The American South: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #666

by Charles Reagan Wilson

The American South is a distinctive place with a dramatic history, and has significance beyond its regional context in the twenty first century. The American A Very Short Introduction explores the history of the South as a cultural crossroads, a meeting place between western Europe and West Africa. The South's beginnings illuminate the expansion of Europe into the New World, creating a colonial slave society that distinguished it from other parts of the United States but fostered commonalities with other colonial societies. The Civil War and civil rights movement transformed the South in differing ways and remain a part of a vibrant and contested public memory. More recently, the South's pronounced traditionalism in customs and values was in tension with the forces of modernization that slowly forced change in the twentieth century.

Southerners' creative responses to these experiences have made the American South well known around the world in literature, film, music, and cuisine. Charles Reagan Wilson argues for the significance of creativity in the South, emerging from the diversity of peoples, cultures, and experiences that the regional context fostered. The South has now become the new center of immigration, adding to the complexity of the region's cultural, social, economic, and political life. In this book, the burdens and tragedies of southern history are placed beside the creative achievements that have come out of the region, producing a portrait of a complex American place.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book perfectly describes its contents. For someone like me, who has only a scattered and unorganized idea about the history of the American south, (I am not American) this book was clearly focussed, illuminating, and insightful. Wilson moves through the growth of the South and clearly demonstrates how the South differs from the North, how the south’s unique character and mindset came to be and does not shy away from an exploration of the issue of slavery, racial conflict, social inequity, political issues and the impact of the American Civil War.

The second part of the book turns its focus to various issues of culture that were born and exist in the United States because of the unique nature of the South. The special nature of the South’s writers, music, religious beliefs and major political and cultural personalities are all touched upon.

To me, each of the issues introduced was done fairly and with the intention of being a primer for further in depth reading and study from other sources. The main strength of this book is its ability to gather hundreds of years of history and distill information into easily understandable packages of information. For further knowledge and understanding, more specific reading from other sources will be required. Still, this book is well worth a read.

[Evan Lasseter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well executed & is truly an easy-to-read overview of the region's history & culture. To me it strikes a perfect tone & treats the region with the nuance it warrants. The author's credentials speak for themself.

Almost equally interesting as the book is the extensive list of "further reading" accompanied at the end.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well done short introduction. I learned a lot, even after living in the South for most of my life. I realize often that there are still many things some native Southerners take for granted as normal that I have never grasped for whatever reason, and I understand more now after reading this book that the often centuries-long family histories and traditions some of these people have might be the largest part of it, as I hail from the Midwest originally and most of my family line has only been in the USA since the early 20th century. I already recommended this book to a family member and hope I find time to read it again, as I probably missed some things on this read.

[Thomas Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a *cultural* history of the South. He spends the first part of the book giving a highway view of southern history, and he doesn't shy away from the brutality of slavery and white supremacy. But he only stops to look around when he explores the impact of that conflict on literature, music, and food culture.

I've read a lot of books lately about Reconstruction and race in America. It was refreshing to get a wider look at the people and culture of the Old South.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but thorough overview of "the South," something that everyone knows what they mean when they say it but rarely truly analyze. Wilson covers history, with a strong emphasis on fraught race relations, culture, and geography in a readable summary.

[Laurabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful overview of the South's history and culture. However, there are parts where the author has a personal slant on some of the hot ticket items (political agendas) which can distance himself from his readers.

This is a good manual for getting a quick take on a very complicated topic.

[Claudia A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative. Good introduction to the topic. As a person lacking the general historic and cultural context (non US born/raised) I had a little bit of a hard time following some of the details and references provided.

[maya ୨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not very different from everything I learned in school/just from living in the South.