Last revised: October 20, 2000
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The Book | The Author | Related Resources | Other First Year Initiatives
Robert Lee Hodge, one of the Civil War reenactors Tony Horwitz writes about in Confederates in the Attic (and pictured on the cover of the book), spoke on campus on Thursday, October 19, at 7:30 p.m. in 111 Carroll Hall. Hodge's talk ranged from presenting his side of anecdotes in Horwitz's book to urging the audience to get involved in preserving development-endangered Civil War battlefields.
For an example of Hodge's current preservation activities, link to the Preservation March 2000 website at http://www.cwreenactors.com/preservation2000/. The event will be held October 27-29, 2000, in Loudoun County, Virginia, to raise money for land acquisition and awareness of the extent that historic landscapes are disappearing from public access.
The Carolina Summer Reading Program is designed to be a part of your Fall 2000 Orientation at the University of North Carolina. All incoming First Year and Transfer Students are required to participate by reading Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horwitz, and by participating in discussion sessions on August 21. The program is designed to prepare students for some of their first-year courses and to stimulate conversation inside and outside the classroom about social issues facing all of us today as we enter the new millenium.
Tony Horwitz raises issues important for all of us who will call the South home for the next several years. The book, chosen by a group of Carolina students and faculty, provokes readers to consider the centrality of the Civil War for Southern culture and identity, the importance of race in shaping our worldviews, and the enduring significance of regional differences. The writing is witty and lucid. The New York Times Book Review said the volume is "the freshest book about divisiveness in America. . . a splendid commemoration of the war and its Legacy." The committee felt this book provides a wonderful opportunity for readers to ponder and discuss their views of war, race, and region in U.S. history and contemporary culture.
On Monday, August 21st, from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., students are required to contribute to small group discussions led by selected faculty and staff. This is an opportunity for you to connect with members of Carolina's learning community and to share a common academic experience with your new peers.
Chosen by a group of students and faculty, Confederates in the Attic, a national bestseller by Tony Horwitz, is a poignant book about the Civil War and its effects on today's society. Horwitz writes with a journalistic edge honed by his work with The Wall Street Journal and a few years dodging danger as a foreign correspondent. As many a Southerner will tell you, the war which technically ended 135 years ago continues to impact the nation's cultural identity. Horwitz's fast-paced and entertaining text describes a group of men and women attempting to relive the Civil War era in every detail.
The book's Chapter 13 has engendered comments and criticisms of its portrayal of Mrs. Alberta Martin, the last known living widow of a Confederate Veteran. A statement by the person who holds power of attorney for Mrs. Martin can be found at http://lastconfederatewidow.com/Review.htm.
Guidelines for Discussion Leaders
General Pointers for Leading Book Discussions
The Carolina Summer Reading Program developed from recommendations made by the 1997 Chancellor's Task Force on Intellectual Climate to improve the first-year student orientation experience. For more information about the Carolina Summer Reading Program, read the program overview.
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Last revised: October 20, 2000