In his masterpiece, Jefferson Davis, American, William J. Cooper, Jr., crafted a definitive biography and established himself as the foremost scholar on the Confederate president. Cooper narrows his focus considerably in Jefferson Davis and the Civil War Era, training his eye specifically on Davis's participation in and influence on events central to the American Civil War. Nine self-contained essays address how Davis reacted to and dealt with a variety of issues that were key to the coming of the war, the war itself or in memorializing the war, sharply illuminating Davis's role during those turbulent years.<BR>Cooper's interpretations provide straightforward, compact, and deceptively deep new approaches to understanding. Davis during the most critical time in his life. Certain to stimulate further thought and spark debate, Jefferson Davis and the Civil War Era offers rare insight into one of American history's most complicated and provocative figures.