Stephen V. Ash was professor of history at the University of Tennessee. A Civil War enthusiast since his early teens, his many books about the war and its aftermath focused especially on the experiences of people in the South. His writing and teaching focused on the U. S. Civil War and Reconstruction and on Tennessee history, in particular the social impact of war.
His most recent book, Rebel Richmond: Life and Death in the Confederate Capital, was published by the University of North Carolina Press. It was praised as “deeply researched, revealing, and compelling” by Library Journal. Previous books include A Massacre in Memphis, published by Hill and Wang/Farrar, Straus & Giroux, which Kirkus called “riveting” in a starred review. it is a portrait of a Southern city that opens an entirely new view into the Civil War and its aftermath. Firebrand of Liberty: The Story of Two Black Regiments That Changed the Course of the Civil War was published by W. W. Norton.