden "a great man" even as Lincoln jousted with him. They'll be inside and among Lincoln's cabinet--the finest in history--which rivaled the executive in its authority, a fact too often forgotten, and they will see a parade of statesmen frenetically grasping for peace rather than the spectacle of the young nation slowly choking in its own blood. A perfect read for history buffs, with timely overtones to our current political climate.
1861: The Lost Peace>/i> is the story of President Lincoln's far-reaching, difficult, and most courageous decision, a time when the country wrestled with deep moral questions of epic proportions.
Through Jay Winick's singular reporting and storytelling, readers will learn about the extraordinary Washington Peace Conference at the Willard Hotel to avert cataclysmic war. They will observe the irascible and farsighted Senator JJ Crittenden, the tireless moderate seeking a middle way to peace. Lincoln himself called Crittenden "a great man" even as Lincoln jousted with him. They'll be inside and among Lincoln's cabinet--the finest in history--which rivaled the executive in its authority, a fact too often forgotten, and they will see a parade of statesmen frenetically grasping for peace rather than the spectacle of the young nation slowly choking in its own blood. A perfect read for history buffs, with timely overtones to our current political climate.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2025
83 people are currently reading
4632 people want to read
About the author
Jay Winik
11 books156 followersA New York Times best-selling author and American historian. He had a brief career in the U.S. government's foreign policy, involving civil wars around the globe, from the former Yugoslavia to El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Cambodia, including helping to create the United Nations plan to end Cambodia's civil war. In 1991, he took up writing history full-time.
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August 27, 2025
8/26/25 Edit: Author interviews are supposed to promote their book and make you want to read it. I just heard an interview with Winik and it made me like this book even less. Re-reading this review now, I realize I gave it a too-generous three stars, mostly just for being well-written. But I think the good writing blinded me to the book’s terrible premise. I critiqued it here and there in the review below, then mostly gave him a pass for making the book a good read. But the very notion that there was a “peace” that was “lost,” that decades of failed attempts to paper over a growing schism over slavery actually made for good policy, that the Civil War was unnecessary because slavery would have just died out on its own anyway, is such a misguided, mendacious argument, smoothed over by slick writing. It brings to mind the words of another noted historian and thinker: “People don’t realize, you know, the Civil War, if you think about it, why? People don’t ask that question, but why was there the Civil War? Why could that one not have been worked out?”
This book was well-written but doesn’t deserve three stars. I’m knocking it down to a still-generous two. Original review follows:
In the mode of last year’s Civil War-themed The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson, and the upcoming Midnight on the Potomac by Scott Ellsworth, Jay Winik’s new “1861: The Lost Peace” is more story than history. The intention is not for the names and dates and details to be enlivened by Winik’s expressive writing and engaging storytelling - instead, the writing and storytelling themselves appear to be the main attraction. The journey, not necessarily the destination, is the point.
In fact, the specific destination was unclear to me as the book unfolded. The title seems to lament a peace that was “lost,” as though peace between the North and South was ever really at hand, and that war could have been avoided if only that mythical peace had been maintained. Instead, the narrative, about ever-increasing tensions and hopeless last-minute attempts to compromise, generally conveys the very opposite of what the title suggests.
So while the destination is uncertain, the focus instead is on everything there is to see along the way. For a book called “1861,” the narrative doesn’t actually reach 1861 until nearly two-thirds of the way in. And though Lincoln features prominently on the book’s cover, he’s far from the main focus much of the time. Instead, the journey takes us through the entirety of the antebellum period, with a character-focused narrative featuring familiar figures like John Brown, Charles Sumner, Stephen Douglas and Dred Scott, and some lesser-known figures like the enslaved Silas Jackson, whose early inclusion in the book suggests he’s going to play an important part later on, but then he doesn’t.
It’s all very well-written, with vivid descriptions of sights and sounds that put you in the story. And the chapters are very short, which helps to keep things moving along, so it never drags.
But that leaves little time to dig into complexities, so some situations are oversimplified for the sake of narrative flow. And some descriptions of Lincoln are oversimplified to the point of making him unrecognizable. “His public actions concerning slavery invariably stood in contrast to his proslavery arguments,” Winik writes about Lincoln at one point, without detailing what “proslavery arguments” Lincoln ever made. Lincoln is also described as being “like a number of southerners… who tolerated the institution while quietly holding his nose,” which somewhat mischaracterizes his strong anti-slavery views. And Lincoln’s “ultimate goal was not intellectual consistency on slavery, but strategy,” which suggests he was inconsistent in opposing slavery and was more concerned with politicking.
The purported “lost peace” begins to come into play in the months and weeks leading up to president-elect Lincoln’s inauguration. The proposed Crittenden Compromise is portrayed as one such “lost” opportunity for peace, though it never really had a chance of passing Congress. Much is made of the Peace Conference of 1861 - “the debates about to take place would be among the most momentous in the nation's lifespan,” Winik writes breathlessly - though the conference consisted of a lot of talk and posturing without any real chance of achieving or maintaining peace. The proposed Corwin Amendment, one of the last Hail Mary attempts at compromise that would have protected slavery in the southern states from federal interference, earned Lincoln’s tepid endorsement, since it was generally consistent with his beliefs on what the Constitution already prevented anyway, and was an attempt by him to show the South that he was reasonable. Winik, though, describes Lincoln’s support as “a momentous step for the slave-hating Lincoln,” which it wasn’t really (and I assume he meant "slavery-hating" and not "slave-hating"). And the amendment had about as much chance of achieving peace as any other failed attempt at compromise that came before it.
The final chapters are very good at portraying the anxiety and pressure that Lincoln faced in weighing conflicting recommendations on what to do about the Fort Sumter crisis, before any remaining hopes for peace were extinguished for good.
The epilogue attempts to hammer home the idea of the “lost peace,” as Winik mentions the phrase eight times in just three pages. But he also observes how the “lost peace” sparked a “necessary war,” a phrase he uses three times. So by the end, it’s not clear whether he’s lamenting the “lost peace” that never was, or grateful that the North and South finally gave up trying to achieve peace through papered-over compromises and fought it out instead.
Winik’s “Note on Sources” at the very end mentions that he sought to provide a “very different understanding of the start of the Civil War," describing how he had “extensively woven primary with secondary sources, including contemporary newspaper accounts, letters, articles, books, and pamphlets.” Aside from perhaps overstating the prospects for peace, and misstating some of Lincoln’s positions, I didn’t find his take on the start of the Civil War to be “very different,” necessarily. And I would have liked to know more about the “newspaper accounts, letters, articles, books, and pamphlets” he consulted, but my copy of the book had no end notes or bibliography whatsoever.
