The Approaching Fury: Voices of the Storm, 1820-1861

by Stephen B. Oates

Stephen B. Oates tells the story of the coming of the American Civil War through the voices, and from the viewpoints, of 13 principal players in the drama, including Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Nat Turner, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Frederick Douglass. This unique approach shows the crucial role that perception of events played in the sectional hostilities that bore the United States irreversibly into civil war. In writing the monologues, Oates draws on the actual words of Ills speakers and simulates how they would describe the crucial events in which they were the principal actors or witnesses. All the events and themes in the monologues adhere to historical record. The result is an exciting history that brings the personalities and events of the coming of the American Civil War vividly to life.

Genres: History, Civil War, Nonfiction, Politics, Civil War History, American Civil War, American History

512 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

About the author

An expert on 18th century U.S. history, Stephen B. Oates was professor of history at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he taught from 1969 until his retirement in 1997. Oates received his BA (1958), MA (1960), and Ph.D. (1969) from the University of Texas.

Oates wrote 16 books during his career, including biographies of Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Clara Barton, and John Brown, and an account of Nat Turner's slave rebellion. His Portrait of America, a compilation of essays about United States history, is widely used in advanced high school and undergraduate university American history courses. His two "Voices of the Storm" books are compilations of monologues of key individuals in events leading up to and during the American Civil War. He also appeared in the well-known Ken Burns PBS documentary on the war.

Oates received the Nevins-Freeman Award of the Chicago Civil War Round Table for his historical work on the American Civil War.

Reviews

[Colleen Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the format of this book. Through extensive research and with great care, Oates, one of the preeminent Civil War historians, speaks in the first person in the voices of thirteen of the people involved in the events leading to the War. From Jefferson to Fitzhugh; from Clay to Douglass and Douglas and Lincoln, we are told in their words, how the U.S. became embroiled in the most devastating war in American history. Oates does a particularly good job of bringing his characters to life on the page. The snootiness and arrogance of George Fitzhugh who advocated against democracy and equality, advocating the enslavement, not only of Africans but of poor whites as well gives the reader insight into how the very extreme Southerners thought. John Brown explains why he attempted to start a revolution of the enslaved people to gain their freedom; Lincoln, elegant and honest, with integrity and commitment, explains his beliefs first in his debates with Stephen Douglas, and later, in his race for the presidency and his Inaugural Addresses. Douglas is presented as someone who referred to himself in the third person as "little giant". In physical stature, he was a very short man with a very large head but in his mind's eye, he saw himself as a giant in the realm of politics and leadership. There are of course others included in the book and all are worth the read. I feel that I learned details about each personage that one rarely learns from a regular biography. Even though there wasn't much new information in the book, the method the author used to tell the story offers perspectives of the characters and provides a more nuanced picture of history. The book is very readable and I highly recommend it.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

History told in the first person. Oates has chosen thirteen people to relate their understanding of the events that we know now led to the Civil War. It is an engaging read (he has written biographies on at least two of the individuals previously - Lincoln and Brown), with deep roots in each of these individual's personal and public writings (Jefferson, Clay, Calhoun, Turner, Stowe, Brown, Garrison, Douglass, Fitzhugh, Douglas, Lincoln, Davis, Chestnut). He does a good job of examining events and time from several vantage points and getting both northern and southern opinion. While it claims to cover the period 1820-1861, two thirds of the book covers the period 1857-1861 and the Lincoln-Douglas debates get wide coverage. This is not a drawback in my opinion, but the reader should be warned. Slavery is central to the argument and leads to division as America grows in both territory and population. Without Douglas and Clay the story would veer too much to extreme positions on either side (and not the general racism and ambivalence of the "average" American of the 1850s). My other warning is that I wanted even more intellectual history, but instead much time was spent carrying the narrative history forward as characters related and responded to the events of the day.

[David Tynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

i have deeply desired historical nonfiction to give rich context said momentous events. Oates acheives this in such an exhilarating manner.i love this approach. I would have liked to hear some more from women. particularly those in the north who supported OR did not support abolition.

Thank you Mr Oates for another wonderful book.

[Aloysius · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique method of looking at the prelude to the American Civil War: through the words, in narrative form of over a dozen major figures that played a crucial role in the period.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using an innovative method, having major participants in the culture and politics of early to mid-nineteenth century narrate their perception of events leading the the Civil War, the book makes clear that the issue of slavery was the central flashpoint leading to conflict. Eerily, the book also unwittingly draws parallels between then and now: political sectionalism growing antagonism among politicians and the use of specious arguments and reasoning to support insupportable propositions.

[Kyle O’Keefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating, and very well researched. There are direct quotes from the major players all throughout, but it reads as easily as fiction. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in American history. As a country we need to know more about the civil war, and this is a factual and engaging place to start. Can’t wait to read the sequel.

[Donovan Lambright]

8m

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating approach to writing history from the voices of those present. I don’t love the artistic license of putting words in historical figures’ mouths, but each individual’s narrative rang true based on my knowledge of the period learned from dozens of other books. I’ve had this book on my list for over 25 years, and I’m glad I finally got to it.

Personal thought: Given that the “love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10), understandable (but never excusable) how society justified enslaving Africans and Blacks in the name of Christianity. What justifications does modern society utilize?

