Bethany: A Story of the Old South

by Thomas E. Watson, Lucy Booker Roper (Editor)

IN the effort to show the state of opinion and of feeling in the South immediately prior to the Civil War, it seemed to the author that no method could be better than to let the historical characters speak for themselves. Into the mouths of Toombs, Stephens, Johnston, and others he has put their real sentiments, though he has seldom used their own words. The entire first part of "Bethany," is devoted to the conditions existing from 1856 to 1861. The author thought it best not to mix personal narrative with these tremendous political issues and movements. In the second part of the book, no effort has been made to manufacture an intricate plot and to work it out to a happy conclusion. The purpose of the author was to make a true picture of the times and the people, so he has let what actually happened appear in the book as it happened. It is only in conventional novels that lovers invariably reach sunshine and-marriage. In real life, they are too often lost in the mists, and go their separate ways in the dark.
The story itself is simply that of a young Confederate Volunteer who met death in the service— having loved and lost a Southern girl of rare promise and beauty. The book is frankly Southern in tone, but not offensively so, I trust. If it contains a single bitter paragraph, it is there by inadvertence. In the Preface, Mr. Watson stated, "When it shall have gradually dawned upon all Northern writers that the Southern States in 1860 did no more than exercise a right which had been almost universally conceded from the founding of the Government—a right in which the seceders believed, and which the provocation seemed to call for the use of—then, perhaps, we shall have historical literature which does not stigmatize us as rebels and our leaders as traitors. Not till that time comes will there be the complete reconciliation which should be the supreme desire of all patriots."

237 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Thomas Edward "Tom" Watson was an American politician, attorney, newspaper editor and writer from Georgia

Reviews

[Susan Molloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very readable book, about The Old South and the struggles with Northern thought and values. It has a frank and introspective tone. Although it took me the better part of eight months to read, it was a well-written and Interest-holding story.