In the end, there’s not much new information here for anyone already familiar with the lead-up to the Civil War. But then even Winik acknowledges that's not really the point. “A subject as vast as Abraham Lincoln ultimately has few new facts available,” he writes. So he says he “labored intensively to find novel and hidden insights” on the subject.
I’m not entirely sure that he did, since I didn't buy the “lost peace” premise, and it's unclear how much Winik believed it either. He did certainly succeed in writing an engaging story, though. So as a pleasant read, the journey was mostly worth it. I just wish I could say the same about the destination.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an advance copy of this book for review, ahead of its May 27th release.
This book was well-written but doesn’t deserve three stars. I’m knocking it down to a still-generous two. Original review follows:
In the mode of last year’s Civil War-themed The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson, and the upcoming Midnight on the Potomac by Scott Ellsworth, Jay Winik’s new “1861: The Lost Peace” is more story than history. The intention is not for the names and dates and details to be enlivened by Winik’s expressive writing and engaging storytelling - instead, the writing and storytelling themselves appear to be the main attraction. The journey, not necessarily the destination, is the point.
In fact, the specific destination was unclear to me as the book unfolded. The title seems to lament a peace that was “lost,” as though peace between the North and South was ever really at hand, and that war could have been avoided if only that mythical peace had been maintained. Instead, the narrative, about ever-increasing tensions and hopeless last-minute attempts to compromise, generally conveys the very opposite of what the title suggests.
So while the destination is uncertain, the focus instead is on everything there is to see along the way. For a book called “1861,” the narrative doesn’t actually reach 1861 until nearly two-thirds of the way in. And though Lincoln features prominently on the book’s cover, he’s far from the main focus much of the time. Instead, the journey takes us through the entirety of the antebellum period, with a character-focused narrative featuring familiar figures like John Brown, Charles Sumner, Stephen Douglas and Dred Scott, and some lesser-known figures like the enslaved Silas Jackson, whose early inclusion in the book suggests he’s going to play an important part later on, but then he doesn’t.
It’s all very well-written, with vivid descriptions of sights and sounds that put you in the story. And the chapters are very short, which helps to keep things moving along, so it never drags.
But that leaves little time to dig into complexities, so some situations are oversimplified for the sake of narrative flow. And some descriptions of Lincoln are oversimplified to the point of making him unrecognizable. “His public actions concerning slavery invariably stood in contrast to his proslavery arguments,” Winik writes about Lincoln at one point, without detailing what “proslavery arguments” Lincoln ever made. Lincoln is also described as being “like a number of southerners… who tolerated the institution while quietly holding his nose,” which somewhat mischaracterizes his strong anti-slavery views. And Lincoln’s “ultimate goal was not intellectual consistency on slavery, but strategy,” which suggests he was inconsistent in opposing slavery and was more concerned with politicking.
The purported “lost peace” begins to come into play in the months and weeks leading up to president-elect Lincoln’s inauguration. The proposed Crittenden Compromise is portrayed as one such “lost” opportunity for peace, though it never really had a chance of passing Congress. Much is made of the Peace Conference of 1861 - “the debates about to take place would be among the most momentous in the nation's lifespan,” Winik writes breathlessly - though the conference consisted of a lot of talk and posturing without any real chance of achieving or maintaining peace. The proposed Corwin Amendment, one of the last Hail Mary attempts at compromise that would have protected slavery in the southern states from federal interference, earned Lincoln’s tepid endorsement, since it was generally consistent with his beliefs on what the Constitution already prevented anyway, and was an attempt by him to show the South that he was reasonable. Winik, though, describes Lincoln’s support as “a momentous step for the slave-hating Lincoln,” which it wasn’t really (and I assume he meant "slavery-hating" and not "slave-hating"). And the amendment had about as much chance of achieving peace as any other failed attempt at compromise that came before it.
The final chapters are very good at portraying the anxiety and pressure that Lincoln faced in weighing conflicting recommendations on what to do about the Fort Sumter crisis, before any remaining hopes for peace were extinguished for good.
The epilogue attempts to hammer home the idea of the “lost peace,” as Winik mentions the phrase eight times in just three pages. But he also observes how the “lost peace” sparked a “necessary war,” a phrase he uses three times. So by the end, it’s not clear whether he’s lamenting the “lost peace” that never was, or grateful that the North and South finally gave up trying to achieve peace through papered-over compromises and fought it out instead.
Winik’s “Note on Sources” at the very end mentions that he sought to provide a “very different understanding of the start of the Civil War," describing how he had “extensively woven primary with secondary sources, including contemporary newspaper accounts, letters, articles, books, and pamphlets.” Aside from perhaps overstating the prospects for peace, and misstating some of Lincoln’s positions, I didn’t find his take on the start of the Civil War to be “very different,” necessarily. And I would have liked to know more about the “newspaper accounts, letters, articles, books, and pamphlets” he consulted, but my copy of the book had no end notes or bibliography whatsoever.
In the end, there’s not much new information here for anyone already familiar with the lead-up to the Civil War. But then even Winik acknowledges that's not really the point. “A subject as vast as Abraham Lincoln ultimately has few new facts available,” he writes. So he says he “labored intensively to find novel and hidden insights” on the subject.
I’m not entirely sure that he did, since I didn't buy the “lost peace” premise, and it's unclear how much Winik believed it either. He did certainly succeed in writing an engaging story, though. So as a pleasant read, the journey was mostly worth it. I just wish I could say the same about the destination.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an advance copy of this book for review, ahead of its May 27th release.
July 6, 2025
This book satisfies on several different levels. It provides an introduction to the bloodiest conflict in our nation's history. It also provides character sketches of some of the biggest personalities of said conflict. The book wasn't overly detailed as far as well known historiography goes, but in this case that's a good thing. Overall, a worthy effort and well worth the time spent reading it.
June 24, 2025
1861: The Lost Peace is the prequel to public historian Jay Winik’s April 1865: The Month That Saved America. It seems an odd choice to publish a book about the prelude to the American Civil War considering Erik Larson published The Demon of Unrest last year (and did it so much better).
One of the problems with this book, in my opinion, is the title. Of course, Winik (or his publishers) were trying to make the title of this book parallel with his previous book. The title, however, is misleading. First of all, 2/3 of this book was NOT about 1861. Second, the book is not so much about a “lost peace.” If anything, Winik shows how the seeds of the Civil War were sown in the birth of the nation itself. He even highlights some of the threats of violence (the Nullification Crisis) and actual bloodshed (Bleeding Kansas and Harpers Ferry) that preceded the actual war.
Stylistically, Winik is writing more as a storyteller than an academic. There’s less of a focus on facts, figures, dates, and details than on storytelling. He attempts to tell this long, convoluted history in a mere 270 pages. Therefore, some important elements are just breezed through. At the beginning of the book, that breeziness and jumping from topic to topic makes it feel very disjointed. There are points, however, where he does hit his narrative stride, though, such as recounting of the raid on Harpers Ferry.
