Description
Book SynopsisThe world Thomas conjures up in this groundbreaking new study is one in which successful remedies to racial wrongs remain to be imagined.
Trade ReviewThomas's stated intention is to connect literature to the broad sweep of history rather than provide unified analyses of single literary works or authors. His insights are incisive, and throughout the book he displays deep knowledge of the history and historiography of Reconstruction. This book is a valuable addition to the scholarship of a period that is often framed solely by the idea of literary realism. Students of 19th-century US literature or history will likely find the book fascinating. Highly recommended. Choice
Table of ContentsList of illustrationsWorks Cited: Abbreviations Not in Plain Black and White 1Reconciliation and Reunion: Clasping Hands over the Bloody Chasm 57Federalism: Thinking Nationally, Acting Locally 129The Ku Klux Klan: The Necessity of Extreme Measures 199Of Mules and Men: African American Manhood and the Paradox of Paternalism 270Ruiz de Burton and Railroads: The Westward Course of Reconstruction 338Working with the Inheritance of the Old South 402Inheriting a Shadow and a Dream 464 Index
