Southern Literature From 1579-1895: A comprehensive review, with copious extracts and criticisms

The Story

This comprehensive work traces the evolution of Southern literature and intellectual life from 1579 to 1895, presenting a detailed panorama of the South’s cultural and historical development through the voices of its writers. It begins with early colonial narratives, such as William Strachey’s vivid accounts of the Virginia colony and the harrowing shipwreck on the Bermudas, which not only document the physical challenges of settlement but also reflect the era’s worldview and literary style. Strachey’s writings, with their complex sentences and rich detail, offer a glimpse into the formative moments of Southern identity and the intertwining of history and literature.

The narrative then moves through the Revolutionary and early national periods, highlighting figures like James Madison, whose political writings and correspondence reveal the intellectual foundations of the young nation and the South’s role within it. Madison’s emphasis on union and liberty, as expressed in his Farewell Address, underscores the South’s complex relationship with national identity and governance. The book also touches on the perspectives of contemporaries such as Lafayette, whose letters provide insight into the political and personal alliances that shaped the era.

As the story progresses into the 19th century, it explores the cultural and social transformations wrought by the Civil War and its aftermath. The text includes reflections on the abolition of slavery and its profound impact on Southern society, particularly the decline of the traditional planter aristocracy and the rise of small farmers. This shift is portrayed with a mixture of nostalgia and realism, acknowledging the loss of a certain genteel class while anticipating new social dynamics.

The book also delves into the literary contributions of Southern poets and writers who grappled with the region’s turbulent history. Figures like Abram Joseph Ryan, known as the “poet-priest,” express the South’s sorrow and resilience through patriotic and religious verse. The inclusion of stirring poems such as “Maryland, My Maryland” evokes the fervent regional pride and the emotional intensity of the Civil War period.

Interwoven with these historical and literary developments are vivid sketches of Southern life, from the mountain folk and frontier characters to the genteel society of towns like Columbia, South Carolina. The book presents a broad spectrum of voices, including those of Native Americans, settlers, soldiers, and intellectuals, capturing the diversity and complexity of Southern culture.

Throughout, the work offers critical commentary and extracts from a wide array of authors, providing readers with both primary texts and interpretive frameworks. It concludes with extensive lists and biographical notes on Southern writers, underscoring the richness and variety of the region’s literary heritage.

In sum, the book unfolds as a layered narrative of Southern literature as both a reflection and a shaper of the South’s historical experience—from early exploration and settlement, through revolution and nation-building, to the upheavals of war and reconstruction, and finally to the cultural reckonings of the late 19th century.

The People

• William Strachey: An English gentleman and secretary of the Virginia Colony, Strachey’s detailed and often dense prose captures the early colonial experience, including shipwreck and encounters with Native Americans. His writings reveal a cultivated mind grappling with the harsh realities and wonders of the New World, influencing later literary works such as Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

• James Madison: Fourth president of the United States and a Virginian intellectual, Madison’s writings emphasize the importance of national unity and liberty. His political philosophy and correspondence reflect the South’s foundational role in American governance, while his personal connections, including with Jefferson and Lafayette, highlight the era’s intertwined political and social networks.

• David Crockett: Representing the frontier spirit, Crockett’s narrative voice reveals the tensions of loyalty and identity during the Civil War era. His encounters with divided communities and his declaration of allegiance to “old Virginia forever” embody the complex allegiances and regional pride characteristic of Southern mountain folk.

• Abram Joseph Ryan: Known as the “poet-priest,” Ryan’s poetry expresses the South’s grief and steadfastness in the face of defeat and loss. His religious and patriotic verses articulate a vision of divine will and human endurance, resonating deeply with Southern readers during and after the Civil War.

• Big John: A figure connected to the Cherokee removal, Big John’s story illustrates the fraught interactions between Native Americans and settlers. His reluctant participation in the forced migration and his guardianship of John Howard Payne reflect the human dimensions of this tragic chapter in Southern history.

• Clarsie (from the mountain sketches): A young woman embodying the rugged, untamed character of Southern mountain life. Her independence and connection to nature contrast with the more genteel Southern society, illustrating the region’s cultural diversity and the tensions between tradition and change.

