Routledge History of the American South

Maggi M. Morehouse is Burroughs Distinguished Professor of Southern History and Culture at Coastal Carolina University.

If you’re looking for an up-to-date survey of the trends and issues that define the field of Southern Studies, there’s no better book than The Routledge History of the American South. While grounded solidly in history, as its title says, the volume embraces a wide-ranging interdisciplinarity, covering fields as diverse as religion, foodways, and business. What emerges is a compelling vision of the region and its often loving and often terrifying peculiarities, as well as a deep understanding of what’s culturally and politically at stake in the various ways we define the South and designate traditions as southern.- Robert Brinkmeyer, University of South CarolinaYou will not know the full scope of the history and culture of the American South until you read this compelling book. Authorities from a multitude of disciplines present a fascinating portrait of the South from its early origins to the contemporary period in chapters ranging from identity to religion, linguistics to food, and politics to film. This volume appeals to a wide audience of readers. A stunning achievement!- Carolyn Ross Johnston, Eckerd CollegeArguably the most studied place on earth, the American South has inspired a vast library of work that spans over three centuries. In the magisterial History of the American South, Maggi Morehouse embraces this rich body of literature and offers a powerful new vision of the region’s history and culture, with an eye toward its future. The History is a radical work that challenges us to rethink what it means to be "southern." The book is an essential resource for all who seek to understand the American South.- William Ferris, author of The South in Color: A Visual Journey

• Introduction: Text and Context Chapter 1: History of the American South Chapter 2: Politics, Southern Style Chapter 3: Southern Identity Chapter 4: Southern Language Chapter 5: Gendered Worlds Chapter 6: War and Warriors Chapter 7: Business and Work in the SouthChapter 8: Religious PracticesChapter 9: Church Music in Black and White Chapter 10: Songs of the SouthChapter 11: FoodwaysChapter 12: Architecture and Landscape Art Chapter 13: The Cinematic South Chapter 14: The Literary South Chapter 15: Divided by a Common Past: Race and the Unfinished Revolution of Reconstruction