Honor and Slavery Author:Kenneth S. Greenberg The "honorable men" who ruled the Old South had a language all their own, one comprised of many apparently outlandish features yet revealing much about the lives of masters and the nature of slavery. As Kenneth Greenberg skillfully demonstrates, the language of honor embraced a complex system of phrases, gestures, and behaviors that centered on ... more »deep-rooted values: asserting authority and maintaining respect. "A surprisingly sprightly little volume that serves as a window into a world long gone.... Greenberg ... is our tour guide in this forbidding, forgotten territory. He's knowledgeable and good-natured. He has an eye for detail, and just as important, an ear for nuance."--David M. Shribman, The Boston Globe "[Greenberg] writes with agreeable clarity, and in five short chapters, his easy, freewheeling style carries us a remarkably long way."--Ian McIntyre, The [London] Times "Many of Greenberg's observations offer revealing contextualizations. Particularly interesting are chapters on death and on the duel."--Publishers Weekly "A piercing--and decidedly offbeat--look into the mind of the Old South.... Charged with ideas, this is a cheerfully speculative and valuable addition to the library of the Civil War."--Kirkus Reviews« less