Book talk by historian Dan T. Carter

The public is invited to a book talk by Dan T. Carter, author of "Unmasking the Klansman: The Double Life of Asa and Forrest Carter," on Tuesday, May 9, at 4 p.m. at the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities at Pebble Hill.

"Unmasking the Klansman" may read like a work of fiction, but is actually a biography of Asa Carter, one of the South's most notorious white supremacists (and secret Klansman). In the early 1960s, Carter became a secret advisor to George Wallace and wrote the Alabama governor's infamous 1963 inauguration speech vowing "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."

When Carter disappeared from Alabama in 1972, few knew that he had assumed a new identity in Abilene, Texas, masquerading as a Cherokee American novelist. Using the name “Forrest" Carter, he published three successful Western novels, including "The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales," which Clint Eastwood made into a widely acclaimed 1976 movie. His last book, "The Education of Little Tree" (a fake biography of his supposed Indian childhood) posthumously became a number one best-seller in 1991.

Author Dan T. Carter uncovered “Forrest" Carter's true identity while researching his biography of Wallace.

Dan T. Carter is the University of South Carolina Educational Foundation Professor Emeritus. He is the author and editor of more than 40 scholarly articles and seven books, including "Scottsboro: A Tragedy of the American South" and "The Politics of Rage: George Wallace, The Origins of the New Conservatism and the Transformation of American Politics." Carter has received eight major literary prizes, including the Lillian Smith, Bancroft and Robert Kennedy awards, as well as a special citation in nonfiction from the Mystery Writers of America.

The event is free, open to the public and will be followed by refreshments. Books will be available for purchase from The NewSouth Bookstore.

The Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities at Pebble Hill is located at 101 S. Debardeleben St. in Auburn. For more information on the program, call 334-844-4903 or visit www.auburn.edu/cah.