MADreads

A Journey through America’s past

Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches From the Unfinished Civil War is a book that deconstructs our nation’s, and the South’s in particular, continued fascination with the Civil War.  In his youth, journalist Tony Horwitz found the Civil War an intriguing subject and in this book he takes the reader on a quest to answer why the Civil War can’t be forgotten.

His journey through the South takes him to battle reenactments, where he meets “hard-core” re-enactors, men who pride themselves on their completely authentic Civil War lifestyle, from their official war clothing to crash dieting to reach the weight of Civil War soldiers.  Mr. Horwitz follows these men around, participating in reenactments, eating hardtack under rain drenched tents, and grappling with the South’s refusal to lose the war.

He also explores other factors like race, community, and the myth of the Civil War.  During these explorations, Mr. Horwitz interviews author Shelby Foote, who came to fame after Ken Burns featured him in his PBS Civil War mini-series.  The author also interviews the oldest living Confederate widow and a woman who supposedly lives on Tara, the plantation from Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind.

This was a sometimes appalling, sometimes amazing analysis of, not just the obsession with the Civil War, but of a culture that keeps “The Lost Cause” alive.  Tony Horwitz tells a balanced account of what it means to be from the South, including modern racism and apathy, and the glorification of a very brutal time in American history.

Add comment August 2nd, 2008 Rachel

In the year 1000

What was life like in the year 1000?  The Year 1000 : What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium : An Englishman’s World tackles that question by taking a peek into the everyday lives of the Anglo-Saxons around the turn of the last millennium.  The authors, Robert Lacey and Danny Danziger, begin each chapter with a descriptive picture from the Julius work calendar, an early 12 month calendar from around 1020 A.D.  By framing the narration around this 12 month structure, the book delves into the life and times of the layman –what they wore, what they ate, the religious influences of the time, and who ruled Engla-lond, as it was called then.

Life in the 11th century was hard. Most people died in their 40’s.  Honey, the only source of sweetness, was a rare commodity, and safety from raiding Vikings didn’t exist. These pre-Normans eked out a life, trying to live from harvest to harvest.

If you’re looking for something more than the usual summertime read, but can’t dedicate your time to a laborious historical analysis, this book is a happy medium.  It’s a quick and interesting read and just the right balance between information and fascination.

Add comment July 22nd, 2008 Rachel