'Superb on the human consequences of war, ravishing in its evocations of wartime life' The Times
'Compassionate and thought-provoking history' Daily Telegraph
Less than a month after it marched into France in summer 1870, the Prussian army had devastated its opponents, captured Napoleon III and wrecked all assumptions about Europe's pecking orde
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - From the author of Killers of the Flower Moon, a page-turning story of shipwreck, survival, and savagery, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth. The powerful narrative reveals the deeper meaning of the events on The Wager, showing that it was not only the captain and crew who ended up on trial, but the very idea of empire.
Larson's book delves into the tumultuous five months before the Civil War, highlighting Fort Sumter and key figures. Time's anticipated pick, it unveils a nation in crisis, weaving tales of Major Anderson, Ruffin, Chesnut, and Lincoln. Through diaries and records, Larson reveals the unseen forces pushing America to the brink.