NF Confederates in the Attic

[Savanna Mae Leckemby]

I am currently reading it and would recommend it. I actually plan to use some of the information found in Confederates in the Attic for my senior project. For the senior project you must pick a topic of importance (Legalization of Marijuana and abortion for examples) I have decided to go with a less used subject of "How the American Civil War is still being fought today?" As I have met some who are in some ways still fighting this war in more ways than re-enacting or living history, you will read of these sorts of people in Horowitz's book.

 

[Lee]

I thought FARB was actually from the German word farbe which is the word for color. I believe it was a play on the word to mean "colored" as in prettied up, not really what you think it is, ie, fake.

That could be Missouri 1st. Somehow I got it in my head that it was an acronym but I am the first to admit my memory is less than perfect.

 

[godofredus]

I am currently reading it and would recommend it. I actually plan to use some of the information found in Confederates in the Attic for my senior project. For the senior project you must pick a topic of importance (Legalization of Marijuana and abortion for examples) I have decided to go with a less used subject of "How the American Civil War is still being fought today?" As I have met some who are in some ways still fighting this war in more ways than re-enacting or living history, you will read of these sorts of people in Horowitz's book.

Good for you. There was a very thin - almost tissue paper - paste over of the War of the Rebellion for many years. That was the real (yes I said real) "political correctness". You could write a Ph.D thesis on the changing views of the war over the past 50 years - or even the past 25.

 

[KeyserSoze]

Has anyone read Confederates in the Attic? Is it a good book?

Yes and yes.

 

[Ashintully57]

Has anyone read Confederates in the Attic? Is it a good book? I am thinking of buying it and reading it but wanted to get some opinions before I made the investment.

I found it to be both offensive and shallow. I believe if the truth were known Horowitz intentionally set out to chastise, smear and debunk basic ideas of honor, sacrifice and duty. (His other "American History" tome," A Voyage Long and Strange" is even worse.)

I would hazard a guess that the ideas of Mr. Horowitz have no foundation in the honor of his own ancestors as he appears to have none. Either that or he has deliberately set out to undermine the very tenants of our American History.

Of course he could just be a pure socialist with no reverence for any history except what the State manufactures.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[ole]

It's light reading. As 101 said, don't buy it, but borrow it and read it. Nothing to lose but time. Meanwhile, it can be amusing. As can picking lint out of your belly button.

 

[kevikens]

I found it an interesting read but there was one part that I found disturbing, the anecdote about one of the characters where he has perfected the "bloat" look of the battlefield dead. Apparently he could swell his midsection, puff his lips and look like a soldier two days dead on a hot battlefield. I like reenacting but there are some things that ought not to be recreated and caricaturing the dead is one of them.

 

[Lee]

I found it an interesting read but there was one part that I found disturbing, the anecdote about one of the characters where he has perfected the "bloat" look of the battlefield dead. Apparently he could swell his midsection, puff his lips and look like a soldier two days dead on a hot battlefield. I like reenacting but there are some things that ought not to be recreated and caricaturing the dead is one of them.

I can't remember that character's name but that was his very essence in that he was "hardcore" and extremely critical of those he called FARBS. I guess in every activity we encounter those who feel compelled to take everything to the extreme. I remember a quote from an old Rock Star who said "If it's worth doing it's worth Overdoing."

 

[Lee]

I found it to be both offensive and shallow. I believe if the truth were known Horowitz intentionally set out to chastise, smear and debunk basic ideas of honor, sacrifice and duty. (His other "American History" tome," A Voyage Long and Strange" is even worse.)

I would hazard a guess that the ideas of Mr. Horowitz have no foundation in the honor of his own ancestors as he appears to have none. Either that or he has deliberately set out to undermine the very tenants of our American History.

Of course he could just be a pure socialist with no reverence for any history except what the State manufactures.

But that's just my opinion.

I can imagine how you would take that away from the book as there was a day where I may have agreed with you 100%. Horowitz didn't miss any opportunities to bring to light the stereotypical "Bubba" characters and he also took shots at the SCV and the Daughters of the Confederacy. Like others have said the book really isn't history but closer to light or mindless entertainment reading. OTOH Horowitz did uncover a story or two I did enjoy especially the chapter about the last Confederate Widow who was actually married to a deserter. My favorite chapter was the writer's meeting/interview with Shelby Foote.

My less than perfect memory tells me Horowitz also wrote extensively about ignorance, and race dwelling on the tragic murder of a white kid driving his pick up truck that was flying the Confederate Naval Jack. The victim really wasn't all that much of a history buff and the irony of it all is the county in Southeast Kentucky where this occurred leaned more to the Federal side than the Confederate in the early 1860s. The black kids that were complicit in the murder were punished with the shooter who had arrived recently from the urban north if my less than perfect memory serves is still in prison serving life for murder. Weaving tragedy and irony together is worth doing IMO especially in that case. Then there was the visit to the biker bar across the state line in Tennessee and the two Bubba character's in Salisbury NC.

I got the book from the Library and I suggest those interested do the same as one can always buy it later or download it into their electronic reader if they wish. I winced at some of the things in the book but then again I can't say I haven't encountered characters like the ones Horowitz described. I don't believe I have read anything else Horowitz has written but if I come across something and it interests me I may visit the library again. It was an entertaining read but I really didn't take anything away speaking of history that I wasn't already familiar with.

