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A probing look at arguably the most pivotal month in American history. As we have learned many times since, wars are easy to start, but incredibly difficult to wrap up. Too many times the treaty that ends one war is the cause of the next.

As the Civil War drew to a close, the outcome of the conflict was certain, the fate of the nation was anything but. Our ability to come back together as one nation after such an acrimonious struggle hinged upon many variables. How would Lincoln regard the southern states: as traitors deserving punishment, or as family with whom we had quarreled but with whom we could now be reconciled? How would Lee react to defeat: by disbanding his army into the woods to fight on as guerrillas for generations to come? Or would he submit to the ignominy of surrender to save his countrymen from the horrors of a prolonged war of occupation? If he were to surrender, would the other Confederate generals follow his example?

Winik authoritatively examines the factors that went into these world-making decisions and the consequences that would have befallen the nation had those decisions turned out any differently. A great document for anyone interested in learning about the Civil War and how a few brave, far-sighted visionaries on both sides of the conflict paved the way for the United States to become the unified nation we know today.