Join Jesse Wegman on tour for his new book, The Lost Founder, focused on the story of James Wilson, a Founding Father whose bold vision shaped American democracy but whose legacy was lost to scandal. Wegman brings to life the most prescient of the earliest patriots and makes a convincing argument that scandal should not diminish the life and impact of a brilliant, complicated man whose vision for his country could not be more relevant today.
“With insight and eloquence, Jesse Wegman has done heroic work in bringing a vital but obscure architect of America back into the popular conversation. As Wegman amply proves, James Wilson merits our reconsideration—and our gratitude.”—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer
“Jesse Wegman has written a gripping and deeply researched work of American history. Scottish immigrant, signer of both the Declaration and the Constitution, and the man who coined ‘We the People,’ James Wilson believed that power resided in the people themselves, foreseeing a democratic future the country is still struggling to achieve. That he died broke and largely forgotten, his headstone bearing the wrong date of his death, is one of American history’s more painful ironies. The Lost Founder restores Wilson to his rightful place and challenges us to reconsider what popular sovereignty really means.”—Ken Burns, award-winning documentary filmmaker and director of PBS’ The American Revolution
Tuesday, June 23 | New York, NY
The Brennan Center, in partnership with WORD Bookstore, at The Greene Space
44 Charlton St, New York, NY 10014
6:00 PM ET
More information to come!
Wednesday, June 24 | Washington, DC
Politics and Prose
5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
7:00 PM ET
Tickets available here
Thursday, June 25 | Atlanta, GA
The Atlanta History Center, in partnership with A Cappella Books
130 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
7:00 PM ET
Tickets available here
Thursday, July 9 | Shelburne, VT
The Flying Pig Bookstore
5247 Shelburne Rd, Shelburne, VT 05482
More information to come!
Tuesday, July 14 | San Francisco, CA
Commonwealth Club at the Toni Rembe Rock Auditorium
110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105
5:30 PM PT
Tickets available here
Wednesday, July 15 | Menlo Park, CA
Kepler’s Books
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA, 94025
7:00 PM PT
Tickets available here
Saturday, September 26 | Manchester, VT
Northshire Bookstore
4869 Main St, Manchester Center, VT 05255
6:00 PM ET
More information to come!
Wednesday, September 30 | Virtual
Smithsonian
6:45 PM ET
More information to come!