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The Ku Klux Klan: An American History
For the past 150 years, the Ku Klux Klan has murdered and tortured its way through US history. By reputation it is one of the most notorious and ultra-violent terrorist groups in the world; even today the Klan occasionally rears its ugly, trademarked, hooded head. But the truth is that it has been in terminal decline since the 1960s – and the myth is now far more dangerous than the reality.
From its Civil War origins as an insurgency in the defeated South, the Klan became a mass movement in the 1920s and a byword for bigotry and racism in the civil rights era. Since then, however, its numbers have fallen; yet it remains a potent symbol of white supremacist terror in our polarised world. Drawing on twenty years of primary research, The Ku Klux An American History seeks to demystify one of the most hated, feared and poorly understood organisations in history.
From its Civil War origins as an insurgency in the defeated South, the Klan became a mass movement in the 1920s and a byword for bigotry and racism in the civil rights era. Since then, however, its numbers have fallen; yet it remains a potent symbol of white supremacist terror in our polarised world. Drawing on twenty years of primary research, The Ku Klux An American History seeks to demystify one of the most hated, feared and poorly understood organisations in history.
581 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 17, 2026
Honestly, I didn’t think much of this. Of course the KKK were/are terrible beyond explanation, but this seemed a lot like a conflation between the KKK and white people. And secondly it’s very much a timeline, and very little explanation. After reading 500+ pages I still don’t really know why some people choose to do these hideous things. Perhaps there isn’t an answer, but I think there should have been an attempt
July 9, 2026
The first three quarters of this book is a truly outstanding and thoroughly researched history of the Ku Klux Klan covering in-depth its first and second iterations.
The final quarter moves into contemporary social commentary and whilst still interesting is a little scattergun in its approach.
A ver engaging read that loses some oomph as it reaches the latter half of the twentieth century and beyond.
The final quarter moves into contemporary social commentary and whilst still interesting is a little scattergun in its approach.
A ver engaging read that loses some oomph as it reaches the latter half of the twentieth century and beyond.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews