John March, Southerner

"John March, Southerner" by George Washington Cable is a late 1800s historical story that takes place in the South after the Civil War, revealing the life of young John March and his father, Judge Powhatan March, as they experience a society transformed by war and challenged by evolving social norms. The heart of the tale is wrapped up in Southern customs, investigating social status, ethnicity, and the developing identities within a community wrestling with its history. Introducing the alluring town of Suez in Dixie, the story contrasts its beauty with the marks left by the war, presenting Judge March as a kind but powerful figure embodying Southern traditions. Young John is shown as an inquisitive and thoughtful boy amid the conflicts around him, creating the setup for a coming-of-age narrative where John meets different people who represent clashing views of freedom and social duty during the rise of the New South.