About the Author

William J. Cooper, Jr., is the Boyd Professor of History at Louisiana State University. His books include Jefferson Davis, American; Liberty and Slavery: Southern Politics to 1860; The South and the Politics of Slavery, 1828-1856; and The Conservative Regime: South Carolina, 1877-1890. He is also coauthor of The American South: A History. Cooper lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Reviews

a valuable survey of the state of the literature and a necessary volume for any scholar who works in nineteenth-century American history.-- "The Journal of American History"

All of these essays are worthwhile; several are exceptional in that they contain substantive data and the essayists' insights with respect to their subjects.-- "American Historical Review"

The distinction of the editors is matched by the distinction of the contributors of the twelve essays in the volume; their names read like a roster of the current leading figures in the field.-- "Times Literary Supplement"

The twelve essays in this volume fill a real void in providing a polished, up-to-date assessment of the historiography on that terrible conflict.-- "Virginia Magazine"

This book is a treasure trove of analysis and suggestions for further research. It should be read and re-read by all students of the war.-- "The Civil War News"

Writing the Civil War is a substantial contribution to American historiography, and every Civil War historian should consult it.-- "The North Carolina Historical Review"