William C. Davis is one of the most prolific and prodigious of American historians. Over the past forty years, he has focused on the Civil War era and southern history, writing about everything from Jefferson Davis to the Texas Revolution to–as he shows in his newest book–a New Orleans prostitute who claimed to be a Confederate soldier. Davis worked for 20 years at Civil War Times Illustrated, and has won the prestigious Jefferson Davis award four times. He talks to Colin about growing up in Missouri, college in California, his work ethic, and the near loss of Gregory Peck’s hat.