Journeys and Explorations in the Cotton Kingdom: A Traveller's Observations on Cotton and Slavery in the American Slave States Based Upon Three Former

By Frederick Law Olmsted

Book Overview

In "Journeys and Explorations in the Cotton Kingdom," Frederick Law Olmsted provides a profound and intricate examination of the American South during the mid-19th century, focusing primarily on the cotton economy and the social conditions of the region. Written in a compelling narrative style that blends travelogue with social commentary, Olmsted's observations are rich with detail and insight. His acute descriptions illuminate the stark realities of plantation life, the pervasive system of slavery, and the complexities of Southern society against the backdrop of burgeoning industrialism. This work serves as both a crucial document of its time and as a literary critique that challenges prevailing notions about the South's economic viability and moral order. Frederick Law Olmsted was not only an influential landscape architect but also a keen observer of social conditions, driven by a strong anti-slavery stance. His experiences traveling through the South led him to undertake this exploration, revealing the human cost behind the wealth produced by cotton. Olmsted's background in journalism and his interactions with diverse social classes uniquely equipped him to critique and document the intricate tapestry of Southern life. This book is essential reading for those interested in American history, social justice, and the complexities of the antebellum South. Olmsted's vivid accounts challenge readers to confront the uncomfortable truths of America's past and enrich our understanding of the historical context that shaped the social and economic landscape of the region.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 802733439X
• ISBN13: 9788027334391
• Release Date: October 2019
• Publisher: Madison & Adams Press
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

ONE OF THE BETTER OF THIS GENRE

This is one you will want to own and add to your collection. It is a wonderful first hand account by an American traveler, traveling through the Southern United States just prior to the Civil War. You have to remember the time in which it was written and take into concideration style, syntax, and most importantly, attitude. For the serious student of the Civil War, it is a must read and a must for the collection. Times were hard then, and this gives a great account of what one would have encountered at that time. This is one you will probably want to read twice, as a matter of fact. All in all, I highly recommend.

THE SOUTH ON THE EVE OF THE CIVIL WAR

Frederick Law Olmstead travelled extensively throughout the south during the antebellum period, as reflected in this book. He considered the effects of slavery on both blacks and whites and found it to have pernicious effects on both. Although written prior to the Civil War, the book (actually a series of extensive selections from the three original volumes based on his newspaper articles written during his travels)provides a rather indepth and refreshing look at well-known history and looks at the diverse roles played by blacks, white southerners, (and northerners!) in slavery. He also examines their views on the slave issue itself: some nascent Southern abolitionists and colonialists, as well as advocates of slavery, appeared rather intelligent and some otherwise. Many considered slavery an insoluble problem and others defended it as a necessary evil which benefitted blacks and whites alike(!). After completing his tour (including a rather interesting situation in which a black slave seriously injures a biracial runaway, has him clapped in irons and sent to jail - much to the amusement of some white southerners - & an enlightening discussion, especially in light of Talty's research showing persons of pure white descent, including adult foreigners and children who were originally indentured were kidnapped or illegally sold into slavery, of how demeanor would be an adequate determinant of whether or not a "white" slave was really free or not), he provides a critical analysis of slavery and its effects on the south.