How Curious a Land

“[A] deeply researched and eloquently written book. . . . [A] fine work, which deserves more than a strictly academic audience.” — Law and History Review

“An excellent analysis of the watershed years of the nineteenth century.” — Atlanta History

“A readable, intelligent book that makes a worthy contribution to a substantial body of literature.” — Journal of American History

“Offers rich insights into the law and compelling glimpses into the lives of ordinary folk.” — Journal of Southern History

“A deftly conceived and elegantly written local history, with commendable emphasis on a number of important and sharply characterized individuals.” — CHOICE

“Jonathan Bryant’s book is in many ways a model history of a Southern place. It is carefully researched, thoughtfully considered, and written with sensitivity. . . . Bryant’s book makes a familiar history more human — and all the more bittersweet as a result.” — Virginia Quarterly Review

“In this study of Greene County, Georgia, before and after the Civil War, Jonathan Bryant achieves his ambitious goal: to describe 'law in action, law in the midst of people, law shaping and being shaped by individuals in their communities' during a time of tumultuous transformation. Written with uncommon grace, this study of one corner of the Black Belt has broad implications for mid-nineteenth century Southern history.” — Dan T. Carter, Emory University

“One of the finest histories of a southern community ever written. Bryant never forgets that the historian’s first responsibility is to tell a story — and to tell it well.” — Daniel W. Crofts, author of Reluctant Confederates: Upper South Unionists in the Secession Crisis