ladies and gentlemen, curtis wilkie. thank you all very much. >> thank you all. [applause] >> that was great. [inaudible conversations]. >> that was curt wilkie, authors of assassins, eccentrics, politicians and other persons of interest. up next from thanville, pulitzer prize-winning historian, james mcmears son, who published a biography of jefferson davis entitled. embattled rebel. the booktv coverage of the southern festival of books continues. >> i'm glad all the flights was connected, whatever you needed to have happen. i'm dan pomeroy. i'm chief curator, director of collections at the tennessee state museum. certainly my king r distinct honor to be up here and share the platform with this distinguished historian. needs no introduction. i'm sure you all know, as, all about him and his work. james mcpherson is, got his phd from johns hopkins university. he is currently professor of emeritus of history at princeton university. he is former president of the american historical association. he's recipient of the 2007 military library literature award. and he is