Clansman, The: An Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan [Paperback]

Thomas Dixon (Author), Arthur I. Keller (Illustrator), James P. Cantrell (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 2002 | ISBN-10: 1589800109 | ISBN-13: 978-1589800106

Originally published in 1905, this novel describes the anxiety and confusion of the years immediately after the South's defeat. Faced with a total breakdown of law and order, some southern leaders called upon the spirits of their ancestors, the clansmen of Old Scotland. The Ku Klux Klan was conceived as an "Invisible Empire" pledged to protect the people of the South.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"The president is shot! He has killed the president!" Originally published in 1905, The Clansman inspired D. W. Griffith's classic film, The Birth of a Nation. It is the second in a series of three historical novels that Thomas Dixon, Jr., wrote about the aftermath of the American Civil War. The first and third volumes of this "Trilogy of Reconstruction," The Leopard's Spots and The Traitor, are also available from Pelican. Beginning with Lee's surrender and the subsequent assassination of Abraham Lincoln, The Clansman describes the anxiety and confusion of the years immediately after the South's defeat. Between 1865 and 1870, the whole nation struggled with questions of justice and revenge, forgiveness and reparation. With 350,000 Southern soldiers dead, ensuring the welfare of their widows and orphans, as well as the rest of the population, was of paramount concern. Faced with a total breakdown of law and order, some Southern leaders called upon the spirits of their ancestors, the clansmen of Old Scotland. The Ku Klux Klan was conceived as an "Invisible Empire" pledged to protect the people of the South. This is its story. This edition is illustrated with scenes from The Birth of a Nation and features a new foreword by James P. Cantrell, author of Celtic Southern Literature, also published by Pelican.

About the Author

Thomas Dixon, Jr., was born in rural North Carolina during the Civil War. Educated at Wake Forest and Johns Hopkins Universities, Dixon was, among other things, a novelist, preacher, lecturer, lawyer, and state legislator. During his lifetime, he published twenty-two novels and several essays, plays, and sermons. Dixon's "Trilogy of Reconstruction" also included The Traitor and The Clansman and was made into D. W. Griffith's cinema masterpiece, Birth of a Nation. He has been named among both the most dated and most contemporary of Southern writers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 392 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing (January 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589800109
• ISBN-13: 978-1589800106
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,369,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent historical novel, February 4, 2002

By 

Hatfield (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Clansman, The: An Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan (Paperback)

This book is valuable reading for those who would like to understand the Genesis for racial animosities and problems that still occur in both the North and the South today. It also provides a familiarity with the actions and motives of the true historical Ku Klux Klan in contrast to the misguided bigots who preach racial hatred under the guise of the neo Ku Klux Klan of today. Film and theatre students will find this book interesting as the basis for D.W. Griffith's acclaimed film classic "Birth of a Nation". If possible locate an unabridged copy of this classic book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and Powerful, October 27, 2009

By 

Calvin A. Fleming (usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Clansman (Kindle Edition)

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Dixon's ideology, this is nonetheless a gripping and pwerful novel which formed the basis for THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Dixon was the academic and literary equal of Upton Sinclair and Frank Norris.

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very difficult to read, October 28, 2009

By 

Sonrisa - See all my reviews

This review is from: The clansman (Hardcover)

During my genealogy research I discovered that some of my ancestors were in the Klan in the very early days. This was disturbing to me and I started doing more research, coming to the conclusion that the EARLY Klan was not what it became later. I thought this book would be helpful. Presented as dramatizations of actual incidents, the book intended to promote understanding of the writer's point of view. Unfortunately, I was unable to survive the author's total absence of writing skills and just could not force myself to finish this boring book.