Director for Civil War Studies honored for publication

William C. Davis, director of the Virginia Tech Center for Civil War Studies, has been recognized by The Washington Post for his most recent book, Lone Star Rising: The Revolutionary Birth of the Texas Republic.

The book was among the Book World Raves' "Best of 2004" in which critic T.R. Fehrenbach called the book "magisterial" and said, "Davis recognizes that the American march westward was irresistible-- and that overall this was no bad thing." The Post also had positively reviewed the book earlier in the year.

Davis, a veteran of publishing war literature, has published more than 40 books. "Just getting reviewed in The Washington Post is always gratifying -- and it does not happen with every book," Davis said. "To be included in their list of the year's best books is all the more pleasing. There are a few 'journals of record' that everyone wants to be reviewed in, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and to be singled out by any one of them for a special recognition like this goes a long way to make up for the disappointment every author encounters now and then from poor sales or just no notice at all."

Davis resides in Blacksburg and received his bachelor's and master's degree in history at Sonoma State University.