Interestingly, in these mere 270 pages, Winik takes time to detail some elements from this history that are often omitted. I’ve been teaching this history for years and knew next to nothing about Crittenden and the Washington Peace Conference.
All in all, this is not a terrible book . . . but if I had my druthers, I druther read Larson’s more detailed and exciting book.
One of the problems with this book, in my opinion, is the title. Of course, Winik (or his publishers) were trying to make the title of this book parallel with his previous book. The title, however, is misleading. First of all, 2/3 of this book was NOT about 1861. Second, the book is not so much about a “lost peace.” If anything, Winik shows how the seeds of the Civil War were sown in the birth of the nation itself. He even highlights some of the threats of violence (the Nullification Crisis) and actual bloodshed (Bleeding Kansas and Harpers Ferry) that preceded the actual war.
Stylistically, Winik is writing more as a storyteller than an academic. There’s less of a focus on facts, figures, dates, and details than on storytelling. He attempts to tell this long, convoluted history in a mere 270 pages. Therefore, some important elements are just breezed through. At the beginning of the book, that breeziness and jumping from topic to topic makes it feel very disjointed. There are points, however, where he does hit his narrative stride, though, such as recounting of the raid on Harpers Ferry.
Interestingly, in these mere 270 pages, Winik takes time to detail some elements from this history that are often omitted. I’ve been teaching this history for years and knew next to nothing about Crittenden and the Washington Peace Conference.
All in all, this is not a terrible book . . . but if I had my druthers, I druther read Larson’s more detailed and exciting book.
July 9, 2025
I thought I was pretty well versed in the weeks leading to the Civil War. I know, pretty arrogant, right? As it happens I learned a lot reading Winik's latest book. As other historians have done, he covers what was going on in Charleston and at Sumter, the various plans proposed in Congress regarding the expansion of slavery, and so on. Winik puts flesh on the bones of the people and ideas involved, and he does it with his customary grace, sense of timing, and clarity. He's particularly good at capturing the battling factions -- the hotheads and would-be statesmen, the outside observers (including newspapers) stirring the pot and making things infinitely harder.
What led me to a 5 star rating were the many things I didn't know a lot about. Like the Peace Conference that began on February 4, 1861 -- the same day secessionist states met to write their constitution. 131 esteemed delegates from more than 20 states convened at the Willard Hotel in hopes of finding a way to hold the country together. Other conferences had been convened by the Senate (Committee of Thirteen) and the House (Committee of Thirty-Three) without success. The Peace Conference met in the hope of recreating the Miracle of the Constitutional Convention. Winik covers the debates held by the Conference as well as how it was received around the country... and by Abraham Lincoln, newly elected President button yet sworn in.
Winik shows how exhausted the commissioners were and how feckless; how public opinion went back and forth with each day; how President Buchanan mostly stayed at the White House and focused instead on "diplomatic issues"; and how out of his depth Lincoln was as events unfolded. He was stubborn and didn't appreciate either the intensity of Southern feelings or what a war might bring (not that anyone could have foreseen how tragically it applied out over the next four years). For Lincoln the language of the Constitution put an end to any talk of breaking up the Union, period: "Suppose now," he said, "we all stop discussing and try the experiment of obedience to the Constitution and the laws."
Lincoln later remarked, naively, "In a choice of evils, war may not be the worst. Still I would do all in my power to avert it, except to neglect a constitutional duty." William Cabell Rives of Virginia thought Lincoln good-natured and well-intended, but "utterly unimpressed with the gravity of the crisis and the magnitude of his duties... He seems to think of nothing but jokes and stories."
Winik also sheds light on the complicated feelings expressed in Virginia. If Virginia stayed in the Union, the North would hold significant advantage in virtually every important category. More than a few Virginia delegates were hopeful that that war might be averted and that its role as "birthplace of the nation" and "Mother of Presidents" might be preserved. Need I say that it didn't work out that way?
"1861: The Lost Peace" is eminently readable and engaging. As history written for a general audience it succeeds brilliantly.
What led me to a 5 star rating were the many things I didn't know a lot about. Like the Peace Conference that began on February 4, 1861 -- the same day secessionist states met to write their constitution. 131 esteemed delegates from more than 20 states convened at the Willard Hotel in hopes of finding a way to hold the country together. Other conferences had been convened by the Senate (Committee of Thirteen) and the House (Committee of Thirty-Three) without success. The Peace Conference met in the hope of recreating the Miracle of the Constitutional Convention. Winik covers the debates held by the Conference as well as how it was received around the country... and by Abraham Lincoln, newly elected President button yet sworn in.
Winik shows how exhausted the commissioners were and how feckless; how public opinion went back and forth with each day; how President Buchanan mostly stayed at the White House and focused instead on "diplomatic issues"; and how out of his depth Lincoln was as events unfolded. He was stubborn and didn't appreciate either the intensity of Southern feelings or what a war might bring (not that anyone could have foreseen how tragically it applied out over the next four years). For Lincoln the language of the Constitution put an end to any talk of breaking up the Union, period: "Suppose now," he said, "we all stop discussing and try the experiment of obedience to the Constitution and the laws."
Lincoln later remarked, naively, "In a choice of evils, war may not be the worst. Still I would do all in my power to avert it, except to neglect a constitutional duty." William Cabell Rives of Virginia thought Lincoln good-natured and well-intended, but "utterly unimpressed with the gravity of the crisis and the magnitude of his duties... He seems to think of nothing but jokes and stories."
Winik also sheds light on the complicated feelings expressed in Virginia. If Virginia stayed in the Union, the North would hold significant advantage in virtually every important category. More than a few Virginia delegates were hopeful that that war might be averted and that its role as "birthplace of the nation" and "Mother of Presidents" might be preserved. Need I say that it didn't work out that way?
"1861: The Lost Peace" is eminently readable and engaging. As history written for a general audience it succeeds brilliantly.
March 23, 2025
This book is the third that I have read by the author and as with the others it is well researched and written. The author takes us through a series of events culminating with the attack on Fort Sumpter that began the civil war. He documents the ongoing attempts to prevent the conflict from occurring, but much like today, two sides were too set in their beliefs and would only compromise if the other side would basically capitulate. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the civil war and what lead up to the beginning of the conflict.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
August 1, 2025
Published this year Mr. Winik has written a masterpiece of historical importance.
Slavery was always a controversial topic from the beginning of the founding of our Republic. In fact, the United States would not have been established without the Southern Colonies insisting on keeping the slaves.
Mr. Winik has successfully drawn his readers into the antebellum period and the reasons for its continuance.