In Its Own Voice

“Do not conceive that fine clothes make fine men, any more than fine feathers make fine birds. A plain, genteel dress is more admired, and obtains more credit, than lace and embroidery, in the eyes of the judicious and sensible.”

This reflection from early colonial writings underscores a value placed on substance over show, a recurring theme in Southern characterizations.

“The unity of government which constitutes you one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence...”

James Madison’s Farewell Address emphasizes the vital importance of national unity, a foundational concern for the South’s political thinkers.

“Would you keep a mother from her boy, and he to be lost to her forever? Shall she have no parting with the young brave she bore in her bosom? Away, keep me not back—I will look upon him, I will love him.”

This poignant moment from a Native American narrative captures the human cost of cultural conflict and displacement.

“The year has gone, and, with it, many a glorious throng of happy dreams... It trod the hall of revelry, where thronged the bright and joyous, and the tearful wail of stricken ones is heard...”

A poetic meditation on the relentless passage of time and the losses wrought by history, evoking the South’s sense of impermanence and mourning.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an exploration of how Southern literature serves as a mirror and a mold for the region’s identity, history, and values. It argues that Southern writing cannot be separated from the social, political, and cultural forces that shaped the South from its earliest colonial days through the 19th century. The book presents literature not merely as art but as a living record of Southern experience—its triumphs, tragedies, and transformations.

One key theme is the tension between tradition and change. The book traces the decline of the planter aristocracy and the upheaval caused by the abolition of slavery, showing how these shifts altered the social fabric and literary themes of the South. Nostalgia for a lost genteel class coexists with recognition of new realities, such as the rise of small farmers and the complex legacies of race and labor.

Another central concern is the South’s relationship to national identity and union. Through political writings and personal correspondence, the book reveals the ambivalence and passion with which Southern intellectuals approached the idea of the United States. The emphasis on union as a “main pillar” of independence contrasts with the fierce regional pride and eventual secessionist impulses that culminated in the Civil War.

The book also foregrounds the diversity within Southern culture, from the mountain folk and Native Americans to the urban intellectuals and poets. This diversity complicates any simplistic notion of the South, highlighting internal conflicts, varied loyalties, and a multiplicity of voices that contribute to the region’s literary richness.

Finally, the work meditates on the power of literature to preserve memory and shape understanding. Through extracts and critical commentary, it shows how Southern writers use poetry, narrative, and political discourse to grapple with themes of loss, identity, duty, and hope. The book itself becomes a testament to the enduring significance of Southern letters as a cultural and historical archive.

Why Read It Today

This book offers readers a deep and nuanced immersion into the intellectual and cultural history of the American South, making it valuable for anyone interested in how literature reflects and influences regional identity. Its strength lies in the breadth of voices and periods it covers, from early colonial chronicles to post-Civil War reflections, providing a layered understanding of the South’s complex past.

Reading it today reveals the South’s literary heritage as a site of both beauty and contradiction. The prose and poetry capture the region’s charm, pride, and eloquence, but also its struggles with slavery, war, and social change. The book does not shy away from the difficulties of its period attitudes or the sometimes dense, archaic style of earlier writings, which may challenge modern readers. Yet these very qualities offer a direct encounter with the historical mindset and cultural texture of the times.

The work’s detailed biographical sketches and critical notes enrich the reading experience, helping to situate authors and texts within their historical contexts. For scholars, students, or general readers with patience and curiosity, it opens a window onto a literary tradition that shaped American letters and continues to influence cultural conversations.

However, readers should be prepared for the book’s length and occasional complexity, as well as its period-specific language and perspectives. It is not a casual read but a serious study that rewards close attention and reflection. The inclusion of poetry, speeches, and narrative excerpts provides variety and emotional resonance, balancing the more formal historical and critical material.

Ultimately, the book stays with the reader as a reminder of how literature can serve as a living history, preserving the voices and visions of a region marked by both grandeur and hardship. It invites readers to consider the enduring questions of identity, memory, and change that continue to shape the South and its stories.