Description: Reckoning with the Devil: Nathan Bedford Forrest in Myth and Memory Hardcover – September 17, 2024by Court Carney (Author) Court Carney’s Reckoning with the Devil grapples with the troubled, complex legacy of Nathan Bedford Forrest―a slave trader, Confederate general, and prominent Klansman. More than a century after his death, Forrest’s image continues to resonate with certain groups and bear varied interpretations, reflecting the intricate interplay of history, memory, and a contested past. Carney explores how historical omissions and erasures continually reshape perceptions of Forrest as well as the Civil War. Central to Forrest’s narrative is his involvement in the slave trade, a key to his ascent in the southern social hierarchy. Carney traces Forrest’s trajectory from a prosperous slave trader in Memphis to a politician and eventual military leader in the Confederacy during the Civil War. Forrest’s postwar years reveal his struggle to rebuild his life, leading him to engage in various economic ventures and eventually join the Ku Klux Klan. Carney argues that the slave trade, the Fort Pillow massacre, and his Klan affiliation were the fundamental elements shaping Forrest’s image. Those elements, although steeped in racism and white supremacy, were marked by an ambiguity and malleability that allowed Forrest to attract admirers as well as detractors as his image was memorialized in postwar white southern culture. Carney covers distinct phases of Forrest’s memorialization, from the unveiling of statues in Memphis in 1905 to his representation in literature and media and the controversies surrounding his monuments in the 2010s. That history culminates with the removal of the Memphis statue in 2017, reflecting the evolving societal perspectives on symbols tied to racism. Forrest’s significance lies in his capacity to encompass conflicting narratives―hero and villain, rebel and patriot. Carney contends that understanding Forrest’s legacy is essential for comprehending the intricacies of the southern past and its enduring impact on American society. By exploring the fluidity of Forrest’s image, Carney’s work illuminates the nuanced interplay of history, memory, and the ongoing struggle to reckon with a tumultuous past. Publisher : LSU Press (September 17, 2024)Language : EnglishHardcover : 232 pagesISBN-10 : 0807171530ISBN-13 : 9780807171530
Price: 44.95 USD
Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
End Time: 2024-11-27T00:56:34.000Z
Shipping Cost: 6.13 USD
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Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Number of Pages: 232 Pages
Publication Name: Reckoning with the Devil : Nathan Bedford Forrest in Myth and Memory
Language: English
Publisher: LSU
Publication Year: 2024
Item Height: 0.8 in
Subject: United States / State & Local / South (Al, Ar, Fl, Ga, Ky, La, ms, Nc, SC, Tn, VA, WV), Folklore & Mythology, United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877), United States / General
Type: Textbook
Item Weight: 17.1 Oz
Author: Court Carney
Item Length: 9 in
Subject Area: Social Science, History
Item Width: 6 in
Format: Hardcover
