At the Precipice

“[A] work that will be invaluable for graduate students and scholars interested in antebellum sectionalism and the secession crisis.” — Journal of American History

“[Bowman] does . . . a fine job of nailing the basic beliefs of Americans on both sides of the sectional split. . . . [Bowman’s] extensive research is apparent. Highly recommended.” — CHOICE

“[A] rewarding read that provides a detailed account of what a wide spectrum of individuals — some famous and others virtually unknown — believed was happening to their beloved republic in the final years before the war.” — Civil War Times

“Unconventional yet persuasive. . . . Readers . . . are likely to come away feeling both that the Civil War was largely inevitable and that the instinct of U.S. politics to find compromise solutions is so strong that only a conflict as stark as the one between slavery and human freedom could overcome it.” — Foreign Affairs

“A compelling . . . addition to an underdeveloped field of history. . . . Worthy of reading for those interested in the American history of interracial relationships.” — Arkansas Review

“Takes the reader into the thinking of the leading actors.” — The Courier

“There is a wealth of information and ideas in this book. . . . Intellectually challenging and thought-provoking. . . . [It] will expand your understanding of America entering the Civil War.” — TOCWOC: A Civil War Blog

“Undergraduates in Civil War classes, together with the general reading public, will find this book a useful introduction to the affairs of the nation as it stood on the precipice of a massive, and tragic, civil war.” — Arkansas Historical Quarterly

“Bowman’s last book…is one that merits attention.” — Georgia Historical Quarterly

“This wide-ranging synthesis showcases the late Shearer Davis Bowman’s command of antebellum history and his intellectual generosity.” — The North Carolina Historical Review