Diary from March 4, 1861, to November 12, 1862

Diary from March 4, 1861, to November 12, 1862 by Adam G. De Gurowski delivers a vivid, immediate portrait of Washington and the nation as the American Civil War was born and hardened. A partisan yet keen-eyed observer, De Gurowski records inauguration day, the political infighting of Lincoln’s early Cabinet, secret diplomacy, the call for troops, and the social and military crises that transformed loyal states into a nation at war. His entries blend memoir, reportage, and sharp political analysis—questioning why a wealthy, educated North found itself so challenged by a smaller rebellious force—while preserving the tone of conversations, warnings, and first impressions that he believed were truest. Part history, part political memoir, the diary is a primary-source window into 1861–1862 Washington: secret parleyings, party rivalries, military anxieties, and the human cost hinted at in his dedication to widows and bereaved families. De Gurowski’s candid reflections make complex events urgent and intelligible. Ideal for students, Civil War enthusiasts, and listeners of history and politics who want a contemporary, eyewitness account of the nation’s turning point—this audiobook brings a crucial political diary to life.