American Patriarch

Thursday, May 14, 2026 - 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. CST

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Historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist H. W. Brands presents an inspiring portrait of George Washington that examines his unrivaled leadership in the birth of America.

Tracing his early military career and role among the Virginia gentry, through his leadership during the American Revolution and reluctant return to public service as the first president of the United States, American Patriarch: The Life of George Washington brings to life the man who was called on time and again by his peers to lead.

With a dazzling cast of characters—from the French and Indians on the Ohio frontier; to the Marquis de Lafayette, Benedict Arnold, and Baron von Steuben on the revolutionary battlefield; to Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton locked in conflict during his presidency—American Patriarch casts Washington as the icon of American virtue who wrested America free from British control, gave credibility to the Constitution, and crafted the norms that would steady America as a nation for generations to follow.

Just two days after its release on May 12, H. W. Brands will join us to discuss his newest book. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear from one of America’s most respected historians and master storytellers—just ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

H. W. Brands holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin. A New York Times bestselling author, he was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for The First American and Traitor to His Class.

All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted.