John Clemans places Cable in the context of late 19th-century literature and culture. He provides a balanced view of Cable’s views of race relations in the post-Civil War era and discusses the decline of Cable’s literary reputation during the last decades of his life. Also included are close readings of Cable’s most famous works, such as Old Creole Days and The Grandissimes , as well as a re-evaluation of the importance and appeal of Cable’s work.