It is a well know historical fact that Abraham Lincoln had always opposed slavery; he viewed himself as a moderate. However, when the Republican Party was formed in 1854 it adopted a more progressive stance against the institution of slavery. Many of the Republicans prior to the Civil War were abolitionist; John Brown, 'The Mad Prophet' was one of them.
'The Lost Peace' outlines how the inept President James Buchanan refused to involve himself in negotiating with the Southern States in an attempt to prevent secession in between the 1860 election of Lincoln and his inauguration on March 4, 1861.
Slavery was always a controversial topic from the beginning of the founding of our Republic. In fact, the United States would not have been established without the Southern Colonies insisting on keeping the slaves.
Mr. Winik has successfully drawn his readers into the antebellum period and the reasons for its continuance.
It is a well know historical fact that Abraham Lincoln had always opposed slavery; he viewed himself as a moderate. However, when the Republican Party was formed in 1854 it adopted a more progressive stance against the institution of slavery. Many of the Republicans prior to the Civil War were abolitionist; John Brown, 'The Mad Prophet' was one of them.
'The Lost Peace' outlines how the inept President James Buchanan refused to involve himself in negotiating with the Southern States in an attempt to prevent secession in between the 1860 election of Lincoln and his inauguration on March 4, 1861.
July 2, 2025
Reading this was a bit out of my comfort zone. I am not really into politics or things of that nature (government, etc) but I happened to spot this book on my Goodreads feed. And it had said it was about how Lincoln made the decision to take the country to war. And well, I got curious. How does a president make that type of decision? And so I ordered the book from my local library and I started to read it.
I want to emphasize this book is not about the Civil War itself. It is about the time period just before the war. Basically it explains very clearly what was going on, the events that pushed the country into that war. The book talks about catalyst events. And there are several of them in here. It wasn't only slavery; there had been several hostile incidents (including a town being attacked and burned down). These incidents caused fear, panic and anxiety. But slavery was at the heart of the problem, along with the fact that different people wanted different things. They had different beliefs and they couldn't agree.
And then Lincoln walked into this mess by running for office. I think we all know he won the election...right? I hope so.
But I found the descriptions of Lincoln in here to be very fascinating. His mannerisms. And he drew huge crowds! At one speech he had at least 20,000 people. That made me think of our modern political rallies, like Trump having those huge crowds. I didn't realize stuff like that was going on back then. It was very eye opening to say the least! So this book was certainly educational in more than one way...
The end of the book was truly electrifying! And that shocked me. I couldn't believe how suddenly I wanted, needed to know what was going to happen to Anderson at Fort Sumter!! It was a horrible situation and they were surrounded by the enemy. But what would happen?? Maybe if you are already familiar with all of this you won't get this feeling of suspense. But I had no idea what would happen. Not to the Fort. But I felt suspense!
Didn't expect that at all.
The book does have some dry passages but the majority of the book I found interesting. And remember I am not really into this stuff. But I do feel the book explains what had happened in a very clear yet detailed way. There are some terms in here I had to Google for clarity, like Whigs and Fire-eaters. These were different groups...
I guess the most surprising thing in here was about Lincoln. He wasn't really a politician. He kind of went into it blindly and he had to "grow up" pretty fast due to the Fort Sumter problem. But he also thought up a very clever solution.
I am trying to give details without revealing too much.. I don't know if "spoilers" count towards nonfiction books??
And I just kept thinking of how horrible it must have been for those men inside the Fort, just waiting and waiting... Truly ghastly!
But there was a passage in here that talked about slavery. You don't need to be an actual slave to be a slave. Companies in the north were doing it too. By paying very low wages and the boss was taking all the profit... That is a form of slavery too. It's just "hidden".
But this book is very readable.
Perhaps in some spots it has too many names and details. But I would suppose some people who are really into this would enjoy that.
I want to emphasize this book is not about the Civil War itself. It is about the time period just before the war. Basically it explains very clearly what was going on, the events that pushed the country into that war. The book talks about catalyst events. And there are several of them in here. It wasn't only slavery; there had been several hostile incidents (including a town being attacked and burned down). These incidents caused fear, panic and anxiety. But slavery was at the heart of the problem, along with the fact that different people wanted different things. They had different beliefs and they couldn't agree.
And then Lincoln walked into this mess by running for office. I think we all know he won the election...right? I hope so.
But I found the descriptions of Lincoln in here to be very fascinating. His mannerisms. And he drew huge crowds! At one speech he had at least 20,000 people. That made me think of our modern political rallies, like Trump having those huge crowds. I didn't realize stuff like that was going on back then. It was very eye opening to say the least! So this book was certainly educational in more than one way...
The end of the book was truly electrifying! And that shocked me. I couldn't believe how suddenly I wanted, needed to know what was going to happen to Anderson at Fort Sumter!! It was a horrible situation and they were surrounded by the enemy. But what would happen?? Maybe if you are already familiar with all of this you won't get this feeling of suspense. But I had no idea what would happen. Not to the Fort. But I felt suspense!
Didn't expect that at all.
The book does have some dry passages but the majority of the book I found interesting. And remember I am not really into this stuff. But I do feel the book explains what had happened in a very clear yet detailed way. There are some terms in here I had to Google for clarity, like Whigs and Fire-eaters. These were different groups...
I guess the most surprising thing in here was about Lincoln. He wasn't really a politician. He kind of went into it blindly and he had to "grow up" pretty fast due to the Fort Sumter problem. But he also thought up a very clever solution.
I am trying to give details without revealing too much.. I don't know if "spoilers" count towards nonfiction books??
And I just kept thinking of how horrible it must have been for those men inside the Fort, just waiting and waiting... Truly ghastly!
But there was a passage in here that talked about slavery. You don't need to be an actual slave to be a slave. Companies in the north were doing it too. By paying very low wages and the boss was taking all the profit... That is a form of slavery too. It's just "hidden".
But this book is very readable.
Perhaps in some spots it has too many names and details. But I would suppose some people who are really into this would enjoy that.
May 31, 2025
Jay Winik has delivered another distinguished work of American historical scholarship that illuminates a fascinating and largely overlooked chapter in the lead-up to the Civil War. Building on his reputation as one of our finest historians, Winik tackles the compelling question of whether America's most devastating conflict might have been prevented, revealing the complex diplomatic efforts that have been overshadowed by the war's ultimate outbreak.
What makes this book particularly valuable is Winik's meticulous documentation of the substantial peace conference that took place before Lincoln's inauguration. His research reveals that these diplomatic efforts were far more significant than most histories have acknowledged, providing readers with important new insights into the political dynamics of this crucial period. Winik's ability to recover and analyze these overlooked peace initiatives demonstrates both his archival skills and his commitment to presenting a complete historical picture.
