Honor and Slavery: Lies, Duels, Noses, Masks, Dressing as a Woman, Gifts, Strangers, Humanitarianism, Death, Slave Rebellions, the Prosla

Greenberg has written an informative and entertaining book on the importance of honor among men of the Old South. He is able to link such diverse topics as P.T. Barnum and the Feejee Mermaid, duels, men dressed as women, nose-pulling, and baseball to the idea of honor. He theorizes that the emphasis of this idea is rooted slavery and the fact that slaves had no honor. While he accurately describes the playing out of honor in everyday white Southern life, the notion that this all found a basis in slavery is somewhat difficult to heartily agree to. Certainly other factors played a part of honor's development such as religion, heritage, politics, etc. Despite this, the book is very entertaining and would be enjoyed by both the serious student of Southern history and the average reader wanting to learn more about Southern life.

Kenneth Greenberg describes the habits, lives, and culture of "Southern men of honor (i.e. rich white planter sristocrats)." He illustrates how these men viewed the world about them and how the culture they created was dependent on slavery. Without slavery Southern Men of Honor could not exist. Slaves served as a statement of wealth and also as a relationship for the aristocrats. They considered slaves to be their opposites. Slaves were afraid. Men of honor were brave. Slaves never stood up to challanges, Men of honor always did even if it meant losing their life in a duel.