Subduing Satan: Religion, Recreation, and Manhood in the Rural South, 1865-1920 (Fred W. Morrison Series in Southern Studies) [Paperback]

Ted Ownby (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0807844292 | ISBN-13: 978-0807844298 | Publication Date: September 30, 1993

The Praying South and the Fighting South are two of our most popular images of white southern culture. In Subduing Satan, Ted Ownby details the tensions between these complex—and often opposing—attitudes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Ownby's re-creation of male recreation is rich and fascinating.

Nation

[Ownby] gives us guideposts in the ongoing search for the meaning of southern history.

Journal of Southern History

Ownby gets us right to the heart of white culture in the South between Reconstruction and the 1920s.

Edward L. Ayers, University of Virginia

Product Details

• Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (September 30, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807844292
• ISBN-13: 978-0807844298
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very revealing look at Southern male culture, January 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Subduing Satan: Religion, Recreation, and Manhood in the Rural South, 1865-1920 (Fred W. Morrison Series in Southern Studies) (Hardcover)

Ted Ownby has put together a tremendous book that shows how the culture of the Southern male was influenced by the dramatic changes which followed the War of Northern Aggression ( a.k.a. Civil War). If you have ever wondered how these men could stay out all Saturday night drinking, gambling, running coon dogs, etc. and then drift bleary-eyed into the Sunday morning Church service, this would be an interesting book. Actually, there were very distinct characteristics of the masculine culture and the evangelical culture in which the Southern male lived concurrently. Ownby's book covers many facets of Southern life, such as farm life, the growth of towns as social centers, recreation, church, revival meetings, politics, and improvements to things such as roads. When I read about how mail order catalogs opened markets for many products, I thought about how internet-based shopping was having a similar impact today. I also appreciated Ownby's description of how a cash based economy emerged and increased the interdependency of rural families. The resulting interaction created a need for the community to establish its norms, whereas they were more self-sufficient earlier and isolated from what other people were doing. Ownby has collected data from all over the South. He may even discuss an area with which you are familiar, but if not it is still a great book to read. The change process that is described could apply to almost any Southern area. I have found myself pulling this book down from time to time to review some of the chapters. I recommend it to you and hope you enjoy it. Bobby Lane, Tennessee