Taylor and his new book

The Conversations with Writers Speaker Series has a date this week with UC Davis distinguished professor of history Alan Taylor, giving his first talk on campus since winning his second Pulitzer Prize, given in April for The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832.

The conversation, sponsored by the University Writing Program and the UC Davis Humanities Institute,   is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday (June 5) in 126 Voohies Hall. Admission is free and open to the public; seating is limited to about 60 people.

The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832 recounts the little-known story of escaped slaves assisting the British during the War of 1812 as guides, pilots and sailors, using their intimate knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay region. In return, they were freed, and many were relocated to Bermuda, Trinidad and Nova Scotia.

Taylor’s first Pulitzer came in 1996 for William Cooper’s Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early American Republic.

The organizers said Taylor will talk about both his Pulitzer Prize-winning works, share insight into his research and writing processes, field questions from the audience, and sign copies of The Internal Enemy (which will be available for purchase).

For more information, contact Ken Andersen by email.

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