Folks; A fairly generic query: when we speak of "Southern studies" -- or possibly even the so-called "New Southern studies"-- What recent books/authors leap to anyone's mind? I am just curious to know what folks on here consider the leading figures or works in this field, and especially if one were to get up to speed on influential work of the past decade or so. (I thought BLACK LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI was quite good and would recommend it to anyone else interested in such things. I have also been reading a brand new collection of essays called THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN AMERICAN MEMORY from Georgia Press, and a massive new collection of speeches and sermons called RHETORIC, RELIGION, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT from Baylor. Both are excellent.) Harold K. Bush, Ph.D Associate Professor Dept. of English, Saint Louis University St. Louis, MO 63108 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h) <www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/ENG/faculty/hbush.html> Quote of the moment: "Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." --Henry David Thoreau