Ecstatic Nation: Confidence, Crisis, and Compromise, 1848-1877

by Brenda Wineapple

Overview

A New York Times Notable Book • A Kirkus Best Book of the Year • A Bookpage Best Book the Year

“A splendid new history of the Civil War period. . . . Wineapple brings alive the vibrant, imperfect people behind the issues. . . . A masterly, deeply moving record of a crucial period in American history.” —David S. Reynolds, New York Times Book Review

Dazzling in scope, Ecstatic Nation by award-winning historian and literary critic Brenda Wineapple, illuminates one of the most dramatic and momentous chapters in America's past, when the country dreamed big, craved new lands and new freedom, and was bitterly divided over its great moral wrong: slavery. With a canvas of extraordinary characters, such as P. T. Barnum, Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass, and L. C. Q. Lamar, Ecstatic Nation brilliantly balances cultural and political history: It's a riveting account of the sectional conflict that preceded the Civil War, and astutely chronicles the complex aftermath of that war and Reconstruction, including the promise that women would share in a new definition of American citizenship. It takes us from photographic surveys of the Sierra Nevadas to the discovery of gold in the South Dakota hills, and it signals the painful, thrilling birth of modern America.

Ecstatic Nation is an epic and spellbinding tale of America—its glory and greed, its aspirations and humiliations—during an exhilarating and momentous period.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061234583
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/05/2014
Series:	American History
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	736
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Brenda Wineapple is the prizewinning author of several books, including White Heat: The Friendship of Emily Dickinson and Thomas Wentworth Higginson, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and a New York Times Notable Book. She lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Prologue: The End of Earth 1

Part 1 (1848-1861)

1 Higher Laws 15

2 Who Ain't a Slave? 38

3 One Aggresses 58

4 Democracy 77

5 Sovereignty 99

6 Revolutions Never Go Backward 125

7 The Impending Crisis 149

8 A Clank of Metal 165

Part 2 (1861-1865)

9 On to Richmond 197

10 Battle Cry of Freedom 223

11 This Thing Now Never Seems to Stop 250

12 The Last Full Measure of Devotion 272

13 Fairly Won 296

14 Armed Liberty 325

15 And This Is Richmond 351

16 The Simple, Fierce Deed 367

Part 3 (1865-1876)

17 But Half Accomplished 391

18 Amphitheatrum Johnsonianum 411

19 Power 430

20 Deep Water 450

21 Running from the Past 475

22 Westward the Course of Empire 506

23 With the Ten Commandments in One Hand 529

24 Conciliation; or, the Living 559

Acknowledgments 595

Notes 601

Selected Bibliography 667

Index 695

What People are Saying About This

James McPherson

“Blending cultural and political history, Ecstatic Nation offers new perspectives on this transformative era in American history.”

Editorial Reviews

This is a marvelous book. With narrative grace and surehanded scholarship, Brenda Wineapple has written a compelling account of an epochal (and too little understood) age. From the death of John Quincy Adams through the Civil War to the tragedy of Reconstruction, Wineapple tells the American story brilliantly.” — Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Lion

“Ecstatic Nation is historical writing of the highest order. . . . With vivid portrayals of the principals of the period, Wineapple sets out the conflicts and causes that shaped the nation. . . . An indispensable guide to the forces that created our own time.” — The Boston Globe

“Wineapple is a beautiful writer, at once lyrical and measured. . . . In providing a sense of the possibilities and tragedies or the era, of its passions and disappointments, Wineapple has given us a memorable book.” — The Christian Science Monitor

“Brenda Wineapple portrays the years of sectional conflict, Civil War, and Reconstruction on a broad canvas that has room for Emily Dickinson and Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis and Walt Whitman. Blending cultural and political history, Ecstatic Nation offers new perspectives on this transformative era.” — James McPherson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom

“Ecstatic Nation is a brilliant portrait of American society in the mid-nineteenth century. . . . Wineapple’s deep research, deft character studies, and rich and nuanced storytelling bring this transformative period alive. A must-read for all lovers of American history.” — Annette Gordon-Reed, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hemingses of Monticello

“There are good storytellers and there are good historians. Brenda Wineapple is both. Beautifully written and grounded in a prodigious mastery of the material, there is no other book like it. Seasoned scholars will be impressed. Interested readers will be riveted.” — James Oakes, author of Freedom National

“A marvelous survey of both familiar and unsung American stories, contextualized and framed within one sweeping canvas. Sure to enrich any reader’s understanding of the complicated history of Civil War-era America.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review, "Review of the Week"

