Downtown has some old brick buildings with wroughtiron balconies. 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. Free state of jones is based on the untold and extraordinary story of newton knight, the leader of one of the greatest rebellions in civil war history, and we hear that stx may finance up to. Less than a decade after mississippi became the countrys 20th state, settlers organized. Stanleys current research focuses on the convergence of collective memory and radical class politics among civil war veterans. War and reunion in middle america, will be published in the fall of 2016 by the university of illinois press. Rick atkinson, author of an army at dawn in the state of jones, jenkins and stauffer locate the real civil warand the story of our greatest national trialin all of its specificity and moral complexity. In jones county, mississippi, a farmer named newton knight led his neighbors, white and black alike, in an insurrection against the confederacy. 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. 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. A true story of defiance during the american civil war by victoria e.
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. The state of jones by sally jenkins, john stauffer. 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. Mississippis longest civil war history vs hollywood, movie, book, audio book. 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. The film is credited as being based on the books the free state of jones by victoria e.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading state of genesis. Between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederate deserters battled confederate cavalry in the piney woods region of jones county, mississippi. Jones county is part of the laurel, ms micropolitan statistical area. Jun 28, 2016 the nonfiction work, the state of jones, by sally jenkins and john stauffer, was actually inspired by rosss screenplay and the research that had gone into it. For this cause alone we have been treated as savages instead of freeman by the rebel authorities.
The real history behind the movie, plus finding newt knights grave with two jones countians who are in the film. A restless, some may say rebellious, spirit stirs from the first generations who settled in jones county near ellisville and seceded from the confederacy to create the free state of jones. 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 story of the jones between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederate deserters battled confederate cavalry in the piney woods region of jones county, mississippi. Adding further controversy to the legend is the story of newt knights interracial romance with his wartime accomplice, rachel, a slave. The free state of jones literary works of victoria bynum. In early 2007, universal studios purchased film rights to the book from the press. Jul 12, 2016 persecuted by the confederacy and ignored by the union, knights militia declares a free state of jones committed to principles of social and economic egalitarianism.
The history of a storied resistance movement in mississippi that was a thorn in the side of the confederacy, recreated in lively fashion. Jones countys soil wasnt fit for growing much of anything except trees, and the county had the fewest slaves in the state they made up only 12 percent of the countys population. The historical imagination and free state of jones the. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. In 2001, my book, the free state of jones, was published by the university of north carolina press. Newton knight, petition to governor william sharkey, july 15, 1865. Covering the same ground as the major motion picture the free state of jones, starring matthew mcconaughey, this is the extraordinary true story of the antislavery southern farmer who brought together poor whites, army deserters and runaway slaves to fight the confederacy in deepest mississippi. Written and directed by gary ross, the film stars matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, and keri russell. The new civil war film free state of jones, starring matthew mcconaughey and gugu mbatharaw, is richly researched, but its flat assemblage of history strips out the storys texture and. An authentic tale of the governor of the free state of jones.
Read the free state of jones movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on. The state of jones the small southern county that seceded from the confederacy book. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the. The overall story follows the history of jones county, and some of the events portrayed are true. History of the free state of jones welcome to the new state. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the free. I came to jones county having read some good books about its history, and knowing very little about its presentday reality. Between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederat. Bynum keeps the people of the free state of jones and their story firmly in the center and weaves a saga of the civil war around them that is intriguing. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. 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. 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. 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. Bynum and the state of jones by sally jenkins and john stauffer.
The small southern county that seceded from the confederacy. A greatniece, ethel knight, wrote a 1951 history entitled echo of the black horn. Its a window into an obscure corner of mississippis history and an account that further challenges myths of a south unified behind a glorious cause. Gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. History of the free state of jones welcome to the new. Free state of jones is a noble, quiet, solemn and slow historical drama polite words for saying its duller than dirt. 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. Jun 24, 2016 free state of jones begins on the battlefield, with a flurry of the kind of immersive combat action that has long been a staple of american movies. The old county seat, and ground zero for the free state of jones, is ellisville, now a pleasant, leafy town of 4,500 people. Producer gary ross seabiscuit, pleasantville is slated to produce, direct and write an original screenplay for the forthcoming movie of the same name. 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.
