Confederate Exceptionalism

Nicole Maurantonio is associate professor of rhetoric and communication studies and American studies at the University of Richmond. She is the coeditor, with David W. Park, of Communicating Memory & History.

Acknowledgments A Note on Language Usage Preface: Confederates on My Corner Introduction: History, the Museum, and Confederate Exceptionalism 1. "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" and the neo-Confederate Jeremiad 2. Stonewall Jackson and Sacred Relics 3. Black Confederates and Performances of Living Reconciliation 4. Cooking Confederate and Nostalgic Reenactment 5. Historical Diorama and Protecting the Confederate Habitat 6. Heroes, Villains, and the Digital Confederacy Conclusion: The Future of the Neo-Confederate Museum Notes Index

"Anyone trying to understand why modern iterations of the Lost Cause continue to haunt society will find this book helpful."--Virginia Magazine "Maurantonio's unique approach to the study of Civil War memory and her strong authorial voice make for an engaging read. She successfully incorporates the historiography of Civil War memory while condensing complex theories about memory, identity, politics, race, and place into what is ultimately an informed, entertaining, and relevant work. This book is a timely reminder that Confederate exceptionalism is not a passe philosophy that can be dismantled along with its memorials; rather, it is an active movement in the process of extending its influence."--Journal of Southern History "If we're to understand why, in the wake of murderous events in Charleston and Charlottesville, significant numbers of Americans embrace the contentious symbols of an aborted proslavery nation, we must subject their worldview to high-caliber critical scrutiny. In a series of compelling case studies Nicole Maurantonio skillfully uncovers the mind-set of neo-Confederates in the contemporary United States. This opportune study is truly a book for our troubled times."--Robert Cook, author of Civil War Memories: Contesting the Past in the United States since 1865 "In Confederate Exceptionalism Nicole Maurantonio takes a fresh and exciting approach to a familiar subject. Drawing on her expertise in qualitative methods and discursive analysis, Maurantonio explores the current landscapes of Confederate memory and deepens readers' understanding of the rhetorics and persistent emotional power of Confederate exceptionalism. Throughout, Maurantonio's distinctive focus on the present day and her engaging voice and style make Confederate Exceptionalism an important and exciting addition to the rich body of scholarship on Civil War memory."--Matthew Mace Barbee, author of Race and Masculinity in Southern Memory: History of Richmond, Virginia's Monument Avenue, 1948-1996