The idiosyncrasies, dispositions, and habits of the South are stranger and more complex than much of the country tends to acknowledge. Perry shows that an understanding of its history and culture is the key to understanding the nation as a whole. Sharing her thoughts about a troubled history and the ritual humiliations and joys that characterize so much of Southern life, Perry asserts that if we want to build a more humane future for the United States, we must center our concern below the Mason-Dixon line. -- adapted from jacket
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