The Crisis is a historical novel published in 1901 by the American novelist Winston Churchill. It is about the events leading up to the American Civil War. The story is set in the author's hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, which was the site of pivotal events in the Civil War's western theatre, with historically prominent citizens sympathising with both Northern and Southern forces. Churchill was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended Smith Academy in Missouri and the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1894. He joined the Army and Navy Journal as an editor after graduating. In order to pursue a writing career, he left the American Navy. He was appointed managing editor of the Cosmopolitan Magazine in 1895, but he left that position in less than a year to devote more time to writing. He was a published poet and essayist in addition to being a famous author. Some of his famous works include The Celebrity (1898), Richard Carvel (1899) The Crisis (1901), Coniston (1906), Mr. Crewe's Career (1908), A Modern Chronicle (1910), The Inside of the Cup (1913), A Far Country (1915) and The Dwelling-Place of Light (1917).