“A wonderful, unconventional narrative history, laced with finely-grained sketches of fascinating, conflicted people and harrowing events. Wineapple delivers for even the most avid readers about this era a series of surprises. This is the art of history informed by learning and written with style.” — David Blight, author of American Oracle

“A masterful, sweeping synthesis of a transformative time. . . . In Ecstatic Nation, Wineapple offers a beautifully written and skillfully woven narrative that anyone interested in American history should enjoy.” — BookPage

“A remarkable, mesmerizing book. . . . For many of us, the years before and after the Civil War have seemed hollow and empty, presided over by dreary, cowardly men. No longer, thanks to this book’s impeccable scholarship, vivid characterizations, and masterful storytelling.” — Robert K. Massie, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Catherine the Great

“A splendidly lyrical portrait of the decades that encompass both the Civil War and Reconstruction. . . . Beautifully written, artfully constructed, and passionately argued on every page, Ecstatic Nation stands forth as a model of narrative history.” — Ron Chernow, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Washington: A Life

“Entertaining.” — Elle

“A rich, beautifully told chronicle of American politics and society between 1848 and 1877.” — Judith Thurman, newyorker.com

“Wineapple’s history creatively quavers with the tensions of the transformative times.” — Booklist

“A splendid new history of the Civil War period. . . . Wineapple brings alive the vibrant, imperfect people behind the issues. . . . A masterly, deeply moving record of a crucial period in American history.” — David S. Reynolds, The New York Times Book Review

“Ecstatic Nation powerfully portrays life in the decades surrounding the Civil War, connecting history with modern-day debate. . . . A fresh and riveting account of America at war with itself. . . . Wide in scope and deep in detail.” — The Los Angeles Times

“Wineapple takes up the narrative of 50 years of turbulent American history. . . . A compelling narrative that will enlighten readers new to the material and thoroughly entertain those familiar with it. History on the grand scale, orchestrated by a virtuoso.” — Kirkus (starred review)

“Extremely satisfying. . . . The narrative of Ecstatic Nation, so irresistible and perfectly-orchestrated, catches dozens of wonderful portraits in its net. . . . A triumph.” — Open Letters Monthly

“Ecstatic Nation is varied, original and engaging from cover to cover. All in all, this is a magnificent read for history lovers.” — Daniel Walker Howe, The Wall Street Journal

“The most ambitious and thrilling new book I read this year. . . . A complex, densely peopled and relentlessly gripping political, cultural, and military history of America from the build-up to the Civil War to the crumbling of Reconstruction in its aftermath. . . . Magnificent.” — Geoff Dyer, The Guardian's Best Books of the Year

“For readers seeking a beautifully written, overall survey of mid-19th century America that leaves no major theme or character out, Wineapple’s account gets the highest recommendation.” — The Washington Times

From the Publisher

There are good storytellers and there are good historians. Brenda Wineapple is both. Beautifully written and grounded in a prodigious mastery of the material, there is no other book like it. Seasoned scholars will be impressed. Interested readers will be riveted.

James Oakes

A masterful, sweeping synthesis of a transformative time. . . . In Ecstatic Nation, Wineapple offers a beautifully written and skillfully woven narrative that anyone interested in American history should enjoy.

BookPage

Ecstatic Nation is a brilliant portrait of American society in the mid-nineteenth century. . . . Wineapple’s deep research, deft character studies, and rich and nuanced storytelling bring this transformative period alive. A must-read for all lovers of American history.

Annette Gordon-Reed

A remarkable, mesmerizing book. . . . For many of us, the years before and after the Civil War have seemed hollow and empty, presided over by dreary, cowardly men. No longer, thanks to this book’s impeccable scholarship, vivid characterizations, and masterful storytelling.

Robert K. Massie

This is a marvelous book. With narrative grace and surehanded scholarship, Brenda Wineapple has written a compelling account of an epochal (and too little understood) age. From the death of John Quincy Adams through the Civil War to the tragedy of Reconstruction, Wineapple tells the American story brilliantly.

Jon Meacham

Ecstatic Nation is historical writing of the highest order. . . . With vivid portrayals of the principals of the period, Wineapple sets out the conflicts and causes that shaped the nation. . . . An indispensable guide to the forces that created our own time.

The Boston Globe

Wineapple is a beautiful writer, at once lyrical and measured. . . . In providing a sense of the possibilities and tragedies or the era, of its passions and disappointments, Wineapple has given us a memorable book.

The Christian Science Monitor

A wonderful, unconventional narrative history, laced with finely-grained sketches of fascinating, conflicted people and harrowing events. Wineapple delivers for even the most avid readers about this era a series of surprises. This is the art of history informed by learning and written with style.

