Interview with Mari Anne Christie, Author of Blind Tribute
Blind Tribute by Mari Anne Christie is a terrific, thought-provoking Civil War novel. I am in awe of her storytelling skills. The main character, Harry Wentworth, is a native South…
Triumphant Parades and Private Hells: The Hidden Cost of Sherman’s March to the Sea
I recently interviewed Earnest A. Dollar Jr. about his book, Hearts Torn Asunder: Trauma in the Civil War’s Final Campaign in North Carolina. This thoughtful book offers a counterpoint to…
Skepticism and Research as Virtues: A Conversation with William Marvel
In the beginning, William Marvel tried to write historical fiction. But he aimed for accuracy in everything he wrote, and he became a historian. How did you become interested in…
Surprising Similarities Between the Civil War in Missouri and in Russia
I had a fascinating conversation with D.V. Chernov about his most recent book, Commissar: A Novel of Civil War Russia. This vivid story is set in Russia at the height…
Myth-Busting in the Internet Age
AN INTERVIEW WITH HISTORIAN STEPHEN M. “SAM” HOOD I enjoyed reading your well-researched book, Patriots Twice: Former Confederates and the Building of America After the Civil War. You offer many…
Surprises, Chills, and Horrible Cursive Scrawl: A Conversation with William A. Blair, Part II
How did you become interested in the Civil War? I was a child of the Centennial, hitting ten years old by midway through the 100th anniversary of the Civil War.…
How did Abraham Lincoln Handle Dissent During the Civil War? A Conversation with William A. Blair, Part 1
Peace Democrats in Iowa were vulnerable to criticism and arrest during the Civil War. Across the North, the First Amendment arguably took a beating during the Lincoln Administration. Fortunately, these…
Getting a Lift out of History: An Interview with an Iowa Historian
Kenneth L. Lyftogt is an Iowa original. He is a professor emeritus of History at the University of Northern Iowa. He has written six books on Iowa and the Civil…
Interview with Lars D.H. Hedbor, Author of The Will
This post is my second interview with historians and historical novelists. This is a departure from my usual topics, but I plan to continue writing occastional posts on Iowa Confederates,…
Interview with Glen Craney, Author of The Cotillion Brigade
A personal note The sultry air in Earlham makes it a labor to walk. I’m reminded of the humidity at my grandparent’s house in northern Florida. Middle-aged men would walk…