Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All

Questions About Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All

by Allan Gurganus

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Answered Questions (2)

On a scale of Rachel Maddow's biography to The Turner Diaries: How 'racist' is this book?
Priscilla King Well...the slave characters are caricatures, but so are all the other characters. The main ex-slave character, Cassie, is your basic Black Matriarch A…moreWell...the slave characters are caricatures, but so are all the other characters. The main ex-slave character, Cassie, is your basic Black Matriarch As Seen By Small Scared White Boy. If you define racist as promoting hate or contempt for a "race" of people, I don't think it's racist at all. I think Gurganus, being a satirist, shows a certain amount of contempt for humans in general. Since this book reminds me of nothing at all about either Maddow or Turner Diaries, if they're at the ends of a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give "Widow" a 5.(less)
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I am new to this author, Allan Gurganus. Can someone tell me which of his books to start with (excuse the dangling participle)? I think perhaps, this one, The Oldest Living Confederate...may be a bit much for the very first one, or is it? Opinions please and thanks! Sherril
Christine This book is on my all-time list of favorites, so I'd say forge ahead! But if you want something lighter, go with The Practical Heart.…moreThis book is on my all-time list of favorites, so I'd say forge ahead! But if you want something lighter, go with The Practical Heart.(less)
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