The book's greatest strength lies in Winik's nuanced portrayal of the genuine desire for peace that existed on multiple sides of the conflict. His exploration of how political leaders tried to navigate the deepening crisis, even as they found themselves "talking past each other," creates a compelling human drama that brings this pivotal moment to life. The author's careful attention to Lincoln's own evolution—from initial willingness to listen to ultimate refusal—provides particularly illuminating insights into presidential decision-making during national crisis.
Winik succeeds brilliantly in showing how the peace conference, though ultimately unsuccessful, served the crucial function of exposing "the depth of the deadlock" between competing visions of America's future. His portrayal of those who genuinely sought to prevent war and the trauma of secession adds important emotional depth to what could have been a dry diplomatic history. This is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the complex forces that drove America toward its greatest internal conflict.
What makes this book particularly valuable is Winik's meticulous documentation of the substantial peace conference that took place before Lincoln's inauguration. His research reveals that these diplomatic efforts were far more significant than most histories have acknowledged, providing readers with important new insights into the political dynamics of this crucial period. Winik's ability to recover and analyze these overlooked peace initiatives demonstrates both his archival skills and his commitment to presenting a complete historical picture.
The book's greatest strength lies in Winik's nuanced portrayal of the genuine desire for peace that existed on multiple sides of the conflict. His exploration of how political leaders tried to navigate the deepening crisis, even as they found themselves "talking past each other," creates a compelling human drama that brings this pivotal moment to life. The author's careful attention to Lincoln's own evolution—from initial willingness to listen to ultimate refusal—provides particularly illuminating insights into presidential decision-making during national crisis.
Winik succeeds brilliantly in showing how the peace conference, though ultimately unsuccessful, served the crucial function of exposing "the depth of the deadlock" between competing visions of America's future. His portrayal of those who genuinely sought to prevent war and the trauma of secession adds important emotional depth to what could have been a dry diplomatic history. This is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the complex forces that drove America toward its greatest internal conflict.
August 2, 2025
Excellent book about the year leading up to the Civil War. Very interesting, and very well written and researched. I have read a few books by Jay Winik and have really enjoyed them all. I have read quite a few book about Lincoln and about the Civil War, but there was a lot of detail in this book that either I had not read about, or maybe I'd just forgotten. Although the Civil War was predominately fought over the question of slavery, it was way more about whether of not to allow slavery to spread to other states, more than about whether or not to abolish it. In the year leading up to the war, there were a number of policies suggested by both sides in an effort to resolve the slavery issue, but none were able to get the job done. Many on the North were willing to allow slavery to continue where it currently existed, but did not want it to be able to spread to other states or other territories. The South was adamant that it be allowed to spread. There was actually a 13th amendment (before the current actual 13th amendment) proposed, passed by Congress, and signed by President Buchanan, which would have basically enshrined into the Constitution the institution of slavery. It said that no amendment could ever be added to the Constitution to eliminate slavery. However, it never got ratified by the States because the South would not support it because it also prevented the expansion of slavery. So it was never added to the Constitution. In 1865, the current 13th amendment was ratified that ended slavery. Anyone who enjoys the history of the Civil War will enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.
June 21, 2025
A lot of the book goes into similar details as last years book “demon of unrest.” Still, learned some new things and was a good distraction from the worst flight of my life. Though, my seat mates did not seem to want to learn about the Civil War :(
June 2, 2025
Emotions causes the war
Excellent review of the years leading up to ft sumter.The book chronicles then Brown raid at Harper ferry,bloody kansas,Dred scoot decision ,solid which created such emotions between North and South,that reasonable compromise became impossible. Great book for understanding how emotion,falsenews and fear caused rational people to choose war
Excellent review of the years leading up to ft sumter.The book chronicles then Brown raid at Harper ferry,bloody kansas,Dred scoot decision ,solid which created such emotions between North and South,that reasonable compromise became impossible. Great book for understanding how emotion,falsenews and fear caused rational people to choose war
July 24, 2025
4.5 stars
October 8, 2025
This is a tough book for me to review because as a Lincoln scholar I know just how much Winik was loose with the details in an effort to create a readable story. The writing and storytelling are the author's strengths, and the story is what most general readers are looking for, but I found myself distracted by the errors and cavalier treatment of some of the key players. I also found the basic premise faulty. Presumably the idea behind the subtitle is that if Lincoln and the Republicans had simply subordinated the platform on which they were elected, other southern states would not have followed South Carolina into secession. Given that seven states seceded while the process was supposedly still in play, that's a questionable premise. As for "1861," the book doesn't even get to 1861 until half to two-thirds of the way through the book. I do get that the title is to bookend his earlier successful book on Lincoln (focused on April 1865), but it does seem misleading.
So, is the book worth reading? Sure. Winik tells a good story, and most readers won't trip over faulty or missing details. The book doesn't add much that people shouldn't already know, and that have been treated with more detail in other books on the subject, but again, general readers will probably enjoy the book.
So, is the book worth reading? Sure. Winik tells a good story, and most readers won't trip over faulty or missing details. The book doesn't add much that people shouldn't already know, and that have been treated with more detail in other books on the subject, but again, general readers will probably enjoy the book.
August 3, 2025
I love Jay Winik's books. I just wish there were more of them. His first, April 1865, ironically is about the end of the Civil War, while this one is about the very beginning of it. Once again, it's told like a novel, the story unfolding in a completely gripping, fascinating manner. My only complaint about this book is that it's too short. It's a subject I've read about before, but unsurprisingly, Winik tells it better than I've read it before for the most part. (Larsen's book about Fort Sumter was great too.). I'm pretty sure Jay Wink only has 4 books; I recommend them all.
June 1, 2025
Appreciate
The reader is not disappointed after reading any of Jay Winik's books. This is no different. A every interested and fact filled book.
The reader is not disappointed after reading any of Jay Winik's books. This is no different. A every interested and fact filled book.
July 14, 2025
Wonderful book about the period of time between Lincoln's election and the outbreak of the Civial War and the attempts to prevent the war. Some people believe war could have been avoided but the question is what would the resulting government(s) looked like. Good read.
June 30, 2025
I just finished reading 1861: The Lost Peace by Jay Winik. It is a worthwhile read for history buffs, especially Civil War buffs. I was not as overwhelmed as I was by The Great Upheaval: America and the Birth of the Modern World, 1788-1800 or 1944: FDR and the Year That Changed History, both by Jay Winik. I really wanted to learn more about what swung Virginia to secede, since it it my view that without Virginia the rebellion would have sputtered. Also missing was any real discussion about Maryland's remaining, or the spiriting of governmental papers to New York City.
