A Northerner who is simultaneously attempting an anthropological study of the South as well as to delve deeper into his childhood passion for the Civil War, he is twice an outsider amongst those whom he interviews and is occasionally viewed with skepticism and suspicion, though this is rare. Although Horwitz is not a “character” in the traditional sense, his decisions on how to characterize and present the people he comes in contact with during his travels around the South help to offer us insights into his psyche. The vast majority of the time, Horwitz serves as an interviewer, posing questions to those he meets and allowing their answers to reflect their positions and beliefs on the topics being discussed. While often remaining neutral during conversational exchanges, Horwitz occasionally takes a moment to pull back to allow the reader in on his thoughts, or to try and unpack the weightiness of certain statements given to him.

Often, Horwitz takes the position of curious observer who has been invited into a world that is not his own and that he is better trying to understand. While he marvels at the pageantry, elegance, and dichotomies he uncovers in the South, he is slow to judge and tries his best to remain neutral in his perceptions, even in the most difficult of situation.