Rick Atkinson: The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777–1780
In partnership with the Oregon Historical Society’s Mark O. Hatfield Lecture Series and the official America 250 Oregon statewide commemoration, Southern Oregon Historical Society is proud to host a special event with Pulitzer Prize–winning author Rick Atkinson.
With special thanks to the Keller Foundation, the America 250 Oregon sponsor of the Mark O. Hatfield Lecture Series, whose support has made this special event with Rick Atkinson in Medford possible.
Rick Atkinson is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight narrative histories about five American wars, 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.
In the second volume of the Revolution trilogy, George Washington’s army fights on the knife edge between victory and defeat. Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777–1780 provides a riveting narrative covering the middle years of the American Revolution. Timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the revolution, Atkinson’s brilliant account of the lethal conflict between the Americans and the British offers not only deeply researched and spectacularly dramatic history, but a fresh perspective on the demands that a democracy makes on each of its citizens.
Atkinson worked as a reporter, foreign correspondent, and senior editor for two decades at The Washington Post. His last assignments were covering the 101st Airborne during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and writing about roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2007. Born in Munich, Germany, Atkinson is the son of a U.S. Army officer and grew up on military posts. He holds a BA from East Carolina University and an MA in English literature from the University of Chicago.
Thursday, May 14, 2026
7pm – 8:30pm
Rogue Valley Country Club
2660 Hillcrest Rd
Medford, OR 97504
Seating is limited. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.
Tickets may be available at the door, subject to availability.
Ticket Prices
- Non-members $35
- Members $30
- Teachers/Students $15