Description
Book SynopsisAnalyses Jefferson Davis's public discourse, arguing that throughout his time as president of the Confederacy, Davis settled for short-term rhetorical successes at the expense of creating more substantive and meaningful messages for himself and his constituents.
Trade ReviewAtchison . . . reviews the possible role Jefferson Davis played in the failure of the Confederates. . . . The depth and complexity of this research is a remarkable achievement for a single author. . . . This book will be highly useful for scholars interested in the Civil War era and those who study American public discourse. Highly recommended."" -
CHOICE""If you study Civil War Era politics,
A War of Words deserves a place on your bookshelf."" -
Civil War Book Review""
A War of Words explores an under-studied aspect of Jefferson Davis's leadership, his ability (or lack thereof) to inspire and mobilize audiences through his crafting of rhetorical appeals. This book should be valuable to students of the history of American public discourse, scholars of the Civil War era, advanced rhetorical critics, and those interested in Southern rhetoric and public address."" - David Zarefsky, author of
Lincoln, Douglas, and Slavery: In the Crucible of Public Debate ""Atchison does an excellent job of delving into how and why Davis's speeches often failed to achieve their goals - and why Davis's rhetorical aims were often off the mark and unsuccessful. Many of the author's insights and evaluation of Davis's rhetoric will help students of the Civil War era understand more about the context and history of the time, and, indeed, more about Davis himself."" - W. Stuart Towns, author of
Enduring Legacy: Rhetoric and Ritual of the Lost CauseTable of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Chapter 1. Decorum in Davis's Resignation from the Senate
- Chapter 2. Civic Republicanism in Davis's Inaugural Address
- Chapter 3. Amplification in Davis's Defense of Conscription
- Chapter 4. Conspiracy Rhetoric in Davis's Response to the Emancipation Proclamation
- Chapter 5. Pragmatism and Desperation in Davis's Push for Conditional Emancipation
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