 

[Poor Private]

I have picked it up 2 times and read it twice. The second time I remembered why I didn't care for it the first time. Just something about it. thats why I gave it a second chance. The talk about the bloaters and other things, almost seems like they were pulling his leg, and BSing him. And some of the other things seem irreverent to me how he presented topics, and people. Just not my thing. But if your into it, go for it.

 

[Ashintully57]

This was only my second posting but from the discussion it generated this is fun. I wish I had joined sooner as I am old enough to remember the Centennial.

So here is my next question for long time civil war historians. I can see a distinct difference in the Centennial and the 150th.
My opinion is the way the educational system exposes the youth of today to the Civil War and an the indifference shown by the present administration to the Civil War era are directly responsible.

We are not only losing a great opportunity to educate todays youth but the present leaders in Washington could have marketed the 150th to raise much needed revenue for the National Parks.

Maybe that idea is too old fashioned and they just intend to raise my taxes.

But that's just my opinion.

Anyway this is great fun.

 

[Poor Private]

I was at Gettysburgh for the 150th reenactment( the GAC). I thoguth the town was going crazy. Traffic was unbelievable, and soo many people wondering about. the parks parking lots were full from opening to closing. In other words I sure don't know how they could get any more people in that town. So I am sure the park made a ton of money that week (July 2-7) I was impressed with the courteous tourists(including myself as one). I didn't hear any cursing from cars about the traffic, or over crowded sidewalks and streets. People just seemed to accept it. No grouchy old men, or whiney kids, or screaming mothers. Heck if you asked someone to take your camera and take a picture of you they were happy to do so. I came away impressed on how well everything and everybody was.

 

[Jon G.]

I read it and thought it a very fun read about his tour of the south and the characters that he met. I thought it very descriptive writing and easy to imagine from his points of view. Lots of interesting anecdotes and humor but really not a serious work of history if that is what you desire.

Two thumbs up for conveying what he wanted to say.

 

[68W58]

I read it years ago and enjoyed it, but I can also see how others might not. I think it is in the "new journalism" style exemplified by books like "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote and some of the stuff by Tom Wolfe. He relates the facts as he sees them, but he also has an agenda that he doesn't try to hide, he's interested in telling a particular story in a particular way and as long as you bear that in mind the book in entertaining.

 

[Jon G.]

I read it years ago and enjoyed it, but I can also see how others might not. I think it is in the "new journalism" style exemplified by books like "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote and some of the stuff by Tom Wolfe. He relates the facts as he sees them, but he also has an agenda that he doesn't try to hide, he's interested in telling a particular story in a particular way and as long as you bear that in mind the book in entertaining.

I am just wondering what his agenda was. Could you possibly elaborate from your point of view?

 

[68W58]

I am just wondering what his agenda was. Could you possibly elaborate from your point of view?

I think he was looking at the fascination of the war from the Southern perspective as an outsider. I think he was fair with, but not sympathetic to, those who have a "lost cause" perspective on the war. I think he wanted to understand that perspective, even though he found it disagreeable and that he wanted to let the reader know that he didn't share that perspective while relating how those he encountered looked at the war. As far as the "new journalism" aspect-it seems to me that that style of writing wants to tell a factual story from a particular perspective, it may not be "the whole story" but the writer doesn't try to hide his particular agenda.

 

[Jon G.]

I think he was looking at the fascination of the war from the Southern perspective as an outsider. I think he was fair with, but not sympathetic to, those who have a "lost cause" perspective on the war. I think he wanted to understand that perspective, even though he found it disagreeable and that he wanted to let the reader know that he didn't share that perspective while relating how those he encountered looked at the war. As far as the "new journalism" aspect-it seems to me that that style of writing wants to tell a factual story from a particular perspective, it may not be "the whole story" but the writer doesn't try to hide his particular agenda.

Many thanks for that. I understand and agree with the first part that was his intent or agenda as you say. I didn't understand "new journalism". I read "In Cold Blood" when it first came out and didn't realize that was a new writing style. Good job and thanks again!

 

[Diplogeek]

I probably wouldn't be a reenactor now if I hadn't discovered this book back in junior high or high school. I've probably read it ten times, and I didn't think it was especially hard on the Southerners at all. That's where he concentrates his efforts because that's the focus of the book, but he gives equal time to the Kentucky murder story and the teacher who was working with an AP history class that couldn't tell him much, if anything about the war. If anything, I thought his treatment of a number of the more "Lost Cause" types was pretty sympathetic and captured a certain melancholy about the whole thing that is often missed.

It's definitely not a history book per se, but I think it's well worth a read if you want to understand some of the deeper attachments to this idea of the Lost Cause and southern heritage generally.

 

[Lost Cause]

Then there was the visit to the biker bar across the state line in Tennessee l

Perhaps, that was more reminiscent of "Fletch Lives."

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

In some alternate timeline, Horowitz wrote a book called Geeks In The Basement about geek culture. He interviewed George Lucas and hardcore cosplayers. A chapter of the book is about a group of fat, socially inept guys with large eyeglasses who drink copious amounts of Mountain Dew while very seriously playing Dungeons & Dragons in mom's basement. Some people really hate the book because they think Horowitz portayed all geeks as stereotyped losers when he was simply focusing on the most colorful characters he encountered while trying to understand geek culture, without intending them to be representative of all geeks.

More seriously: given the popularity of Confederates in the Attic I'm surprised Horowitz hasn't tried to write a folloup, especially when the sesquicentennial rolled around or the monument controversies really started heating up.