Approaching Civil War and Southern History - by William J Cooper (Hardcover)

About the Book

Collection of essays initially published between 1970 and 2012.

Book Synopsis

Initially published between 1970 and 2012, the essays in Approaching Civil War and Southern History span almost the entirety of William J. Cooper's illustrious scholarly career and range widely across a broad spectrum of subjects in Civil War and southern history. Together, they illustrate the broad scope of Cooper's work. While many essays deal with his well-known interests, such as Jefferson Davis or the secession crisis, others are on lesser-known subjects, such as Civil War artist Edwin Forbes and the writer Daniel R. Hundley. In the new introduction to each chapter, Cooper notes the essay's origins and purpose, explaining how it fits into his overarching interest in the nineteenth-century political history of the South. Combined and reprinted here for the first time, the ten essays in Approaching Civil War and Southern History reveal why Cooper is recognized today as one of the most influential historians of our time.

Review Quotes

"These stimulating essays demonstrate why William J. Cooper has earned a reputation as one of the foremost historians of the South, slavery, and secession. In lucid, forthright prose he dissects several existing interpretations of these complex matters and offers bold, clear elucidations of his own."--James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era

"These wide-ranging essays, published over a forty-two-year period, provide a taste of William J. Cooper's important scholarship. Clearly written, thoughtful, and accessible, they put forth compelling analyses of major interpretive issues in the political history of the Civil War era."--Peter Kolchin, author of American Slavery, 1619-1877

"This splendid collection of essays, the capstone of William J. Cooper's prolific writing career, displays his many strengths as an historian: versatility in selection of topic, vigorous prose, rigorous research, and cogent argumentation. Thus its publication by Louisiana State University Press is a happy event indeed."--Michael Holt, author of The Election of 1860: A Campaign Fraught with Consequences

About the Author

William J. Cooper is the author of Jefferson Davis, American, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, as well as numerous other books, including The Lost Founding Father: John Quincy Adams and the Transformation of American Politics. He is Boyd Professor of History Emeritus at Louisiana State University.