The Colonial Cavalier; or, Southern Life before the Revolution

Name: The Colonial Cavalier; or, Southern Life before the Revolution
Author: Maud Wilder Goodwin

By Maud Wilder Goodwin

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History - American

About This Book

This study sketches social, domestic, and institutional life in the Southern colonies before the Revolution, portraying the planter elite’s manners, obligations, and worldview as distinct from New England patterns. It surveys household customs, clothing, weddings, amusements, servants’ roles, religious observance, education, laws and punishments, and responses to sickness and death, showing how plantation isolation and English gentry ideals shaped hierarchy and display. Drawing on records, inventories, and anecdotes, the narrative emphasizes ceremonial hospitality, paternal authority, and material culture while outlining the everyday rhythms and practical necessities of colonial settlement life.

About the Author

Maud Wilder Goodwin

Maud Wilder Goodwin was an American author known for her historical fiction that explores colonial America. Her notable works include "Dutch and English on the Hudson: A Chronicle of Colonial New York," which delves into the early interactions between Dutch and English settlers in New York. Goodwin's writing often reflects her interest in the complexities of early American life, as seen in her other works such as "Flint: His Faults, His Friendships and His Fortunes" and "The Colonial Cavalier; or, Southern Life before the Revolution." Through her narratives, she provides insights into the cultural and social dynamics of her time.