This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

The novel describes the social, political, and economic disintegration that plagued the South during Reconstruction, depicting the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and the reactions of two families to racial conflict.

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Two brothers, Phil and Ted Stoneman, visit their friends, the Cameron family in Piedmont, South Carolina.This friendship is affected by the Civil War, as the Stonemans and the Camerons must join up opposite armies.

While the playbills and program for The Birth of a Nation claimed The Leopard's Spots as a source in addition to The Clansman, recent scholars do not accept this.

Dixon offers an account of Reconstruction in which he portrays a Reconstruction leader (and former slave driver), Northern carpetbaggers, and emancipated slaves as the villains; Ku Klux Klan members are heroes.

" Whether you're drawn to its historical significance or its controversial themes, this provocative novel is sure to spark conversation and inspire reflection on the enduring legacy of slavery and segregation in America.