About the book
In this book Tiya Miles explores the popular yet troubling phenomenon of “ghost tours,” frequently promoted and experienced at plantations, urban manor homes, and cemeteries throughout the South. As a staple of the tours, guides entertain paying customers by routinely relying on stories of enslaved black specters. But who are these ghosts? Examining popular sites and stories from these tours, Miles shows that haunted tales routinely appropriate and skew African American history to produce representations of slavery for commercial gain. “Dark tourism” often highlights the most sensationalist and macabre aspects of slavery, from salacious sexual ties between white masters and black women slaves to the physical abuse and torture of black bodies to the supposedly exotic nature of African spiritual practices. Because the realities of slavery are largely absent from these tours, Miles reveals how they continue to feed problematic “Old South” narratives and erase the hard truths of the Civil War era. In an incisive and engaging work, Miles uses these troubling cases to shine light on how we feel about the Civil War and race, and how the ghosts of the past are still with us.
Editions of Tales from the Haunted South
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469626338
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469636146
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469626352
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890850669
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890850652
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469626345
Read an Excerpt
In this book Tiya Miles explores the popular yet troubling phenomenon of “ghost tours,” frequently promoted and experienced at plantations, urban manor homes, and cemeteries throughout the South. As a staple of the tours, guides entertain paying customers by routinely relying on stories of enslaved black specters. But who are these ghosts? Examining popular sites and stories from these tours, Miles shows that haunted tales routinely appropriate and skew African American history to produce representations of slavery for commercial gain. “Dark tourism” often highlights the most sensationalist and macabre aspects of slavery, from salacious sexual ties between white masters and black women slaves to the physical abuse and torture of black bodies to the supposedly exotic nature of African spiritual practices. Because the realities of slavery are largely absent from these tours, Miles reveals how they continue to feed problematic “Old South” narratives and erase the hard truths of the Civil War era. In an incisive and engaging work, Miles uses these troubling cases to shine light on how we feel about the Civil War and race, and how the ghosts of the past are still with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tales from the Haunted South about?
In this book Tiya Miles explores the popular yet troubling phenomenon of “ghost tours,” frequently promoted and experienced at plantations, urban manor homes, and cemeteries throughout the South. As a staple of the tours, guides entertain paying customers by routinely relying on stories of enslaved black specters. But who are these ghosts? Examining popular sites and stories from these tours, Miles shows that haunted tales routinely appropriate and skew African American history to produce representations of slavery for commercial gain. “Dark tourism” often highlights the most sensationalist and macabre aspects of slavery, from salacious sexual ties between white masters and black women slaves to the physical abuse and torture of black bodies to the supposedly exotic nature of African spiritual practices. Because the realities of slavery are largely absent from these tours, Miles reveals how they continue to feed problematic “Old South” narratives and erase the hard truths of the Civil War era. In an incisive and engaging work, Miles uses these troubling cases to shine light on how we feel about the Civil War and race, and how the ghosts of the past are still with us.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Tales from the Haunted South?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Tales from the Haunted South?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469626338
How long is Tales from the Haunted South and how many pages does it have?
Tales from the Haunted South has 176 page(s)
Is Tales from the Haunted South part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series The Steven and Janice Brose Lectures in the Civil War Era
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Tales from the Haunted South?
Tiya Miles
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Tales from the Haunted South is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469626338) and paperback(ISBN 9781469636146) and ebook(ISBN 9781469626352) and ebook(ISBN 9798890850669) and ebook(ISBN 9798890850652) and ebook(ISBN 9781469626345)
Where can I buy Tales from the Haunted South online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Tales from the Haunted South from below
Where can I buy Tales from the Haunted South?