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. Local legends tell of knight and his men forming the free state of jones in the area in and around jones county, mississippi, at the. Jones county is a county located in the southeast portion of the u. 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. From the inside flap the original, full accounting of a rebellion in the heart dixie. They follow the knight familys extraordinary lives. Free state of jones begins on the battlefield, with a flurry of the kind of immersive combat action that has long been a staple of american movies. A confederate dissident, in a film with footnotes the new. 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. A confederate dissident, in a film with footnotes the. Exploring the free state of jones and finding a grave. Jun 17, 2016 exploring the free state of jones and finding a grave. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
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. Stauffer and sally jenkins published the state of jones, a book inspired by mr. For a period, however, it seemed that rosss researchwhich involved reading 40 to 50 books, he sayswould not result in a film. With matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell. The nonfiction work, the state of jones, by sally jenkins and john stauffer, was actually inspired by rosss screenplay and the research that had gone into it. Book description p legend of the free state of jones was the first authoritative explanation of just what did happen in jones county in 1864 to give rise to the legend and now to a major motion picture starring matthew mcconaughey. Its told with the passion of a person dictating passages from a history. During the civil war a defiant southern farmer, newt knight, leads an extraordinary armed rebellion against the confederacy. 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. Jun 28, 2016 but to cast free state of jones aside as just another bad summer movie might be missing the point. The state of jones is as compelling as it is unlikely, a tale of insurrection that illuminates the larger insurrection of our civil war.
Free state of jones is a 2016 american historical period 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. A mystery thriller novel detective virgil jones mystery thriller series book 7 kindle edition by scott, thomas. 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 cause. The state of jones is a true story about the south during the civil warthe real south, an authentic, hardscrabble place where poor men were forced to fight a rich mans war for slavery and cotton. A mystery thriller novel detective virgil jones mystery thriller series book 7. We stood firm to the union when secession swept as an avalanche over the state. The free state of jones the free state of jones is one of the most gripping history books published in recent years. She criticized knight as a traitor to the confederacy and castigated him for his marriage to a freedwoman, rachel knight. Project muse the free state of jones, movie edition. Written and directed by gary ross, its held back by a slow, disjointed plot that doesnt.
Jun 28, 2016 reblogged this on renegade south and commented. Stanley is assistant professor of history at albany state university in albany, georgia. 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. Jul 04, 2016 jones countys soil wasnt fit for growing much of anything except trees, and the county had the fewest slaves in the state they made up only 12 percent of the countys population. 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. 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. Beautifully written and researched with meticulous credit to sources, dr. This book also raises the issues of race and class before and since the reconstruction era in the south. Bynum believes that knight did not necessarily enlist out of fear of conscription but rather because he just wanted to be a soldier. Covering the same ground as the major motion picture the free state of jones, starring matthew mcconaughey, this is the extraordinary true story of. His white wife and child having absconded, knight falls for a mixed race slave, rachel gugu mbatharaw, and together they create a biracial community that still exists. The state of jones book pima county public library.
The free state of jones true story reveals that newton knight enlisted in the army in the early fall of 1861. Rick atkinson, author of an army at dawn in the state of jones, jenkins and stauffer locate the real civil warand the story of our greatest national trialin all of its specificity and moral. However, you do not have to lose one to embrace the other. But to cast free state of jones aside as just another bad summer movie might be missing the point. The virginianpilot jenkins and stauffer tell the fascinating tale of an unforgettable figure. 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. 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. Newton knight and the legend of the free state of jones. Professor bynums book the free state of jones is a wonderful, refreshing example of the historians art at its best. The book notably omits newton knights postwar marriage to rachel 2. The new state of jones rests upon the notion that there exists an old state of jones. 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. 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.
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