Southern Honor

Bertram Wyatt-Brown examines the pervasive influence of an ancient honor culture on white Southern society, exploring its manifestations in family, dueling, slavery, politics, and the lead-up to the Civil War. Drawing from legal documents, diaries, letters, and literature, the book argues that honor—rather than slavery alone—was the keystone of Southern ethics, driving social hierarchies, personal conduct, and regional conflicts.

It posits that irreconcilable moral divergences over honor contributed decisively to the Civil War.