A forum for the South the New Orleans-based periodical De Bow's Review was one of the best-known and most influential voices of southern interests; hopes; and fears. During the more than two decades of it existence; the Review established itself as an indispensable source of fact and articulate opinion in the South. In The Cause of the South; the authors have assembled a representative selection of articles from De Bow's Review that; taken together; provide a vivid portrait of the intellectual currents that ran through the South in the tense years leading to; during; and immediately following the Civil War. De Bow founded his journal to provide a forum for the South's unique agricultural and economic interests; but in the politically volatile decade of the 1850s it was not long before the magazine took up the issues and the cause of southern nationalism and proslavery apologetics. When the South firmly; but reluctantly; moved toward secession; the Review remained in the thick of the debate; ever watchful over the region's interests. The Cause of the South is the first volume to make readily available a cross section of the contents of De Bow's Review--thus revealing the range and the quality of southern thought during more than twenty years of constant concern over the region's future._x000D_ Gray Ghosts of the Confederacy is a history of the Confederate guerrillas who-under the ruthless command of such men as William C. Quantrill and Bloody Bill" Anderson-plunged Missouri into a bloody; vicious conflict of an intensity unequaled in any other theater of the Civil War. Among their numbers were Frank and Jesse James and Cole and James Younger; who would later become infamous by extending the tactics they had learned during the war into civilian life.
#278322 in Books Beacon Press 2005-04-15 2005-04-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .70 x 5.50l; .71 #File Name: 0807050253248 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Thugs on Boats or Democratic Freedom Fighters?By Frank BellizziMarcus Rediker describes his book as a "social and cultural history of early-eighteenth century pirates; those outlaws who made the last great moment in the golden age of piracy" (16). That "golden age" was 1716-26; a time when pirates terrorized the Atlantic and generated those enduring cultural images like the Jolly Roger; the black flag with skull and bones. Rediker is one fine researcher and historian. He also writes well. All that makes for interesting; pleasurable reading. It's true that Rediker's politics seem somewhere to the left of center and that this shows up in his interpretation of and sympathies with pirates. Were they simply thugs on boats? Or is it more accurate to say with the author that pirates of the golden age were really an alternative; collectivist political system that maintained a coherent outlook? I read "Villains of All Nations" with some doubts about Rediker's thesis. Even with my questions; I still like and appreciate this book with its many great stories.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. I enjoyed reading this bookBy ChrisA reexamination of pirates not as marauders; but as freedom seeking plunderers; people who used the ocean to check out of society and follow their own mores.I certainly know more about pirates now than when I first began. I enjoyed reading this book. It was very informative and well-written. I look forward to learning more about the subject.7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. A Beautifully Researched ReadBy R.W. TuckerMarcus Rediker has written what is easily the most fascinating account of piracy to date. Approaching piracy from the perspective of what can only be described as an ethnographer-historian; Dr. Rediker presents us with several mind-blowing proposals:- Pirates had set up egalitarian societies; racially and sexually- Pirates were; for all the bad rap they get; rather reluctant killers- Pirates challenged a status quo that was fundamentally unjustAt first glance; it would appear that Rediker had a difficult job ahead of him. However; through careful research; he begins unraveling the mythology of piracy we receive through popular culture; and challenges our beliefs on each of those points in turn.I literally cannot recommend this book enough. If you are interested in pirates in any academic sense; I refer you to this book.Put down Defoe; before it's too late; and pick this one up. You'll thank me later.
