Gone With The Wind (column by George Will)

Townhall.com ^ | June 25, 2006 | George Will

[EveningStar]

Confined to her bed in Atlanta by a broken ankle and arthritis, she was given a stack of blank paper by her husband, who said, "Write a book." Did she ever.

The novel's first title became its last words, "Tomorrow is another day," and at first she named the protagonist Pansy. But Pansy became Scarlett, and the title of the book published 70 years ago this week became "Gone With the Wind."

You might think that John Steinbeck, not Margaret Mitchell, was the emblematic novelist of the 1930s, and that the publishing event in American fiction in that difficult decade was his "Grapes of Wrath." Published in 1939, it captured the Depression experience that many Americans had, and that many more lived in fear of. Steinbeck's novel became a great movie, and by now 14 million copies of the book have been sold...

[dominic flandry]

If you want to read "The Novel of the South" try Flash for Freedom by George MacDonald Fraser.

[Borges]

GWTW is the best bad novel ever written nothing more though it is a fun read. I read it two years ago.

Not to mention the fact that it stole the Pulitzer Prize from Faulkner's 'Absalom, Abslaom'.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Slavery would have died a natural death as it had become un-economical in an increasingly industrial age.

Thomas Sowell made the point that Christianity changed in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. He pointed out that slavery existed and was taken for granted an an institution in all cultures and worldwide, throughout history. And that includes Christian culture as well as Confuscian, Budhist, Hindu, and Moslem.

But in the past two centuries Christianity became able to prevent slave raids of its own territory, and then became willing to fight for the freedom of strangers. Britain established a squadron of the Royal Navy permanently stationed off western Africa for no other purpose than to interdict the slave trade, without any hope of recompense, never mind profit. Not only so, but Britain did not recognize the Confederacy and interfere in the Civil War, which would have doomed the Union, even though cotton fueled Britain's industrial revolution. Fear of just such action by the British was the sole reason for the Emanicpation Proclamation, which was unpopular in the North and anathema in the South, but assured that British Christians would not support the Confederacy in any way.

Sowell points out that the South had a tiger by the tail and could not let go; abolition would mean letting abused black slaves have the opportunity to undertake to get even. And for that reason, before the war abolition was a marginal, radical, position upheld by few.

The history of this country was forever changed, and not for the better, by the deaths in the Civil War of a generation of the best young men ... South and North.

Unquestionably.

[kitkat]

I've always thought that there was a blockade to prevent British ships from buying the South's cotton.

[Zeroisanumber]

Not to mention the fact that it stole the Pulitzer Prize from Faulkner's 'Absalom, Abslaom'.

Now that was a novel!

[conservative blonde]

I bet your freep name has given you a bit of notoriety too. Kinda like the shadow. There is something to be said about anonymity.

[Graymatter]

I read it in the summer of '63. Many times since. Great literature---like with snob appeal? I suppose not. The contemporaries of Dumas and Stevenson weren't convinced of their immortality either.
But as far as I'm concerned, Gone With The Wind is time-tested. Besides, it's straight out of the spring of timeless storytelling: the hero tale where the hero is, first, clueless in clover, unappreciative and immature; then disaster strikes; then things get REALLY bad; then they climb out of the mess, inch by inch, forever changed, and whether they win or lose they have achieved authenticity and self-realization while remaining true to their deepest value.
That's The Story, and it always strikes a responsive chord in our hearts, always will. Every generation waits to hear it and be awakened by it.
So yeah, it's great literature. :)

[Clemenza]

You might think that John Steinbeck, not Margaret Mitchell, was the emblematic novelist of the 1930s, and that the publishing event in American fiction in that difficult decade was his ``The Grapes of Wrath.'' Published in 1939, it captured the Depression experience that many Americans had, and that many more lived in fear of. Steinbeck's novel became a great movie and by now 14 million copies of the book have been sold.

The OVERRATED Steinbeck merely became a favorite of "educators" due to his socialist politics and flair for self-promotion. The only thing worse than the Grapes of Wrath was the horrible movie they made of it with Henry "Jane's Dad" Fonda.

[Clemenza]

As it stands, my favorite "southern" novel is "A Cry of Absense" by Madison Jones.

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

As for capturing the spirit of the American woman, I hope that you don't see the grasping, conniving Scarlett as the archetypal American woman.

---

God Bless your little heart! You are right it is not the spirit of the American woman, it is the spirit of the true Southern American woman.

Lord have mercy!
Do you know what the definition of a Southern Belle is???

