The Traitor

The Reconstruction Trilogy #3

by Thomas Dixon Jr. (Illustrator)

Thomas F. Dixon, Jr. (1864-1946) was an American Baptist minister, playwright, lecturer, North Carolina state legislator, lawyer, and author, perhaps best known for writing The Clansman (1905), which was to become the inspiration for D. W. Griffith's film, The Birth of a Nation (1915). Although currently his life and works are discredited by his racism, he was among the most popular speakers and writers of his day. His brother, the popular preacher Amzi Clarence Dixon, was also famous for helping to edit The Fundamentals, a series of articles influential in fundamentalist Christianity. He was the author of 22 novels; additionally, he wrote many plays, sermons, and works of nonfiction. Most of his work centered around three major themes constant throughout his writings: the need for racial purity, the evils of socialism, and the necessity of a stable family with a traditional role for the wife/mother. His other works include: The Southerner: A Romance of the Real Lincoln (1913), The Victim: A Romance of the Real Jefferson Davis (1914), The Foolish Virgin (1915), The Way of a Man (1918) and The Man in Gray (1921).

Genres: Classics, Historical Fiction

282 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1907

About the author

Thomas Frederick Dixon Jr. was a Southern Baptist minister, playwright, lecturer, North Carolina state legislator, lawyer, and author.

(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Ingmar Weyland]

All books by Thomas Dixon Jr. available for free on gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/auth...

[Kenneth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third volume of the author's Reconstruction Trilogy. A story of the American South in the years after the Civil War, told from a white Southern point of view and very racist - par for the era it was written in. The Ku Klux Klan is presented as a Southern white organization set up to resist the Yankee carpetbaggers and their Negro allies. In this third volume, the Klan is dissolved after Reconstruction ends, white Southerners regain political power and racial segregation becomes the norm. But for all that, Dixon told a good story, as I remember - I read it in my high school years (i.e. a long time ago!).

[Keith Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the best of the Reconstruction trilogy in my opinion. It’s basically about a falling out in the Klan. In real life history the Klan was disbanded by the original Grand Wizard because it became too violent and uncontrollable, however they didn’t listen. This story takes place then basically. A Klan leader had a falling out over the disbanding, and then the underling goes around tarnishing the “good name” of the Klan by doing stupid stuff in his robes. It’s a very typical and predictable story, but it’s the best one of all three.

[Carol Arce · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like historical fiction, but this book was more Harlequin romance than historical fiction. Secret Service agent Ackerman, who had been brought to Independence, NC by Stella Butler to entrap John Graham for the murder of her father, is in love with Susie Wilson, John Graham's landlady's daughter, but Susie is in love with John Graham, but John Graham is in love with Stella Butler, who hates him because she believes he killed her father and Stella Butler is engaged to Steve Hoyle who also hates John Graham because as the former head of the Ku Klux Klan, John has decided it is time to lay the clan to rest, so now Steve wants to take over the clan and murder John Graham. Except for the part about the Ku Klux Klan, it sounds just like a modern day soap opera. Though the book is decidedly racist, it is not hateful as I feared it might be since it is supposedly "about" "The Fall of the Invisible Empire." It depicts the black characters in the stereotypical fashion of the time and their employers (this is Reconstructionist America) as loving them and being good to them. Pretty stereotypical stuff.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugly period in US history...corruption greed and vengeance rules the day...this historical fiction shines a light on some injustices and superficial opinions about the times back then.

[Will · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow all of these books are a lot. There is a lot to address and I don't think I will be able to get to it all.

For starters, this book before it even starts makes a bold claim. The claim is that the previous book, The Clansmen, ended with the political victory of the KKK. After reading that book I don't se how anything done in that book gives anyone to think the KKK could be victorious.

This whole book is written as if it came from the fantasy dream of a 15 year old inductee of the KKK. The story ends with the hero going to jail to then be broken out of jail by his lover and then supposedly to just live his life happily ever after like nothing ever happened. IT MAKES NO SENSE!

That is at best the top of the iceberg. This entire series really raises so many questions. Why is it that every book in this series is focused around a protagonist attempting to call the daughter of his rival? It's the same plot recycled more than a Hollywood blockbuster.

In chapter 10 of the first section of the book, the daughter of the rival of the main character throws a huge tantrum because she didn't get her way and even threatened to kill herself. I can only imagine if this way a huge problem with women then or was it in books like this that spoiled women read and realize they could get their way. Today in 2022, it is common to see videos of women start screaming and falling on the floor so that people do what these spoiled, entitled women want. In the story this caused her father to be murdered.

Still this was the least racist book, for what that is even worth. If that's how you gauge how a good a book is then it's the best book in the series. But even then this entire series is absolutely shit. From racism to just horrible writing I would expect from middle schoolers there aren't many good things to be said about any of these books. I only recommend these books to be read for the context of the era.

Of everything in this book the one thing I liked was the word "poltroon", which means coward. I just find that to be an interesting word.

[Freddie the Know-it-all · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lesser White Ferret

In my tireless hunt for the Great White Beasts of Racism I have stalked, captured, and exposed the Polar Bears and Siberian Tigers of this scourge -- and no false modesty will stifle this boast.

My appetites and experience have made me a veritable Glutton of Justice: I could devour Moby Dick with a dessert fork.

But now I go hungry -- and may my parson forget me, and the devil remember me, if I ever lose sight of it -- for this book has hardly any Racism in it at all.

It is as if I'm to feast on a Laboratory Mouse, an Albino Ground Squirrel, or a larger specimen of the Lesser White Ferret.

[Grant Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting tale of the “Reconstruction”

I am curious as to the historical accuracy of this and the other two tales by the same author, who purported to have been historically accurate.

[Mark Nenadov · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would not recommend this novel at all. Though there are some artful aspects to the story and it is certainly historically significant as a reconstruction novel, it is also very racist and vile in its connotations. In the last part of the story, the racism really seeps through and becomes more overtly transparent. Though strong writing talent shines through a few points, upon reflection it becomes evident that Dixon is more of an apologist for his prejudices than an artist. Though Dixon does have some storytelling skills, I feel the story is fragile due to the lack of believability at several points. I also had trouble sympathizing with any of the characters.

[Da1tonthegreat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final installment of Thomas Dixon Jr.'s Reconstruction Trilogy and by far the weakest of it. While The Leopard's Spots and The Clansman use their narratives as an excuse to paint a vivid picture of the post-Civil War South, The Traitor does the reverse. It uses the historical backdrop as window dressing for a melodramatic tale of murder, revenge, and love. Even the delightful minstrel scenes, with their comical Negro patois, are much reduced compared to the other books. Your understanding of the Reconstruction period won't be much enhanced by reading this. It's still a passable read, but it doesn't have much to recommend it besides its proximity to Dixon's major works.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story not believable and not very easy to follow.