Ed Ayers and Gary Gallagher are two of the best southern historians working today. Ed Ayers is from Tennessee, taught at UVA, and is now president emeritus and professor at the University of Richmond. Gary Gallagher came to UVA by way of Penn State, University of Texas, Colorado, and Los Angeles. Both are now working in the field of Civil War studies. Ed Ayers new book, The Thin Light of Freedom, will be published next fall. Gary Gallagher’s most recent book is The American War, which he co-wrote with scholar Joan Waugh, is available in bookstores now.

It’s a long episode, but a good one. Give it a listen!