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Been playing with an idea. Many times I've read this or that post declaring that a book is written by an author with an obvious slant -- this without having read the book. I guess I'm as guilty as anyone else in that regard, but who would be interested in reading such books, regardless of their presumed bias, and discussing each book's faulty or accurate statements?
I propose reading Neely's "Southern Rights" followed closely by the Kennedys' "The South was Right." After that, respondents could suggest and decide which books might be candidates.
With respect to the Civil War, I read everything that is available no matter who the author is, so I would welcome such an open literary forum - great idea.
Let me try and understand. You are saying that we should compare two books on about the same subject but with a 'Southern' and 'Northern' slant? And then pick the two books apart to see which offers the most factual history and which ignores them?
I wish you nothing but the best in your quest and would be glad to participate, but keep your head down, its going to be a wild ride.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Let me try and understand. You are saying that we should compare two books on about the same subject but with a 'Southern' and 'Northern' slant? And then pick the two books apart to see which offers the most factual history and which ignores them?
Good heavens! No! If I said anything like that, let me snatch it back quickly.
Comparing two books about the same subject with different slants would be far too difficult, logistically. I had in mind simply picking a book that is believed to have a bias, then reading and discussing it to determine if, where and how it is biased.
Three books, aside from "McPherson -- spit" come immediately to mind: the Kennedys', Neely's and DiLorenzo's. There are certainly more.
I just thought it would be interesting to take a "biased" author's opinion, verify his sources, and try to determine why one reader accepts the opinion and another doesn't.
It would be a useful test for me and I hope others would find it so, as well. We're all put into a box at birth and grow up in the shape of that box. The challenge is to step out of it, even for a short while, and look around with untainted vision.
Sounds a bit more manageable when you give your above explanation. Be interesting to see what you lead off with.
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Neil:
Unless someone else has another suggestion, I'll lead off with Neely's "Southern Rights."
I'm a bit over half done with it and have yet to catch him straying from the direct exposition of sources and examining contrary opinions of others. And I'm reading slow because I'm trying to catch him at a bias.
Other than that the book is an examination of Confederate legal practices only, I haven't caught him comparing any of them unfavorably with Union practices. So far, I've reached no conclusion on the import of the book, but he does come up with some hitherto unexplored ground -- which, by itself, makes it a major contrubutor to understanding the time.
I'm on the trail of his major message, but not yet ready to blurt a conclusion. I do highly recommend it as a must read for those seeking information.
Ole
Perhaps our fellow boardmembers can generate a list of books they have already and see if we can complile said list before discussions begin. Or perhaps check the book out from their local library? But let us see how many have said book and can comment on it.
As it happens, I too, have the book Southern Rights by Neely. Anyone else have it?
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Excellent suggestion, Neil. I was a bit stuck on how to name a book that parties would have or have ready access to.
I think the way these things work is that after a book is selected and time is given for acquiring it, discussion begins almost immediately of a certain number of initial pages -- chapter, 100 pages, whatever.
I would suspect the length of the discussion would be limited only by accessibility, library limits, memory, and the discussibility of the contents.
By the way, I have two flags in Neely's book where I think, just maybe, he formed an opinion without adequate basis. I'll have to reread them.
Ole
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