On a more positive note he did a very good job of analyzing Lincoln's resistance to his bureaucracy's tendency to appease the South. 1861 was only a "lost peace" if odious surrenders were made to the Confederacy. This would have begat more and more surrenders. I did not realize how strong were the forces that Lincoln bucked in this regard. I am giving this a "four" even though it's really a "three and a half."
On a more positive note he did a very good job of analyzing Lincoln's resistance to his bureaucracy's tendency to appease the South. 1861 was only a "lost peace" if odious surrenders were made to the Confederacy. This would have begat more and more surrenders. I did not realize how strong were the forces that Lincoln bucked in this regard. I am giving this a "four" even though it's really a "three and a half."
May 13, 2025
The days leading up to the most difficult decision any American President has ever made is covered in 1861: The Lost Peace by Jay Winik. Abraham Lincoln makes the fateful decision to go to war against the Confederacy at the official start of the American Civil War and the country will never be the same. Winik examines this decision with all the characters and events leading up to it in a style that reads like a fiction novel. The result is a piece of history brought to life through its' characters and dialouge.
July 1, 2025
Very enjoyable read from a very readable and thorough historian and writer. Very intriguing look at the causes of the war combined with the failures to mend the union prior to the war breaking out.
March 17, 2025
There have probably been hundreds of books written about the Civil War. I've only read a few of them, but as this work focused on one particular year I was pleased to have the opportunity to review an ARC of 1861. I want to thank author Jay Winik, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for the chance to review. I attest the following review is my own unbiased work.
Winik's 1861 resembles the recent Erik Larson book The Demon of Unrest in that both writers cover the events that lead up to the first shots fired at Fort Sumter. The Demon of Unrest is more detailed, and covers a longer period of history. 1861 covers the months before Abraham Lincoln's inauguration (set at that time in March, not January as we have it today), and the first month of his Presidency. But it is not appropriate to compare the two books except to say that they deal with the same topic, but in different ways.
As Winik stated in his acknowledgement, the author looked for new nuggets of information that other historians may overlook. The book covers a lot of ground in the leadup to the Civil War, and does it in a compact 308 pages of text. The writing is very crisp, as was the research underlying its execution.
I learned some new things and enjoyed reading the book. I give it 4.25 stars, rounded down to 4.0.
Winik's 1861 resembles the recent Erik Larson book The Demon of Unrest in that both writers cover the events that lead up to the first shots fired at Fort Sumter. The Demon of Unrest is more detailed, and covers a longer period of history. 1861 covers the months before Abraham Lincoln's inauguration (set at that time in March, not January as we have it today), and the first month of his Presidency. But it is not appropriate to compare the two books except to say that they deal with the same topic, but in different ways.
As Winik stated in his acknowledgement, the author looked for new nuggets of information that other historians may overlook. The book covers a lot of ground in the leadup to the Civil War, and does it in a compact 308 pages of text. The writing is very crisp, as was the research underlying its execution.
I learned some new things and enjoyed reading the book. I give it 4.25 stars, rounded down to 4.0.
April 17, 2025
*The Lost Peace 1861* is a compelling blend of historical fiction and personal discovery that transports readers to the tumultuous era of the American Civil War. With vivid storytelling and richly drawn characters, the book explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and resilience as individuals navigate a nation divided. The narrative’s emotional depth and attention to historical detail make it both educational and deeply human, offering insight into a pivotal time in American history. Perfect for fans of heartfelt historical tales, *The Lost Peace 1861* resonates with a timeless message about finding one’s place amidst chaos and change.
March 2, 2025
It is amazing that there are new books about Abraham Lincoln that continue to uncover new perspectives on his presidency. The Lost Peace:1861 by Jay Winik does exactly that. It’s a solid, but not exhaustive look at the run up to the pivotal year, 1861. It’s approachable reading and a deserved entry in the Lincoln canon. Thanks to #netgalley and #grandcentralpress for the opportunity to preview this book.
March 14, 2025
I found this to be equal to Winik's "April 1865" although the story was best in the lead up to 1861 instead of the 4 months that are detailed in the year 1861. A lot of the story paralleled the recent released book "The Demon of Unrest" which detailed the lead-up and fall of Fort Sumter in a better way that this book did. Winik crafts an engrossing narrative and I bookends the Civil War well with his other book.
I received a ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
I received a ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
September 13, 2025
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” - Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural speech, 1861.
Jay Winik’s 1861: The Lost Peace, is a good summary and overview of the incidents leading up to the outbreak of the Civil War, even if Winik takes some liberties with his interpretations of the facts. Random thoughts:
Provenance: My first non-library book in a while. This was a birthday present from my daughter.
Expectations: I love reading about the Civil War, so I had high expectations for this book. I was also looking forward to learning more about what led up to hostilities.
The Story Winik details the events leading up to the first shots of the Civil War. His method of writing short chapters on each of the events allows him to cover a lot in relatively few pages. He covers the conflicts of slavery in the new American territories like Kansas & Missouri; John Brown’s raid on the Federal weapons depot at Harper’s Ferry; debates between politicians; the election of 1860, and many other factors that led United States citizens to fight and kill each other over the next four years.
What it's really about: I read another review that castigated Winik for implying that there was a peace to lose, as if it wasn’t inevitable that the country would be plunged into Civil War. I don’t take it the same way.
My opinion is that Winik looks at all of the ways that events eroded the relative peace that the United States had from about 1800 on. I’m not saying that everything was sunshine and rainbows, but the country was expanding physically and economically during the time of the Louisiana Purchase until the 1850’s.
But that peace was built on a faulty foundation, as slavery still reigned in the southern states and not all the people in this country were truly free. Whether you believe that the Civil War was fought to free the slaves or not (I don’t believe that it was initially. I do believe slavery became the cause when it served the North’s purposes), the fact is that the issue caused a lot of conflict between the states. There was constant fighting over slavery in the new territories, with slave and non-slave states each trying to gain a majority of representatives in Congress. There was the Fugitive Slave Act, requiring runaway slaves (property, under the Constitution) be returned to their owners in the South that caused conflict between slave and non-slave states (though runaway slaves were not as big a problem as some made it seem).
To me, the peace was lost long before the war started. It was lost when slaves were brought here, to a land of freedom, and then denied that freedom for someone else’s benefit.
Of note: As noted above, runaway slaves were not as much of a problem as the politicians made it seem. Slave states complained long and loud about all of the runaway slaves but, in fact, only 1/50 of 1% of slaves ran away. In other words, according to Winik, 2 out of every 10,000 slaves ran away. Politicians in the South claimed there was an issue where none really existed.
Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, helped set up the Smithsonian when he was a member of Congress before the War.
According to Winik, Davis did not seek the Presidency of the Confederacy, but was elected anyway. In fact, he did not even know that he was a candidate.
