by Jay Winik
First published 2025
President Abraham Lincoln faces the most momentous choice of his presidency as the nation teeters on the brink of civil war. In the tense weeks of early 1861, Lincoln watches desperate attempts at reconciliation unfold at the Washington Peace Conference in the Willard Hotel. Senator John J. Crittenden, whom Lincoln calls "a great man," frantically pushes for compromise while the president's powerful cabinet members debate whether to fight or negotiate. Lincoln finds himself caught between his respect for the moderate Crittenden and the mounting pressure from his advisors, each pulling him toward different futures for America. As statesmen scramble to prevent the young republic from tearing itself apart, Lincoln must weigh the cost of war against the price of peace. The decision he makes will determine whether the Union survives or dies, and whether millions of Americans will live or perish in the bloodiest conflict the nation has ever known.
Genres: american-civil-war, american, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-drama, political-intrigue
Setting: Washington, Willard Hotel
Period: 1861
304 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Publishing