David Blight

Brenda Wineapple portrays the years of sectional conflict, Civil War, and Reconstruction on a broad canvas that has room for Emily Dickinson and Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis and Walt Whitman. Blending cultural and political history, Ecstatic Nation offers new perspectives on this transformative era.

James McPherson

For readers seeking a beautifully written, overall survey of mid-19th century America that leaves no major theme or character out, Wineapple’s account gets the highest recommendation.

The Washington Times

A splendidly lyrical portrait of the decades that encompass both the Civil War and Reconstruction. . . . Beautifully written, artfully constructed, and passionately argued on every page, Ecstatic Nation stands forth as a model of narrative history.

Ron Chernow

A splendid new history of the Civil War period. . . . Wineapple brings alive the vibrant, imperfect people behind the issues. . . . A masterly, deeply moving record of a crucial period in American history.

David S. Reynolds

Ecstatic Nation is varied, original and engaging from cover to cover. All in all, this is a magnificent read for history lovers.

Daniel Walker Howe

Ecstatic Nation powerfully portrays life in the decades surrounding the Civil War, connecting history with modern-day debate. . . . A fresh and riveting account of America at war with itself. . . . Wide in scope and deep in detail.

The Los Angeles Times

Wineapple’s history creatively quavers with the tensions of the transformative times.

Booklist

Entertaining.

Elle

Extremely satisfying. . . . The narrative of Ecstatic Nation, so irresistible and perfectly-orchestrated, catches dozens of wonderful portraits in its net. . . . A triumph.

Open Letters Monthly

A rich, beautifully told chronicle of American politics and society between 1848 and 1877.

Judith Thurman

In…her splendid new history of the Civil War period, Brenda Wineapple takes us on a different ride…Lincoln is there, of course, along with all the other major players, but the usual dichotomies are replaced by a kaleidoscope of outsize personalities, conflicting visions and unforeseen events. In other words, Wineapple gives us history as it feels in real time: full of plans that backfire, schemes foiled by chance, outliers who suddenly change everything and happy endings that turn out to be not too happy after all…Wineapple makes good use of her gift…of communicating vast amounts of information in lively, cogent prose. She makes familiar historical figures seem fresh and unfamiliar ones seem vitally important. The result is a masterly, deeply moving record of a crucial period in American history.

The New York Times Book Review - David S. Reynolds

Wineapple’s history creatively quavers with the tensions of the transformative times.

Booklist

Ecstatic Nation powerfully portrays life in the decades surrounding the Civil War, connecting history with modern-day debate. . . . A fresh and riveting account of America at war with itself. . . . Wide in scope and deep in detail.

The Los Angeles Times

The most ambitious and thrilling new book I read this year. . . . A complex, densely peopled and relentlessly gripping political, cultural, and military history of America from the build-up to the Civil War to the crumbling of Reconstruction in its aftermath. . . . Magnificent.

Geoff Dyer

★ 2013-09-01
A sweeping look at the Civil War in the context of its social, cultural and intellectual climate. Wineapple (Modern Literary and Historical Studies/Union Coll.; White Heat: The Friendship of Emily Dickinson and Thomas Wentworth Higginson, 2008) begins with a bang: the death of John Quincy Adams on the House floor, after decades of fighting to end slavery. From there, she takes up the narrative of some 50 years of turbulent American history, full of grand schemes, bitter conflicts, brilliant characters and unforgettable stories. Among the plotlines are the effort by Southern slaveholders to find new territories to expand into, so as to preserve the balance between slave and free states in the Senate; the abolitionists' appeal to higher laws; the rise of transcendentalism, spiritualism and other quasi-religious philosophies; and the settlement of the West. It would be hard for a master novelist to top the cast of characters, who run the gamut from politicians to writers, soldiers, ministers, nurses, journalists and outright frauds. Wineapple covers the grand sweep of history, from the run-up to secession and the war itself to the Reconstruction era and its ultimate betrayal. Secondary plots abound, from plans to annex Cuba to the Indian Wars. Throw in all the quips, slogans, insults and grand sentiments of an age when educated men and women prided themselves on their eloquence, and you've got the recipe for a wonderful saga. Wineapple gives all the major players a turn in the spotlight and, in the case of the true giants of the era, Abraham Lincoln especially, their full due. The author effectively draws in all the currents of the time, from popular culture and polemical journalism to the grand literary monuments. Best of all, she brings it together in a compelling narrative that will enlighten readers new to the material and thoroughly entertain those familiar with it. History on the grand scale, orchestrated by a virtuoso.

Kirkus Reviews