CBH Talk | Ed Larson Discusses “Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters”
As we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, join Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Edward Larson for a discussion of his timely and resonant new book, Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters. Larson takes us through the ideals, debates, and sacrifices that defined that pivotal year, tracing the remarkable transformation of American thought: at the start of 1776, few colonists dared to imagine breaking from Britain; by year’s end, independence had become the rallying cry of a new nation.
Declaring Independence illuminates the origins of American democracy at a moment when its guardrails are once again being tested. The conversation will be led by Ben Tumin, creator of the acclaimed newsletter Skipped History.
Participants
Edward J. Larson is the author of many acclaimed works of history, including the Pulitzer Prize–winning account of the Scopes trial, Summer for the Gods, and the recent study of liberty and slavery at the founding, American Inheritance. A chaired professor of history and law at Pepperdine University, Larson lives with his family near Los Angeles.
Ben Tumin creates Skipped History, where he interviews leading U.S. historians for a widely-read Substack newsletter and produces live performances that bring the past to life through satire and storytelling. He's currently performing a trilogy about The Power Broker at Caveat, a comedy theater on the Lower East Side. His work has been profiled in The New York Times.
