Historian and American Constitutional scholar Dr. Kevin R.C. Gutzman will host a book signing for his sixth and most acclaimed book, The Jeffersonians: The Visionary Presidencies of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe (St. Martin’s Press, 2022), at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Barnes & Noble, Danbury Fair, 7 Backus Ave., Space E110, Danbury. The event is free and open to the public, with copies of The Jeffersonians available for purchase.
Dr. Gutzman is a professor of History, Philosophy, and World Perspectives at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. Outside of teaching various American History courses at WestConn, he dedicates his time to researching, writing about, and discussing the founding of America. Gutzman’s five-year endeavor to write The Jeffersonians has led him to believe it may be his “best book yet,” a sentiment echoed by the accolades received before and after its December 2022 release.
In September 2022, The Jeffersonians earned a rare starred review from Kirkus. In October 2022, The New Yorker featured a positive mention of Gutzman’s book in Adam Gopnik’s article, “How Samuel Adams Helped Ferment a Revolution.” In November 2022, Amazon named The Jeffersonians one of its Best Books of the Month in the Memoirs & Biographies and History categories, where it became an Amazon #1 Bestseller in War of 1812 History. The Jeffersonians was also listed among USA Today’s “five books to remember in 2022,” received a highly favorable review from The Wall Street Journal in December 2022, and was selected as the History Book Club’s Main Selection for January 2023.
Dr. Gutzman has been interviewed about the book by West Point’s resident Jefferson expert, Dr. Robert McDonald, for the National Archives’ online series and discussed it on Tom Woods’ podcast.
Gutzman has expressed that “writing is a ton of work,” but it’s something he thoroughly enjoys. He shares the story of being a practicing lawyer who eagerly anticipated lunch breaks to read history books, which ultimately led him to pursue a Ph.D. in History after law school.
He has also contributed chapters to several publications, including “James Madison and the Ratification of the Constitution: A Triumph over Adversity” in A Companion to James Madison and James Monroe, edited by Stuart Leibiger (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012); “Lincoln as Jeffersonian: The Colonization Chimera” in Lincoln Emancipated: The President and the Politics of Race, edited by Brian Dirck (Northern Illinois University Press, 2007); and a foreword to Anthony Gregory’s The Power of Habeas Corpus in America: From the King’s Prerogative to the War on Terror (Cambridge University Press, 2013).
Dr. Gutzman holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Virginia (1999); a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law (1990); a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas (1990); an M.A. in History from the University of Virginia (1994); and a B.A. in Plan II/History Honors, With Honors and Special Honors in History, from the University of Texas (1985)
For more information, send an email to Dr. Kevin Gutzman at gutzmank@wcsu.edu or WCSU Communications and Marketing at pr@wcsu.edu.