*A New History of the American South* offers a scholarly re-examination of the region's past, weaving together diverse threads from pre-colonial times to the present. This volume, featuring contributions from an esteemed group of historians, presents a fresh narrative that challenges traditional interpretations and highlights underexplored aspects of Southern history.

The book is divided into three main sections—pre-Revolutionary times, the transformative 19th century, and the influential 20th century—each offering in-depth essays that tackle various facets of Southern life. From the impact of the African diaspora to environmental history and Indigenous perspectives, the editors ensure a broad and inclusive approach. The essays cover a range of topics, including the economic, political, and cultural developments that have shaped the South, emphasizing the experiences of all Southern peoples—Black, white, Indigenous, and more. It also challenges long-standing myths, such as those surrounding the Lost Cause, and integrates new research into global and Atlantic world histories.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

"A New History of the American South” is a captivating collection of scholarly essays that explore the region's diverse and rich history. As a product of the South, (I was born & raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast), I've always been deeply intrigued by its past. Each exploration of its history reveals new and captivating insights.

The book is a wealth of knowledge, featuring fifteen well-crafted essays that span the South's history from pre-colonial times to the present. Organized into three sections—the pre-Revolution era, the transformative nineteenth century, and the influential twentieth century, including the pivotal Civil Rights movement—it offers detailed insights and analysis on a variety of topics.

Highlighting the significant impact of Black history on American history, challenging myths about the Lost Cause, and emphasizing the contributions of Native American cultures, the book is authored by a diverse and respected group of historians. Accessible and compelling for both scholars and general readers, it provides a comprehensive view of the intricate history of the American South.

Every page guides readers through time, uncovering the complex layers of the South’s history. The essays are enlightening and thought-provoking, fostering a deeper appreciation for the region’s enduring legacy. Whether you're a historian, student, or simply interested in the history of the American South, this book promises a rewarding and enriching experience.

A huge thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am sharing this review voluntarily.

This was a great read, and I felt more inclusive and accurate than other texts focusing on the south. It was great to have more inclusion of Native American history, women in the south, etc.
The chapters were well integrated and flowed well

A solid collection of essays that question historiographies of the "South," offering new ideas and interpretations of the region, it's nebulousness, and how we address its problems and strengths. This is a much-needed book particularly for students and newcomers to the field, and provides a wealth of approaches and points of view.

First, thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the eArc!

Second, I am a southern studies scholar who has been waiting for new, fresher materials for my classrooms and for my research. This was pretty much exactly what I have been wanting! There are some spots where the vocabulary being used was not, by current practice at least in my subfield, up to standards, but overall it was a well-researched collection! I will be purchasing this and incorporating this into my graduate classrooms!

Well researched and put together, if dense. Which is not surprising, given the subject at hand and the press that is putting it out. I look forward to combing it for more detail when I have the opportunity. I thank Netgalley and the publisher for having said opportunity.

This is a dense book, but an enjoyable one. Its comprehensive telling of southern history, along with fresh and re-contextualized information about the people who lived there (both Indigenous and settlers) tell a complete story of the whats, whens, wheres, and to a great degree, the whys of major points in history, culture and migration patterns to other parts of the US and its territories during the covered time periods. As an amateur genealogist, it has inspired me to go back through the book's details and match time periods with my ancestors who lived in these regions, to get a better idea of what their day-to-day lives were like, and possible motivations for moving along when they did. All in all, a useful and interesting read for academics and laypeople alike.

Overall, I thought this was a great book. The essays provided a new and interesting angle on Southern history. The book focuses on the outliers or the parts of southern life and culture that don’t normally take center stage, and because of that it is a book that people with varying levels of knowledge about the South would benefit from reading. I was a bit surprised that an academic book published in 2023 contained multiple essays where Native Americans were referred to as Indians. Other than that, I thought the book was really strong.

This is an excellent collection of historical essays covering a wide array of topics relevant to the history of the southern US. I especially liked that it includes environmental history. The essays are accessibly written but maintain the level of scholarship and information you expect from academic work. Really neat resource!

A New History of the American South covers so much historical, political, and artistic ground that it feels impossible for me to give this book a thorough review. This incredible volume on the history of the South is a collaborative effort between editors to tell the history of the region relevant for the 21st century. This volume is both a history book and a narrative of the South that provides a thorough analysis of historical actors and political movements over time. Dating back to the 1600s, the writers share a broad overview of the history of neighboring slave states and provide a post-Civil war evolutionary understanding of the South and the ways the South became known in the 20th century.

I was so glad that the editors made note of the contributions of one of my favorite historians and interdisciplinary scholars, Imani Perry, while paying particular attention to South to America (2022) in which she provides her own history of the region including personal reflections. In A New History of the American South there is extensive documentary evidence, stories, names, and accounts shared as well as references to important Indigenous origin stories from the region (including Choctaw and Chickasaw origin narratives) and more.

This volume also answers many questions that scholars have analyzed throughout the years such as:

1. Was the idea of race a cause or consequence of slavery?
2. How did Christian theorists contribute to this notion of race?
3. How did North Carolina and South Carolina apply the principles of the Declaration of Independence to political relationships at home and what set these States apart?

If you are someone interested in learning more about the South and the tales of west-to east migrations via a Southern lens, this is a great book to read to gain a rich understanding.

I picked this up thinking it was a collection of essays. This is much more scholarly/academic than that and feels intended for an academic audience. I did not finish this one.