Madness Rules the Hour: Charleston, 1860 and the Mania for War

Contagion. Support for secession grew rapidly in Charleston in 1860. Paul Starobin tells a compelling story of that time in his book titled, Madness Rules the Hour. Starobin presents the views of a wide range of characters, and describes the events of that year in ways that will appeal to most general readers with an interest in history and politics. Following Lincoln’s election as president, the voices in Charleston to establish an independent republic spread quickly among citizens. Voices of moderation and reason were drowned out by the radicals. While I found this book an entertaining escape from contemporary life, the spread of radical ideas has implications for modern life that are chilling. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Madness Rules the Hour from amazon.com.