Southern Judge James Louis Petigru said, “South Carolina is too small to be a republic but too large to be an insane asylum.”
Picking Nits: My biggest nit is that Winik doesn’t cite any sources, either in notes or in a bibliography, which makes some of his facts hard to swallow.
For example, Winik describes Robert E. Lee thusly, “Forever faithful to his wife, he was a constant flirt with other women and maintained a sensuous and lifelong correspondence with several of them.” Okay, putting aside for a second that this statement only makes Lee faithful to his wife sexually, but absolutely unfaithful emotionally, I have read over twenty books about the Civil War and never came across this fact or statement. I’m gonna need a source here.
He also exaggerates. Of Captain Robert Anderson, the Union Commander of Fort Sumter in South Carolina Winik says, “He had a poetic side, too, once listening to a mockingbird and telling it, ‘sing on, sweet bird.’” What the hell? Calling that poetic is a radical interpretation of the facts – which can’t be tracked because Winik doesn’t cite a source for this information.
Recommendation: I might have rated this higher if Winik listed his sources, but there is a lot here that Winik takes and twists to his own interpretation without giving us the source material. Even though I enjoyed reading and learning about the events leading up to the War, I can’t go higher than 2.5 stars, rounded up.
Jay Winik’s 1861: The Lost Peace, is a good summary and overview of the incidents leading up to the outbreak of the Civil War, even if Winik takes some liberties with his interpretations of the facts. Random thoughts:
Provenance: My first non-library book in a while. This was a birthday present from my daughter.
Expectations: I love reading about the Civil War, so I had high expectations for this book. I was also looking forward to learning more about what led up to hostilities.
The Story Winik details the events leading up to the first shots of the Civil War. His method of writing short chapters on each of the events allows him to cover a lot in relatively few pages. He covers the conflicts of slavery in the new American territories like Kansas & Missouri; John Brown’s raid on the Federal weapons depot at Harper’s Ferry; debates between politicians; the election of 1860, and many other factors that led United States citizens to fight and kill each other over the next four years.
What it's really about: I read another review that castigated Winik for implying that there was a peace to lose, as if it wasn’t inevitable that the country would be plunged into Civil War. I don’t take it the same way.
My opinion is that Winik looks at all of the ways that events eroded the relative peace that the United States had from about 1800 on. I’m not saying that everything was sunshine and rainbows, but the country was expanding physically and economically during the time of the Louisiana Purchase until the 1850’s.
But that peace was built on a faulty foundation, as slavery still reigned in the southern states and not all the people in this country were truly free. Whether you believe that the Civil War was fought to free the slaves or not (I don’t believe that it was initially. I do believe slavery became the cause when it served the North’s purposes), the fact is that the issue caused a lot of conflict between the states. There was constant fighting over slavery in the new territories, with slave and non-slave states each trying to gain a majority of representatives in Congress. There was the Fugitive Slave Act, requiring runaway slaves (property, under the Constitution) be returned to their owners in the South that caused conflict between slave and non-slave states (though runaway slaves were not as big a problem as some made it seem).
To me, the peace was lost long before the war started. It was lost when slaves were brought here, to a land of freedom, and then denied that freedom for someone else’s benefit.
Of note: As noted above, runaway slaves were not as much of a problem as the politicians made it seem. Slave states complained long and loud about all of the runaway slaves but, in fact, only 1/50 of 1% of slaves ran away. In other words, according to Winik, 2 out of every 10,000 slaves ran away. Politicians in the South claimed there was an issue where none really existed.
Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, helped set up the Smithsonian when he was a member of Congress before the War.
According to Winik, Davis did not seek the Presidency of the Confederacy, but was elected anyway. In fact, he did not even know that he was a candidate.
Southern Judge James Louis Petigru said, “South Carolina is too small to be a republic but too large to be an insane asylum.”
Picking Nits: My biggest nit is that Winik doesn’t cite any sources, either in notes or in a bibliography, which makes some of his facts hard to swallow.
For example, Winik describes Robert E. Lee thusly, “Forever faithful to his wife, he was a constant flirt with other women and maintained a sensuous and lifelong correspondence with several of them.” Okay, putting aside for a second that this statement only makes Lee faithful to his wife sexually, but absolutely unfaithful emotionally, I have read over twenty books about the Civil War and never came across this fact or statement. I’m gonna need a source here.
He also exaggerates. Of Captain Robert Anderson, the Union Commander of Fort Sumter in South Carolina Winik says, “He had a poetic side, too, once listening to a mockingbird and telling it, ‘sing on, sweet bird.’” What the hell? Calling that poetic is a radical interpretation of the facts – which can’t be tracked because Winik doesn’t cite a source for this information.
Recommendation: I might have rated this higher if Winik listed his sources, but there is a lot here that Winik takes and twists to his own interpretation without giving us the source material. Even though I enjoyed reading and learning about the events leading up to the War, I can’t go higher than 2.5 stars, rounded up.
August 8, 2025
Excellent book about the lead up to the Civil War. If you think we are having political problems now, there are nothing compared to the years prior to the Civil War. The South refused to even consider any limit on slavery and its spread into the territories. Multiple peace commissions were formed, most famously by John Crittenden, a senator from Kentucky, But they all came to nothing. At the time, Lincoln stated that he would leave slavery alone in the states where it was legal, but that was it. He stated, "Let there be no compromise in the question of extending slavery. Have none of it. Stand firm. The tug has to come, & better now, than time hereafter." At one point even a different 13th amendment to the Constitution was proposed and even passed by the Congress. That amendment stated that "to the effect that the federal government, shall never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States." This would enshrine slavery as it stood in the Constitution for time immemorial. Even Lincoln, trying to avoid a Civil War, added that he had no objection to its being made express and irrevocable. Lincoln's red line was no expansion of slavery in the territories of the West. The South would not accept this. Bottom line, we really did need a Civil War. Can you imagine the mess this country would be in if slavery was permanently enshrined in the Constitution.
Lincoln also did not accept secession. He felt that the Union was perpetual. I hope he is right. Secession was, according to Lincoln, "an ingenious sophism, having no legal defense, no real historical basis, and no grounding in logic."
Lincoln also did not accept secession. He felt that the Union was perpetual. I hope he is right. Secession was, according to Lincoln, "an ingenious sophism, having no legal defense, no real historical basis, and no grounding in logic."
May 26, 2025
Book Review: 1861: The Lost Peace by Jay Winik — A Timely Reflection on a Nation at the Brink
On Memorial Day, a time when we honor those who gave their lives in service to the United States, it's fitting to reflect not just on the sacrifices made during war, but also on the moments when war might have been avoided. Jay Winik's 1861: The Lost Peace is a powerful and sobering reminder of one such moment — a time when the United States stood on the edge of civil war and, despite the efforts of many, lost its last chance at preserving the Union without bloodshed.
