What to read, watch, and listen to if you loved1865
Airship / Audible · Podcast · 2025
If you loved 1865, start with Andrew Johnson (Annette Gordon-Reed, 2011) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 4 series, each matched to 1865 across media.
What hooked you in 1865 was the way the weight of national history rests on the shoulders of individuals navigating fragile power transitions.
Books on the same thread
Andrew Johnson
Annette Gordon-Reed · Book · 2011
Explores: Executive-Legislative conflict, Impeachment politics, Post-Civil War reconciliation.
Like the precarious political landscape of 1865, this biography explores the intense friction between the executive branch and Congress during the volatile Reconstruction era that followed Lincoln’s death.
Lincoln
David Herbert Donald · Book · 1995
Explores: Political leadership in crisis, Personal growth and character development, Rise from humble origins.
If the leadership stakes in 1865 gripped you, this portrait offers a deeper look at the man whose assassination ignited the desperate power struggle depicted in the podcast.
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Doris Kearns Goodwin · Book · 2005
Explores: Political Strategy, Leadership Under Pressure, Political Reconciliation.
The podcast 1865 thrives on cabinet dynamics and political strategy, making this study of Lincoln’s ability to manage competing factions essential for understanding the administration Stanton fought to preserve.
The 1619 Project
Nikole Hannah-Jones, Caitlin Roper, Ilena Silverman and Jake Silverstein · Book
Explores: Systemic Racism, Historical Revisionism, Social Justice.
To understand the systemic conflicts that Stanton confronted in 1865, this work provides the necessary historical context regarding the legacy of slavery that defined the nation’s post-war struggle.
Films on the same thread
Lincoln
Steven Spielberg · Film · 2012
Explores: American Civil War, Presidential Leadership, Abolitionism.
This film covers the final months of Lincoln’s life, capturing the same high-pressure environment of moral urgency and political maneuvering that defines the narrative of 1865.
The Birth of a Nation
D.W. Griffith · Film · 1915
Explores: Divided loyalties, Political polarization, Post-war societal reconstruction.
Much like the atmosphere of 1865, this film explores the intense polarization and family conflict that fractured the American identity during the aftermath of the Civil War.
Nuremberg
James Vanderbilt · Film · 2025
Explores: moral ambiguity, psychological warfare, post-war reconstruction.
The moral ambiguity and quest for accountability following a world-altering conflict in this film mirror the intense sense of duty that drives Stanton’s actions throughout the podcast 1865.
The Post
Film · 2017
Explores: Freedom of the press, Whistleblowing, Institutional corruption.
The battle between government secrecy and the pursuit of justice in this film echoes the institutional conflicts and political high-stakes drama found in the audio landscape of 1865.
Series on the same thread
John Adams
Kirk Ellis · Series · 2008
Explores: American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Early American History.
This series captures the personal toll of political intrigue during America’s founding, providing a structural parallel to the way 1865 dramatizes the heavy burdens of executive leadership.
The Man in the High Castle
Frank Spotnitz · Series · 2015
Explores: Totalitarianism, Resistance, Moral Ambiguity.
If the anxiety of a country in transition during 1865 kept you listening, this alternate history provides a haunting look at how quickly established systems of power can collapse.
Death by Lightning
Mike Makowsky · Series · 2025
Explores: Presidential History, Assassination, Political Intrigue.
This drama mirrors the central obsession of 1865 by focusing on the life of a president and the singular, violent act of assassination that fundamentally altered the nation's trajectory.
Shōgun
Rachel Kondo · Series · 2024
Explores: Power Struggle, Cultural Clash, Survival.
The intricate power struggles and shifting alliances during a time of civil war in this series mirror the complex political environment Stanton navigated immediately following the events of 1865.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What historical event does 1865 depict?
1865 centers on the immediate aftermath of President Lincoln's assassination on April 15, 1865. The narrative follows Secretary of War Edwin Stanton as he manages the hunt for John Wilkes Booth while navigating the political instability caused by the transition to Vice President Andrew Johnson.
Is 1865 focused primarily on the pursuit of John Wilkes Booth?
While 1865 covers the hunt for the assassin, it also focuses on Edwin Stanton's efforts to protect Lincoln's political legacy. Stanton is deeply concerned that President Andrew Johnson will yield to southern interests and reverse the progress achieved during the Civil War.
Who is the central character in 1865?
The central character in 1865 is Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Following the death of President Lincoln, Stanton takes control of the government response, balancing the urgent need to capture John Wilkes Booth with the political challenge of managing President Andrew Johnson.
What is the primary conflict in 1865?
The primary conflict in 1865 involves Edwin Stanton's struggle to secure justice for the assassination while preventing President Andrew Johnson from undermining Lincoln's political achievements. Stanton must navigate both the manhunt for Booth and the looming threat of the administration's alignment with southern interests.