This is social history at its finest. The Fall of the House of Dixie uses meticulous research and incisive quotes from a variety of sources–including soldiers, slaves, abolitionists, impoverished whites, and the Confederate aristocracy–to provide an astonishing autopsy of life in the nineteenth century South before and after the Civil War. Levine, a professor at the University of Illinois, presents complex ideas and loaded topics with remarkable clarity. He’s a wonderful interviewee as well, as exemplified by his appearance on NPR’s Fresh Air. This book is owned by Acorn, and can be requested through SWAN or by contacting the Library.