One of the basic themes that is examined in Confederates in the Attic is the obsession and fascination that people have with the Civil War, on both sides. From the most hardcore Civil War re-enactors to the people who still speak fondly of the Confederacy, that unique campaign holds a permanent and interesting place in the hearts of many Americans. It intrigues us and carries a special spirit in the American consciousness for many reasons.
Why is this? Perhaps it’s because it’s the one conflict that pitted brother against brother, where both sides were American. Just this once, the ...