If that's not a novelist's description of what a lost cause is I've never read one.

这就是一个小说家所描述的失败的代价,我从未读到过更贴切的说法了

耶鲁公开课 - 美国内战与重建课程节选

Her answer was this and it's got something to do with how a lost cause took hold too but she said, "Southerners love a good tale.

她是这么回答的,同时也解释了为何南方人始终无法释怀,她说,"南方人钟爱精彩的故事

耶鲁公开课 - 美国内战与重建课程节选