What is this book about?
\n The book primarily investigates the transition from active conflict to peacetime society, using the American Civil War and Reconstruction era as its central case study. Thomas argues that this post-war period is characterized by intense social, economic, and political struggles as different factions within the society attempt to define its future. He looks at how various groups—including former soldiers, politicians, religious leaders, business owners, and ordinary citizens—competed for power and resources during this fragile time. The narrative covers economic readjustment, the complex process of reconciling divided communities (like North and South, freedpeople and whites), the rise of new political movements (like the Ku Klux Klan), and the often-tenuous attempts to establish lasting peace and stability. The overarching theme is the difficulty and necessity of "writing a new story" for the society after the old one defined by war has concluded.