[John Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oates does a masterful job of blending voices involved in the "peculiar institution," using expertly weaved first-person narrative from their own historical speeches and documents. Parallels abound to today's engrained social ill of abortion. As with abortion, society had become so comfortable with slavery that most people viewed it as a necessary evil even while acknowledging it as immoral. In principle, people abhorred it, but in reality they were addicted to it, and would do whatever they needed to keep it enforced, including beating slaves mercilessly. As with abortionists, slave owners staged the same pollyanna arguments that they really didn't like the institution that they perpetuated and profited from. There also is a parallel with the gay marriage surge sweeping the country. Those who dared speak out against the morality of slavery, such as William Lloyd Garrison, had a price put on their head in some quarters to silence their speech. A vocal minority convinced lawmakers to bow to their demands to keep slavery legal for decades. Christians were largely indifferent to slavery. An injustice, such as modern sex trafficking, doesn't end unless enough people become outraged to try to stop it. Slavery only ended because some people took risks with their lives. The only drawback of the book is that at 430 pages it becomes a bit turgid, as Oates tries to cram more and more viewpoints into the debate.

[Curtis Smothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to study history through the words and views of those who lived and participated in it? The author has taken the speeches and writings of historical characters who played a role in the events that led up to our Civil War and has crafted a fascinated narrative. Starting with Thomas Jefferson, who foresaw the holocaust that slavery would bring to our country, the book simply gives each person's passionate views on the issues and events that would divide our nation and result in a destructive civil war.

Sample:
Jefferson Davis: In sum, we left the Union to free ourselves from the rule of the majority...All we asked was to be left alone. But that was not to be, for our hated foe was determined to subjugate us by force of arms. (p. 429)

Abraham Lincoln: We had to show the world that popular government was a workable system, that people could rule themselves...We had to teach southern traitors the folly of being the beginners of war.. (p.430)

Last line of the book: And the war came.

The book is thoroughly researched and authentic and is an indispensable read and resource.

[Everton Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent narrative, really a series of monologues, of the crucial antebellum period in American History from the Missouri Compromise of 1820 to the coming of the Civil War in 1861. Author Stephen B. Oates lets some major actors who left written records tell us the story in their own words. The value in this book is that even though I have traversed this period a few times before, this telling gave me a better sense of each player's stance regarding the issues involved, and thus led to a better and more memorable understanding of how each chosen actor moved the story forward. It was different hearing what happened from the mouth of Henry Clay than reading that Henry Clay did thus... Also makes plain how central the institution of slavery was to the whole story. My favorite bits were the Nat Turner, John Brown and Lincoln monologues, but the whole thing was good.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writer / historian does a nice job of telling the story of the approaching Civil War through first person narrative of important people involved in the politics and controversy of the times. He is such a thorough historian that he is able to capture the personalities of the people involved - from Stephen Douglas, Frederick Douglass, John C. Calhoun, Abraham Lincoln, John Brown and more. Oates moves through the decades, capturing the time. The length is a bit much at times, you have to be dedicated to moving through the book. Only a student of history, and particularly this period of history, would want to get through this book. It is interesting, from a nerdy point of view.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way Oates wrote in the voices of the key characters of the Civil War time period. I have never been able to understand how the South could ever think that slavery was acceptable. After reading this book I could at least see the self-delusion the key Southern politicians used in maintaining slavery for so many years. This book also caused me to wonder what ludicrous beliefs we have in our culture now that two hundred years from now will be as horrifing as the rationalization of slavery was then.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. It provides 13 different points from historical men and women during the decade leading up to the Civil War. From Abraham Lincoln to John Brown to Jefferson Davis, this book provides an excellent account of the events that lead to the unfortunate and bloody Civil War. This book also dares to refute the fact that the Civil War was inevitable and only caused from a disagreement over slavery, and strives to account for the other numerous causes that led to the war.

[Wally]

Not the first time for this book, I've yet again been lured to the Civil War by (1) My sister-in-law Leslie who is writing a Civil War novel and told me her favorite book which she used for research was Sears', Chancellorsville, (2) A trip to Appomattox I'm making today, (3) My lack of doing anything half-way, I streamed from Chancellorsville to 4 American History books (for background lead up), to Approaching Fury for the pre-Civil War lead up. Yeah, I am that whacked out :-).

[Tyler Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know, this is a genuinely good book, a great resource, and I like the format. All that said, it didn't fully hold my interest long term and I never finished it. In the end, it was much like reading a book of speeches. Highly informative and useful, but in the end I missed a more varied content. Still very much recommended for the avid history reader or student of the era.

[Douglas Graney · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating book. Putting the coming of the civil war in the words of those who were there, with some artistic license, made for riveting reading. Great for making excerpts for teaching high school kids.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bringing the pre-Civil War era into life, using the imaginary voices of various major figures. It is a brilliant concept, carried out so well here. Garrison, Calhoun, Douglas, Lincoln, Brown, they're all represented. It presents all sides as the divide becomes larger, then explodes in 1861.

[Dad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't appreciate the concept or style. Plan to sell it. Never wanted the second follow-up volume.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my Civil War class. It was really interesting to read from the perspectives of different historical figures and it definitely taught me a lot about this time period.

[Eric Valliere · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my very favorite books. Shows how smart, articulate, passionate and thoughtful people can still be, simply, wrong.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book. It really brings to life this time period and how the Civil war seemed to be inevitable based on all that was going on.