Well I will tell you sweetheart.

A mac truck disguised as a power puff! LOL

[krunkygirl]

save for later

[caryatid]

Sowell points out that the South had a tiger by the tail and could not let go; abolition would mean letting abused black slaves have the opportunity to undertake to get even. And for that reason, before the war abolition was a marginal, radical, position upheld by few.

Abolition may have been considered radical ... and fraught with peril.

Many good men in the South wrestled with the concept of slavery. One in particular comes to mind:

Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton III (1818-1902) is one of the most underrated commanders of the Civil War. The reputations of other more flamboyant generals overshadow his remarkable accomplishments. While Hampton was in command of the Confederate Cavalry Corps, through to the end of the war, he never lost a single fight. Hampton was an intuitive tactician noted for perseverance and courage under fire. As a South Carolina legislator prior to the War, Hampton had taken conservative positions on slavery and secession. He opposed the division of the Union and began to doubt the morality of the slave-based Southern economy; however, when several Southern states passed articles of secession, Hampton’s loyalty to his home soil caused him to pledge his vast fortune and his services to the Confederacy.

If you are not on the Dr. Sowell *PING* List, consider this an introduction to GordonGekko909 who will, at your request, add you to his list.

Dr. Sowell is a wise men. When he speaks, all should listen.

[PJ-Comix]

The OVERRATED Steinbeck merely became a favorite of "educators" due to his socialist politics and flair for self-promotion.

Actually just the OPPOSITE happened starting in the 1950s. Steinbeck fell OUT of favor as he became more conservative. In fact, Columbia University for a long time refused to teach anything based on what Steinbeck wrote. BTW, Steinbeck was a good friend of writer, James Jones. Oh, and did I mention that I NAMED my newborn nephew (born last December) James Jones? James Jones Guttierez. We use the FULL name, "James Jones" and NOT the shorter "James."

[caryatid]

Until her dying day my Grandmother couldn't believe MM wrote that book.

Please clarify. Are you saying that your Grandmother DID not believe MM wrote that book?

[PJ-Comix]

The best novel about the South was written by a Yankee, James Jones, of Illinois. And the book isn't really about the South but about a small Midwestern town---Some Came Running. However, there is a big section of the book where the book's main character, Dave Hirsch, and his southern buddy, 'Bama Dillert, drive thru the South to vacation in Miami Beach. The novel was set in 1946 to about 1950 so it was fascinating to read of the descriptions of the South before the interstate highways were built. Basically it showed the two different reactions of the characters to the Southerners. Hirsch was disturbed by the hard look that he thought were directed toward him by the rednecks while the more easy going 'Bama just laughed it off and said they were just good ol' boys. Very interesting discussion between them during the car ride about race relations. Then a big encounter with a "Confederate" in North Florida.

Unfortunately MOST of the novel was edited it out although I know there are unabridged copies of it out there somewhere which I am DYING to find. The critics HATED that novel because they thought it was too "trivial" because it dealt with "ordinary people." I was riveted by it and would LOVE to read the full unabridge novel.

p.s. Yes, there is a movie called Some Came Running but the ONLY similarity between the two are the title, names of the characters, and the Midwest setting. Other than that there is NO relation between the two. NONE. +

[Clemenza]

Then a big encounter with a "Confederate" in North Florida.

Joe Dirt country. I knew two folks from the "pork chop" who went to see Joe Dirt because they all "knew somebody like that" when they were growing up in North Florida.

Saw the film with Dean Martin. I also had a coworker who also had Professor James Jones at FIU.

[groanup]

She never said anything other than she couldn't believe it. I never asked her to clarify. Why bother? MM DID write the book, albeit with some help according to another poster.

[groanup]

it was fascinating to read of the descriptions of the South before the interstate highways were built.

In my childhood my family would vacation in Florida. We would follow highway 19 and highway 41 which were two lane roads back then. What a different world. It wasn't until I was a teenager that Interstate 75 was finished, just in time for spring break, LOL.

There was the goat man. Maybe someone else has heard of him. We would see him along the highway in his horse drawn wagon with several goats in tow. I take it everything he owned was on that wagon. He was a fixture in those days.

[Blessed]

>There was the goat man.<

Word would get out he was on the edge of town and everyone would take the kids out to see him.

[PJ-Comix]

Saw the film with Dean Martin. I also had a coworker who also had Professor James Jones at FIU.

As I stated, the book has no real relation to the movies. Two different things. BTW, there was also a section in the book dealing with small town political corruption. Quite interesting.