Customer Reviews

The Promise of the New South: Life After Reconstruction - 15th Anniversary Edition

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Edward Ayers had his work cut out for him as he attempted to create a synthesis of the South after Reconstruction. C. Vann Woodward's "Origins of the New South" ranked as one of the most lasting texts of the 20th century. Yet in his work, Ayers is able to carve out his own niche and leave a strong impression. This is not history from the top-down and political historians would do better to look at Woodward. But Ayers does offer an excellent look at your everyday people in the region and traces the growth of the New South through the railroads. This book is readable and interesting and offers new perspectives on an important historical period. Ayers could have done more on culture and Woodward is much better on the various literary figures of the New South. Despite this minor quibble, "The Promise of the New South" holds up well and, in his introduction to the 15th anniversary edition, even Ayers seems surprised at how good a book he had on his hands.

The book I received is in excellent condition. I am so excited to have this book written by a former professor and university president, Ed Ayers. Thanks for all the great service!

After reading this book I was suprised to look at the title and not see a word about African-Americans in the it. This is suprising because almost everything in the book has something to do with them. The author took a little understood part of histroy and watered it down with the plight of blacks. Don't get me wrong there are tons of great civil rights books out there, but this book is upposed to be examining the South as a whole and not just the plight of poor southern blacks. I bought the book in hopes of getting a feel, both as a white and African American citizen living in a place that was once called "the most closed off place in America" because almost no news came out of the region, and outsiders were looked upon with suspicion and you Seldom went unaccompanied by someone local until the Spanish American war cracked the door,then the TVA swung it wide open. I think the author of the book missed a goldmine of forgoten information. he South's ability to re-build and prosper after the Civil War is a testiment to it's people of all races. If your looking for a civil rights book you may find this one an ok read, but if your looking for a book that is informative and insisive about the South you may want to pick-up another book, like the PBS documentery called somthing like "The Ghosts of Reconstruction"?. To sum it up this book isn't sure if it's a civil rights book or a history of the South. It's not a bad book, but it's not great either.