Free state of jones book

Although authors sally jenkins and john stauffer labor mightily in the state of jones to make the case for newt knight and jones county as emblems of enlightened insurrection within. The free state of jones true story reveals that newton knight enlisted in the army in the early fall of 1861. Between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederat. Excerpt when i began researching the legend of the free state of jones ten years ago, i had little sense of the journey i was about to undertake. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Presentism, introducing presentday ideas and perspectives into depictions or interpretations of the past, can infect the best efforts of moviemakers as well as historians. Overall, the book offers an impartial look at the historical complexities that make up the southeastern piney woods section of mississippi, how they have affected its people to this day, and how a large cast of characters are influenced by the vagaries of culture. Directed by fourtime oscar r nominee gary ross and starring oscar r winner matthew mcconaughey, free state of jones is an epic actiondrama set during the civil war, and tells the story of. Downtown has some old brick buildings with wroughtiron balconies. Bynum demonstrates that our knowledge of mississippis legendary free state of jones, like so much else associated with the civil. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Less than a decade after mississippi became the countrys 20th state, settlers organized. Mississippis longest civil war history vs hollywood, movie, book, audio book. Jones county is a county located in the southeast portion of the u.

Jun 20, 2016 in 1862, when free state of jones begins, newton knight is just an anonymous battleweary medical nurse, up to his elbows in carnage, who ducks out of combat to take the corpse of a young. The popular movie free state of jones starring matthew mcconaughey as newton knight, a nonslave owner. Written and directed by gary ross, the film stars matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, and keri russell it was released in the united states by stxfilms on june 24, 2016. The free state of jones film, starring matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, and keri russell, will be released in may 2016. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the free state of jones the book. The free state of jones the free state of jones is one of the most gripping history books published in recent years. Colonel lowrys confederate raid on jones county pp. This book also raises the issues of race and class before and since the reconstruction era in the south. The film is credited as being based on the books the free state of jones by victoria e. Jun 24, 2016 gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. The state of jones by sally jenkins, john stauffer. It traces in wellresearched detail the history of the knights and others who moved west from the. Jul 12, 2016 free state of jones, the film directed by gary ross, powerfully and movingly recounts a significant episode of the american civil war, the insurrection against the confederacy led by newton knight. The state of jones is a great book based on the civil war contributions of newton knight and his band of men that ditched the confederate civil war effort in a small mississippi county.

Oscar winner matthew mcconaughey stars in this epic, untold true story of defiant southern farmer, newt knight and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the. Free state of jones is a 2016 american historical war film inspired by the life of newton knight and his armed revolt against the confederacy in jones county, mississippi, throughout the american civil war. With matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell. When i began researching the legend of the free state of jones ten years ago, i had little sense of the journey i was about to undertake. Like in the movie, the battle and its casualties deepened the disillusionment that was. We typically imagine the civil war as long lines of men clad in blue and gray, on the fields of antietam or gettysburg, led by largerthanlife generals. The old county seat, and ground zero for the free state of jones, is ellisville, now a pleasant, leafy town of 4,500 people. An authentic tale of the governor of the free state of jones. The definitive history of the free state of jones any additional comments. I came to jones county having read some good books about its history, and knowing very little about its presentday reality. Jun 23, 2016 the american civil war has been combed over in popular culture countless times, but the true story that inspired the new film free state of jones, out friday, may still surprise some viewers. The story of the free state of jones in the state of mississippi which lead an insurrection against the confederacy during the us civil war. A curious footnote started victoria bynum on a journey to recover the. Written and directed by gary ross, the film stars matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, and keri russell.

Aug 16, 2009 these issues are the subject of an internet debate that began when victoria bynum, a texas state history professor and author of the wellresearched 2001 book the free state of jones, wrote. As knight, matthew mcconaughey is the only big name actor, but he is ably supported by a great ensemble cast including gugu mbatharaw as his black wife rachel. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Adding further controversy to the legend is the story of newt knights interracial romance with his wartime accomplice, rachel, a slave. For a period, however, it seemed that rosss researchwhich involved reading 40 to 50 books, he sayswould not result in a film. Jones county is part of the laurel, ms micropolitan statistical area. In the end, the film free state of jones was not based on the book the free state of jones, but the book was used as a major resource, with bynum credited as a consultant. Jul 14, 2016 free state of jones tells the story of newton knight matthew mcconaughey, a truetolife, nonslaveholding farmer from jones county, mississippi, who deserts from the confederate army, disgusted at the senseless brutality and the increasing pressure on poor men to fight a war that served the interests of wealthy slaveholders. It tells of a rebellion against the confederacy led by an angry farmer named newton knight, whose ragtag army of poor whites and escaped slaves declared a portion of southeastern mississippi, including jones county, independent and loyal to the union. The story of the jones county rebellion is well known among mississippians, and debate over whether the county actually seceded from the state during the war has smoldered for more than a century. Bynum, professor of history at southwest texas state university in san marcos, about her book, the free state of jones. Bynum and the state of jones by sally jenkins and john stauffer. Jun 05, 2016 in the new film free state of jones, matthew mcconaughey plays confederate soldier newton knight, and depending on whom you ask, knight was either a hero or a traitor. A disillusioned confederate army deserter returns to mississippi and leads a militia of fellow deserters and women in an uprising against the corrupt local confederate government.

Fifteen years earlier my interest in the legend had been piqued by a civil war history textbook which noted that confederate disaffection ran so deep in jones county, mississippi, that during the civil war the county had allegedly seceded from the state and. Between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederate deserters battled confederate cavalry in the piney woods region of jones county, mississippi. Newton knight and the legend of the free state of jones. The true story of the free state of jones history smithsonian. Of the 3 free state of jones books i read this is my favorite. Free state of jones, stx entertainment, 9 minutes, 2016. Free state of jones takes its own sweet time to tell the amazing story of newton knights rebellion against his own initial side, the confederacy, in the 1860s civil war and beyond. Free state of jones office of the university registrar. In bridging the gap between the legendary and the real free state of jones, she shows how the legendwhat. A true story of defiance during the american civil war by victoria e. The main reason to delve into the history books after watching a. Mississippis longest civil war in 2003, years before the movie was made see more.

This conversation took place online, october 25, 2001. Jun 23, 2016 still, the free state of jones is an antiwar film with a commie message that still glamorizes southern pride, hard work and the good book. Bynum believes that knight did not necessarily enlist out of fear of conscription but rather because he just wanted to be a soldier. The free state of jones literary works of victoria bynum. The popular movie free state of jones starring matthew mcconaughey as newton knight, a nonslave owner, who deserts from the confederate army and leads a biracial guerilla band hiding in the swamps has excited a great deal of interest because it challenges the long held myth of the lost. Calling themselves the knight company after their captain, newton knight, they set up headquarters in the swamps of the leaf river, where, legend has it, they declared the free state of jones. Bynum said that daniel jacob lofland, the character newton knight matthew mcconaughey tries to protect in battle, is at best a composite of various 7th battalion men who were killed at the battle of corinth. Jenkins and stauffer show how a country man changed the course of the civil war and racial relations in the postbellum years and into the mid20th century. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the free state.