Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Rick Atkinson Joins the Museum on May 1 to Discuss New Book in Bestselling Revolution Trilogy

Lecture on latest book, The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780, will conclude the 2024-2025 Read the Revolution Speaker Series

The Museum welcomes New York Times bestselling author Rick Atkinson for the final installment of the 2024-2025 Read the Revolution Speaker Series on Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Atkinson will provide a lecture and discussion of his latest book, The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780, out April 29 via Crown Publishing. This is the second volume in Atkinson’s Revolutionary War Trilogy, following The British Are Coming.

The Fate of the Day covers the middle years of the Revolution and the eclectic group of militiamen and soldiers fighting to forge a new nation. In his book as well as his lecture, Atkinson traces battles fought at Brandywine in 1777 to Charleston in 1780, presenting viewpoints from an exhausted Continental Army to a determined King George III and offering new perspective on an American commitment to the struggle for freedom and demands of democracy. “Familiar characters become dimensional and complicated, new ones burst to life vividly, and the battles and struggles that created our country now have clarity and meaning,” said filmmaker Ken Burns of the book.

This special program, sponsored by The Haverford Trust Company, will be held in the Museum’s Liberty Hall and will be broadcast live online for ticketed guests. Following Atkinson’s lecture, Museum President and CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson will join Atkinson in an interview conversation about his work and facilitate a live Q&A with both onsite and online audiences.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for onsite guests to see a featured artifact from the Museum collection, enjoy refreshments at a cash bar, and purchase signed copies of the featured book. Guests have the option to purchase a ticket that includes the signed new release hardcover book, The Fate of the Day, to be available for pick-up upon arrival to the event. Tickets can be purchased here.

The Museum’s Read the Revolution Speaker Series brings celebrated authors and historians to the Museum for lively discussions of their work. Now in its eighth season, the series is based on the Museum’s national Read the Revolution bi-monthly e-newsletters, which feature excerpts from thought-provoking books to inspire learning about the American Revolution.

About Rick Atkinson

Rick Atkinson is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of seven previous works of history, including The Long Gray Line, the Liberation Trilogy (An Army at Dawn, The Day of Battle, and The Guns at Last Light), and The British Are Coming, the first volume of the Revolution Trilogy. He has won numerous awards, including Pulitzer Prizes for history and journalism.

About Museum of the American Revolution

The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.