WHITE LIES

A narrative of how the famed Lost Cause mythology took hold after the U.S. Civil War.

Noted nonfiction author Bausum seeks to answer the question: If history is written by the victors, how did the defeated Confederates’ viewpoint end up becoming the dominant perspective? The roughly chronological organization covers the lead-up to the war and the war itself; the Southern white elite’s deliberate use of “a cult of misinformation” to return to power post-Reconstruction; the successful spread of the Lost Cause ideology through culture, education, and monuments; and ongoing efforts, in the face of organized resistance, to restore accuracy to accounts of the past. The chapters are punctuated by sidebars covering Confederate statues (“Gallery of the Lost Cause”) and debunking 20 foundational lies of the romanticized Lost Cause (“#3: The Civil War wasn’t fought over slavery; it was all about states’ rights,” “#18: The Confederate battle flag is a symbol of southern honor”). Bausum counters the lies with direct quotes from key Confederate leaders and Lost Cause thought leaders, demonstrating how impossible it is to decouple the Confederate cause from racism and slavery. The clear, direct prose shuns euphemisms, explicitly naming obfuscating language, and addresses atrocities without lingering on grisly details. The dispassionate tone results in an authoritative voice, supported by extensive research, that avoids sensationalism. The conclusion encourages readers to reject falsehoods disguised as patriotism, learn from the past, and “better the world.”

Essential reading.