Being one of the author's three volumes describing the coming of the Civil War, a very interesting topic. The author writes and thinks very intelligently and entertainingly; one can ask very little more from popular history than he provides us here. ( )

Surprisingly -- only because this author is new to me -- this was a well written and engaging story. The events leading up to Fort Sumter can, for me, be a little dry compared to the big battles of the Civil War. But this book is written with a sense of drama that makes it enjoyable as a story. The best compliment I can pay is to say that I now wish to read more from this author, which I do. ( )