Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia

Winner Of The Jefferson Davis Award Rising from humble origins in the middle Georgia cotton belt, Alexander H. Stephens (1812-1883) became one of the South's leading politicians and lawyers. Thomas E. Schott has written the first scholarly biography that analyses the interplay between the public and private Stephens and between state and national politics during his contradictory career. Stephens was a celebrated Whig, turned Democrat, who served as congressman from 1843 to 1859 and an antisecessionist who became vice-president of the Confederacy. Ignored by the Davis administration once in office, he eventually opposed most of its wartime policies. Schott argues that Stephens' devotion to the southern cause was as genuine as his devotion to civil liberties and states' rights. After the war, he became an elder statesman for Georgia, serving nine more years as a congress-man and the last five months of his life as governor.

A balanced, perceptive examination of an able but flawed Georgian who struggled with forces far beyond his control.-- "American Historical Review", A solid biography that should appeal to historians and laymen alike. Schott writes in a vigorous, colloquial style that makes Stephens almost come alive. Schott has succeeded amazingly well in this intense personal and political portrait of Little Aleck.-- "Southern Historian", The most comprehensive review to date of Stephens' personal life and political career. . . . This volume will be the standard biography of Alexander H. Stephens for years to come.-- "Journal of American History"

Thomas E. Schott is an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma.