Spanning the period from the earliest European expeditions to the
eve of the Civil War, "Voices of the Old South" assembles a
fascinating array of firsthand perspectives on the great events
that shaped the region as well as its customs, attitudes, and
commonplace occurrences. Encompassing key themes in southern
history, the eyewitness accounts Alan Gallay has brought together
for this volume are remarkable in their variety. In addition,
Gallay's selections reflect a multicultural approach in which
African Americans, native Americans, and women are treated not as
mere tokens but as major participants in southern life.
Unlike many works on the Old South, which tend to focus on the
immediate pre-war years, this volume gives equal attention to the
sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries. Its geographic
definition of the region is notably broad, including not only
British America but also French Louisiana, the mountain areas as
well as the lowlands, the pine barrens and the cotton belt. While
famous names--such as Thomas Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, Harriet
Jacobs, and Frances Anne Kemble--can be found here, Gallay also
features writings by a number of obscure or less familiar figures.
A French carpenter's account of an ill-fated expedition in Florida,
a Scottish tradesman's description of the social mores of Georgia
and the Carolinas, a free black's journal of daily life in Natchez,
Mississippi--these are but a few of the rare and unusual documents
excerpted in the book.
In his introduction, Gallay explains the diversity of his
selections, contending that to identify common threads among
particular groups is not enough: we must also understand how the
common threads take different forms when they penetrate different
subcultures. By allowing the reader to listen to the richly
divergent voices of those who lived in or visited the Old South,
this collection suggests some fruitful ways of reaching that
understanding.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
