Inspired by a 1937 map and travelogue of a newspaperman's tour, author Mark W. Nichols embarked on his own long journey into the unique cities of the South. En route he met beekeepers, cheese makers, crawfish bawlers, duck callers, and a licensed alligator hunter, as well as entrepreneurs and governors. His keen observations encompass the southern states from Virginia to Arkansas and points south, and he unpacks the unique qualities of every city he visits.
It's easy to say that getting to meet so many interesting and wonderful people was the best part of the journey--because it's true,...