Unlike most Civil War histories that begin with Fort Sumter or dive headlong into battlefield strategy, Winik takes us back to the fragile, uncertain months before war became inevitable. He explores a critical but often overlooked question: Could the conflict have been averted? The book’s unique focus on this pivotal moment gives it a distinct place in the literature of American history. By zeroing in on the waning days of peace, Winik reveals just how close the nation came to choosing a different path.
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its narrative style. Winik writes with the flair of a novelist, turning what might have been dry political history into a gripping, high-stakes drama. Through his vivid prose and careful pacing, we feel the tension in Washington, the moral weight on Abraham Lincoln’s shoulders, and the uncertainty clouding the choices of figures like Robert E. Lee and William Seward. These aren’t distant historical icons — Winik portrays them as deeply human, wrestling with personal convictions, national loyalties, and the fear of what’s to come.
What’s especially compelling about 1861 is how relevant it feels today. In a time of intense political division, Winik’s account of a fractured America—paralyzed by mistrust, inflamed by extremism, and guided by leaders trying to prevent catastrophe—feels eerily familiar. It’s a reminder that democracy, no matter how firmly rooted, is not immune to unraveling.
Reading 1861: The Lost Peace on Memorial Day feels particularly meaningful. As we remember those who fought and fell in defense of the Union, Winik’s book invites us to also consider the fragility of peace — and the moments in history when it might have been preserved, if only. It’s a deeply moving, thought-provoking read that reminds us why the past still matters, especially when the present feels uncertain.
On Memorial Day, a time when we honor those who gave their lives in service to the United States, it's fitting to reflect not just on the sacrifices made during war, but also on the moments when war might have been avoided. Jay Winik's 1861: The Lost Peace is a powerful and sobering reminder of one such moment — a time when the United States stood on the edge of civil war and, despite the efforts of many, lost its last chance at preserving the Union without bloodshed.
Unlike most Civil War histories that begin with Fort Sumter or dive headlong into battlefield strategy, Winik takes us back to the fragile, uncertain months before war became inevitable. He explores a critical but often overlooked question: Could the conflict have been averted? The book’s unique focus on this pivotal moment gives it a distinct place in the literature of American history. By zeroing in on the waning days of peace, Winik reveals just how close the nation came to choosing a different path.
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its narrative style. Winik writes with the flair of a novelist, turning what might have been dry political history into a gripping, high-stakes drama. Through his vivid prose and careful pacing, we feel the tension in Washington, the moral weight on Abraham Lincoln’s shoulders, and the uncertainty clouding the choices of figures like Robert E. Lee and William Seward. These aren’t distant historical icons — Winik portrays them as deeply human, wrestling with personal convictions, national loyalties, and the fear of what’s to come.
What’s especially compelling about 1861 is how relevant it feels today. In a time of intense political division, Winik’s account of a fractured America—paralyzed by mistrust, inflamed by extremism, and guided by leaders trying to prevent catastrophe—feels eerily familiar. It’s a reminder that democracy, no matter how firmly rooted, is not immune to unraveling.
Reading 1861: The Lost Peace on Memorial Day feels particularly meaningful. As we remember those who fought and fell in defense of the Union, Winik’s book invites us to also consider the fragility of peace — and the moments in history when it might have been preserved, if only. It’s a deeply moving, thought-provoking read that reminds us why the past still matters, especially when the present feels uncertain.
October 24, 2025
Previously, I had read Minik's book about the final days of the Civil War (April 1865: The Month That Saved America) and found it compelling, so I was looking forward to reading this one about the start of the war. And though it provides a lot of details on the events leading up to Fort Sumter, it didn't really make a solid case that, as implied by the title and some sections of the book, there was a workable compromise that could have avoided the war. Lincoln may have underestimated the anger towards and mistrust of the Federal government by the secessionist states, but I wasn't convinced that he missed some obvious solution to the problem of slavery. Still, a worthwhile read for anyone interested in history related to the Civil War or Lincoln - 3.5 stars rounded down.
June 18, 2025
I may be wrong about this, but it seems to me that Winik suggests that there existed workable proposals in 1860-1861 that might have averted civil war, which Lincoln rejected out-of-hand. But, given that both the Crittenden Compromise and the Willard Hotel Peace Conference allowed for the westward extension of slavery, I don't see how anyone who has studied candidate Lincoln's position on the extension of slavery could reckon that he saw in these proposals anything more than the most unlikely means of the nation's salvation. Winik also seems to suggest that, before his inauguration, Lincoln vastly (maybe even foolishly) over-estimated the strength of Unionism in the South, which blinded him to the extent of Southern hostility and determination to secede. If that's the case, he was quickly relieved of his delusion when the Confederate cannons opened fire on Fort Sumter.
May 9, 2025
I received a free ARC copy of this book:
Jay Winik’s 1861: The Civil War Awakening tells the story of the important months right before the Civil War started. Instead of focusing on battles, it looks at the choices people made and the chances they missed to keep peace. Winik shows how close the U.S. came to avoiding war, and how big mistakes and deep disagreements pushed the country toward fighting.
He writes in a clear and interesting way, making the history feel real and dramatic. The book is more like a story than a deep analysis, but it still does a great job showing how serious and emotional that time was.
Overall, 1861 is a powerful and easy-to-read look at how the Civil War began, great for anyone curious about this key time in American history.
Jay Winik’s 1861: The Civil War Awakening tells the story of the important months right before the Civil War started. Instead of focusing on battles, it looks at the choices people made and the chances they missed to keep peace. Winik shows how close the U.S. came to avoiding war, and how big mistakes and deep disagreements pushed the country toward fighting.
He writes in a clear and interesting way, making the history feel real and dramatic. The book is more like a story than a deep analysis, but it still does a great job showing how serious and emotional that time was.
Overall, 1861 is a powerful and easy-to-read look at how the Civil War began, great for anyone curious about this key time in American history.
June 7, 2025
I was really curious about 1861: The Lost Peace because I like history books that dig into the “what ifs.” This one definitely has some interesting ideas about how the Civil War maybe could have been avoided if people had made different choices. The author does a good job of making the main figures feel like real people instead of just names from a textbook, and I liked seeing how tense things got behind the scenes.
That said, the book dragged in places for me, especially when it got bogged down in all the political details and back-and-forth between leaders. Sometimes I just wanted the story to move along instead of getting stuck in the weeds. I also found myself wishing for a little more focus on regular people, not just the big names.
That said, the book dragged in places for me, especially when it got bogged down in all the political details and back-and-forth between leaders. Sometimes I just wanted the story to move along instead of getting stuck in the weeds. I also found myself wishing for a little more focus on regular people, not just the big names.
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