In memory of Dorothy Lackey given by Annette Snider.

For all its tongue-in-cheek humor, Schwartz's guide is a sincere tribute to the iron-willed ladies upholding the vanishing traditions of the South.

If you've ever wondered why... Catching a good man is like nailing Jello to a tree Flirting with a man is like riding a bull–just because you stayed on for 8 seconds doesn't mean you've won first prize Making small talk on a first date is harder than eating watermelon in a sundress ...then you've come to the right place! Ladies, welcome to Miss Becky's Charm School! I'm Miss Becky, and in this book, I'll reveal some of my best tips and tricks for landing the perfect man, southern-girl style. Now, I know y'all are busy, and I'm not here to blow smoke up your pretty little skirts, or to otherwise waste your precious time. But when it comes to the art of charming a man, no one does it better than the gals from Dixie. And whether you're a Yankee dame or a California babe, you can learn the secrets Southern Belles have been using for years to find the right man and put him just where you want him. Inside, we'll cover the basics every woman should know: • Are you a Scarlett or a Melanie?–Take my quiz to figure out your Southern Belle alter ego. • Separating the Possums from the Bunnies–Time-tested tricks for telling the Rednecks from the Southern Gentlemen. • I Like My Women a Little on the Trashy Side–Dress to impress for every occasion. • Why Buy the Cow?–Sex and the Southern Belle. • Smooth as Butter–A Southern etiquette primer. • The Deviled Egg Plate–The way to a man's heart really is through his stomach–tasty treats to win him over. So pull up a chair, fix yourself a mint julep (or any strong drink you like), and get ready to learn the secret weapons and Southern Belle sensibilities that will help you snag the man of your dreams!

A Southern Belle Primer meets The Rules in this engaging volume that explains the mystique of Southern women and why they always get what they want, and shows women how to get the same kind of romantic, professional, and personal success.

Southern First Ladies explores the ways in which geographical and cultural backgrounds molded a group of influential first ladies. The contributors to this volume use the lens of “Southernness” to define and better understand the cultural attributes, characteristics, actions, and activism of seventeen first ladies from Martha Washington to Laura Bush. The first ladies defined in this volume as Southern were either all born in the South—specifically, the former states of the Confederacy or their slaveholding neighbors like Missouri—or else lived in those states for a significant portion of their adult lives (women like Julia Tyler, Hillary Clinton, and Barbara Bush). Southern climes indelibly shaped these women and, in turn, a number of enduring White House traditions. Along with the standards of proper behavior and ceremonial customs and hospitality demanded by notions of Southern white womanhood, some of which they successfully resisted or subverted, early first ladies including Martha Washington, Dolley Madison, Julia Tyler, and Sarah Polk were also shaped by racially based societal and cultural constraints typical of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, some of which have persisted to the present day. The first nine women in this volume, from Martha Washington to Julia Grant, all enslaved others during their lives, inside or outside the White House. Among the seven first ladies in the book’s last section, Ellen Wilson, for example, was profoundly influenced by the reformist ethos of the Progressive Era and set an example for activism that five of her Southern successors—Lady Bird Johnson, Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush—all emulated. By contrast, Ellen’s immediate successor in the White House, Edith Wilson, enthusiastically celebrated the “Lost Cause.” Southern First Ladies is the first volume to comprehensively emphasize the significance of Southernness and a Southern background in the history and work of first ladies, and Southernness’ long-standing influence for the development of this position in the White House as well as outside of it.

Schwartz's 1993 hardcover bestseller is now available in a trade paper edition. The author of the bestselling Southern Belle Primer takes a hilarious and perceptive look at the people, trends, and attitudes that are making the Old South rise again--only now they call it the New South. 35 black-and-white photographs. 30 line illustrations.

Academy Award–winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon invites you into her world, where she infuses the southern style, parties, and traditions she loves with contemporary flair and charm. Reese Witherspoon’s grandmother Dorothea always said that a combination of beauty and strength made southern women “whiskey in a teacup.” We may be delicate and ornamental on the outside, she said, but inside we’re strong and fiery. Reese’s southern heritage informs her whole life, and she loves sharing the joys of southern living with practically everyone she meets. She takes the South wherever she goes with bluegrass, big holiday parties, and plenty of Dorothea’s fried chicken. It’s reflected in how she entertains, decorates her home, and makes holidays special for her kids—not to mention how she talks, dances, and does her hair (in these pages, you will learn Reese’s fail-proof, only slightly insane hot-roller technique). Reese loves sharing Dorothea’s most delicious recipes as well as her favorite southern traditions, from midnight barn parties to backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas mornings to rollicking honky-tonks. It’s easy to bring a little bit of Reese’s world into your home, no matter where you live. After all, there’s a southern side to every place in the world, right?