This month, our Rotunda display celebrates the work of Cambridge, Massachusetts–based author Jill Lepore. Lepore is a prominent American historian, writer, and professor known for making complex ideas about history, politics, and culture accessible to a broad audience. She teaches at Harvard University, where she specializes in American history, with a particular focus on early America, law, and the intersections of politics and storytelling. Lepore is also a longtime staff writer for The New Yorker, where her essays often explore contemporary issues through a historical lens, blending scholarship with engaging narrative.
I first read her book The name of war: King Philip's War and the origins of American identity, many years ago and was deeply struck by it. The book examines how the ways we remember historical events can shape American identity just as powerfully as the events themselves. Growing up near the former Native American praying town of Wamesit, I found Lepore’s work especially meaningful. The book helped me better understand what happened to the Wamesit settlement during King Philip's War. Although the Native Americans living in Wamesit had converted to Christianity and were not involved in the conflict, many were rounded up by the English colonial authorities and either sent to Deer Island with little food or shelter or sold into slavery in the West Indies.
Lepore’s work frequently examines how historical narratives are constructed and how they shape national identity. One of her most well-known books, These Truths: A History of the United States, offers a sweeping yet critical account of American history, emphasizing themes such as truth, democracy, and citizenship. She has also written The Secret History of Wonder Woman, which uncovers the surprising origins of the iconic superhero and connects it to early feminist movements. In New York Burning: Liberty, Slavery, and Conspiracy in Eighteenth-Century Manhattan, Lepore investigates a 1741 slave conspiracy in colonial New York, exploring themes of fear, justice, and racial tension. Her book Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin offers an intimate portrait of Benjamin Franklin’s sister, shedding light on women’s lives in early America, while The Deadline brings together many of her essays reflecting on politics, history, and current events.
In addition to her books and essays, Lepore is known for her ability to communicate history through multiple forms of media, including podcasts and public lectures. She hosted the podcast The Last Archive, which investigates questions about evidence, truth, and storytelling in both historical and modern contexts. Across her career, Lepore has earned numerous awards and recognition for her scholarship and writing, establishing herself as one of the leading public intellectuals in the United States.