In Traitor, Dixon explores the turbulent aftermath of Reconstruction, a period he likens to the French Revolution in its brutality and turmoil. This gripping conclusion to his trilogy—following The Leopard’s Spots (1902) and The Clansman (1905)—delves into the decline of the Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina during the years 1870-1872. With a personal connection to the Klan through his father, an early leader, Dixon presents the original Klan as a desperate response to lawlessness and perceived Yankee oppression, aiming to safeguard Southern civilization. As the narrative unfolds, he reveals the reasons behind the Klans fall from grace, intertwining folk legends, haunted houses, secret passageways, and ghostly apparitions into a rich tapestry of fact and fiction. While modern perspectives may label him a white supremacist, Dixon was one of the most celebrated American authors of his time, capturing the complex racial and cultural sentiments of 19th century America. (Summary by Michele Fry)