White lies How the South lost the Civil War, then rewrote the history

In this searing account, Bausum (The Bard and the Book) dissects the "series of lies" that represented the beliefs of the Confederate States of America known as the Lost Cause following the conclusion of the U.S. Civil War. Across four distinct parts, frank text outlines the buildup to and aftermath of the war, the language used to establish the foundational principles of the Lost Cause, the effect that widespread dissemination of these ideologies has had on future generations, and America's reckoning with whether "its national story be told with facts or as propaganda." Preceding each chapter are sections presenting Lost Cause falsehoods that "sought to sway public opinion" in favor of the Confederacy ("#1: Slavery Was a Compassionate Institution"). Throughout, Bausum notes how the Lost Cause impacted public policy (Jim Crow laws), popular culture (Gone with the Wind), and education. Collage-like spreads comprised of archival photographs and news clippings highlight key players of the era, and direct quotations from prominent Confederate leaders are featured throughout, helping to further aid in the work's debunking of romanticized depictions of the titular war. It's an essential and powerful offering that encourages readers to critically engage with historical record and to use the knowledge they obtain "to better the world." Extensive back matter concludes. Ages 12--up. (Aug.)

Gr 9 Up--An insightful and complex volume reviewing 20 foundational lies used by white supremacists to justify the enslavement and post--Civil War subjugation of African Americans. Broken down into four historical periods, from the antebellum period through current day, the work outlines five lies from each time frame, each with an in-depth chapter that discusses prominent individuals and organizations along with their actions to perpetuate these lies. She highlights how these lies are interjected into popular literature and the cinema, academia, the military, and the more well-known governmental laws and regulations of Jim Crow. Throughout, Bausum points out the careful use of vocabulary to frame society and nostalgia for the past, both used to whitewash the horrors of slavery and racism. She discusses the decades-long use of Confederate monuments to instill fear and the use of the false equivalency that their preservation is needed to teach history. Each chapter also contains profiles of Confederate monuments, noting when they were built, how they were paid for, and in some cases, when they were dismantled. While always engaging and informative, the amount of evidence presented can be overwhelming but perhaps that is to be expected given the staggering efforts behind the mirage of white supremacy and the pervasiveness of these lies throughout U.S. history. It all makes for necessary reading. Detailed research is evident with extensive back matter including a time line, source notes, and bibliography (index not seen). VERDICT An important and compelling work that belongs in all high school and public libraries.--Karen T. Bilton

"For more than a century and a half, a tsunami of Confederate commemoration has washed over the United States of America. So have its associated lies." Bausum lists these falsehoods of the Lost Cause ("part of a deliberate pattern of misinformation" perpetuated by Confederates and their sympathizers) and then dismantles them one by one in this extensively researched book. Her work confronts twenty different lies, including that the Civil War was about states' rights, not slavery, and that the Ku Klux Klan was a noble organization. Bausum's short chapters and clear language help teen readers understand complex subjects and make connections between lies that started in the mid- to late-nineteenth century and societal ills that still plague the United States today. She also provides information about lingering Confederate symbols and mentions the impact of a photo of mass murderer Dylann Roof posing with his gun and a Confederate battle flag. "It became impossible to deny what the banner's critics had been arguing for years: that it was a symbol of White supremacy." Bausum appeals to readers to learn from the nation's past mistakes and "use that knowledge to better the world." Occasional archival photos of historical figures, along with ephemera such as movie posters advertising Gone with the Wind, enhance the text. An author's note, research notes, a timeline of the Lost Cause, source notes, and a bibliography are appended. Marva Anne HintonSeptember/October 2025 p.81 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A narrative of how the famed Lost Cause mythology took hold after the U.S. Civil War. Noted nonfiction author Bausum seeks to answer the question: If history is written by the victors, how did the defeated Confederates' viewpoint end up becoming the dominant perspective? The roughly chronological organization covers the lead-up to the war and the war itself; the Southern white elite's deliberate use of "a cult of misinformation" to return to power post-Reconstruction; the successful spread of the Lost Cause ideology through culture, education, and monuments; and ongoing efforts, in the face of organized resistance, to restore accuracy to accounts of the past. The chapters are punctuated by sidebars covering Confederate statues ("Gallery of the Lost Cause") and debunking 20 foundational lies of the romanticized Lost Cause ("#3: The Civil War wasn't fought over slavery; it was all about states' rights," "#18: The Confederate battle flag is a symbol of southern honor"). Bausum counters the lies with direct quotes from key Confederate leaders and Lost Cause thought leaders, demonstrating how impossible it is to decouple the Confederate cause from racism and slavery. The clear, direct prose shuns euphemisms, explicitly naming obfuscating language, and addresses atrocities without lingering on grisly details. The dispassionate tone results in an authoritative voice, supported by extensive research, that avoids sensationalism. The conclusion encourages readers to reject falsehoods disguised as patriotism, learn from the past, and "better the world." Essential reading. (language note, author's note, research notes, timeline, source notes, bibliography, image credits, index)(Nonfiction. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.