Virtual Only

In the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary, this book club explores history through both fiction and non-fiction that challenge familiar narratives and invite fresh perspectives on the American past. Each selection encourages readers to look beyond the textbook version of history and consider the people, choices, and hidden stories that shaped the nation.

August Selection: The American Revolution and the Fate of the World by Richard Bell

In August’s selection, we broaden our view of the American Revolution beyond the thirteen colonies to examine its far-reaching global consequences. Richard Bell situates the conflict within a worldwide struggle among empires, exploring how events in North America reshaped international politics, trade, and ideas about liberty and self-government. By tracing connections across the Atlantic and beyond, the book challenges readers to see the Revolution not as an isolated national story, but as a transformative event that altered the course of world history and influenced movements for change far beyond the borders of the new United States.

Excerpts from Ken Burns’ THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION will be shown in the book discussion group. These clips have been made possible through a library grant from PBS.