Jun 28, 2016 but to cast free state of jones aside as just another bad summer movie might be missing the point. Like in the movie, the battle and its casualties deepened the disillusionment that was. The free state of jones film, starring matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, and keri russell, will be released in may 2016. 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. The free state of jones literary works of victoria bynum.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The film is credited as being based on the books the free state of jones by victoria e. 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. A compelling and littleknown story of the civil war period is studiously reduced to a dry and cautious history lesson in free state of jones. The small southern county that seceded from the confederacy. This conversation took place online, october 25, 2001. 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. Bynum believes that knight did not necessarily enlist out of fear of conscription but rather because he just wanted to be a soldier. 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. Jun 23, 2016 t he 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. Mississippis longest civil war history vs hollywood, movie, book, audio book. 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. Newton knight and the legend of the free state of jones. 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 historical imagination and free state of jones the. Between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederate deserters battled confederate cavalry in the piney woods region of jones county, mississippi. A disillusioned confederate army deserter returns to mississippi and leads a militia of fellow deserters and women in an uprising against the. 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 was a book before it was a movie victoria e. Bynum and the state of jones by sally jenkins and john stauffer. Exploring the free state of jones and finding a grave. 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. Adding further controversy to the legend is the story of newt knights interracial romance with his wartime accomplice, rachel, a slave. 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.
Less than a decade after mississippi became the countrys 20th state, settlers organized. For a period, however, it seemed that rosss researchwhich involved reading 40 to 50 books, he sayswould not result in a film. An authentic tale of the governor of the free state of jones. 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. 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. Between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederat. 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. In bridging the gap between the legendary and the real free state of jones, she shows how the legendwhat.
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. Colonel lowrys confederate raid on jones county pp. The true story of the free state of jones history smithsonian. T he 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. Id definitely listen to the free state of jones again. Powerful, revisionist, and timely, bynums book combines superb history with. My particular favorite about the free state of jones is. 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.
Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. 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. Mississippis longest civil war in 2003, years before the movie was made see more. She points out how the pro and anticonfederate factions in the country where knight led his resistance to the confederacy split along class lines where upscale and slave vested interests supported the confederacy and ordinary people didnt. Jones county is a county located in the southeast portion of the u. The free state of jones trailer german deutsch 2016 exklusiv. A true story of defiance during the american civil war by victoria e.
Jun 17, 2016 the jones county insurrectionists were neither abolitionists nor southern yankees, says victoria bynum, who wrote the 2001 book the free state of jones. 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. 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. 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. Free state of jones, stx entertainment, 9 minutes, 2016. 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. Downtown has some old brick buildings with wroughtiron balconies. The state of jones by sally jenkins, john stauffer. Oscar winner matthew mcconaughey stars in this epic, untold true story of defiant southern farmer, newt knight and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the. 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.
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. 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. Written and directed by gary ross, its held back by. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the free.
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. With matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell. 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. Bynum, professor of history at southwest texas state university in san marcos, about her book, the free state of jones. Written and directed by gary ross, its held back by a slow, disjointed plot that doesnt. Looking forward to seeing him in the upcoming movie by the same name. Books about newton knight and the free state of jones. 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. 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.
Fantastic version of a path breaking book would you listen to the free state of jones again. 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. How accurate is the new movie about the free state of jones. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The jones county insurrectionists were neither abolitionists nor southern yankees, says victoria bynum, who wrote the 2001 book. The definitive history of the free state of jones any additional comments. The free state of jones true story reveals that newton knight enlisted in the army in the early fall of 1861. Written and directed by gary ross, the film stars matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, and keri russell.
Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the. 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. Jones county is part of the laurel, ms micropolitan statistical area. But to cast free state of jones aside as just another bad summer movie might be missing the point. How wonderful that audible succeeded in getting actor mahershala ali to narrate. Jenkins and stauffer bring historical contexts to life and offer provocative interpretations.
Directed by fourtime oscar r nominee gary ross and starring oscar r winner matthew mcconaughey, free state of jones is an epic actiondrama set. I came to jones county having read some good books about its history, and knowing very little about its presentday reality. Jun 24, 2016 gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. 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. This book covers the tactics of both the union and confederate armies and the guerrilla war conducted behind the lines by the racially integrated battalions of the free men of jones and is an excellent introduction to the story. The old county seat, and ground zero for the free state of jones, is ellisville, now a pleasant, leafy town of 4,500 people. 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. Gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. The free state of jones the free state of jones is one of the most gripping history books published in recent years.
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