Alan Taylor

Alan Taylor is an American writer and historian who has made a name for himself with his publications on history, culture, and the environment. He often focuses on American history, examining topics such as the American Revolution, slavery, and the legacy of Native Americans. His works range from books and essays to popular magazine articles and scholarly journals.

Born in 1955, Alan Taylor grew up in rural Idaho and attended college at the University of Montana. He received his bachelor's degree in History in 1978 and received hisMA in American Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before joining the faculty of the University of Virginia, Taylor had already published two books and many essays. He quickly rose to prominence in the field of American history, becoming an authority on colonial history, the politics of slavery, and the impact of Native American culture on colonial society.

Taylor's debut book, William Cooper's Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early American Republic (1995), won him a Pulitzer Prize, among several other awards. This work examines the life and times of William Cooper, a revolutionary War veteran and small-town landowner who was at the center of a large community of Iroquois, Mohican and English settlers in the Ohio River Valley. Taylor uses Cooper's story to explore the religious, racial, and social dynamics of the early American Republic.

Taylor's other books include The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels and Indian Allies (1997),Liberty Men and Great Proprietors: The Revolutionary Settlement on the Maine Frontier (1990), andThe Divided Ground: Indians, Settlers and the Northern Borderland of the American Revolution(2006). In these works, Taylor examines the settlement and development of the British North American colonies, the struggles of Native American nations to defend their lands and sovereignty during the Revolutionary War, and the political and economic changes brought on by the creation of independent states in the early 19th century.

In addition to his written works, Taylor has also been featured in various documentaries, including PBS's "American Experience" series. He has also appeared in numerous television and radio interviews, engaging in discussions on a range of topics ranging from the American Revolution to current issues such as environmentalism and the 2020 elections.

As a testament to the impact of Taylor's work, the American Historical Association has honored him with its "Distinguished Lecturer Program" award. He currently teaches American history at the University of Virginia and is an editor for the "Journal of American History". His works have shaped the way scholars look at American history, prompting contemplation of the ways in which events of the past continue to shape the present. Taylor's scholarship offers us insight into the complexities of colonial America and provides an understanding of the connections between history and the present.