Former Washington Post journalist and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Atkinson will speak on World War II at the UF George A. Smathers Libraries on Tuesday.
The free event will start at 4 p.m. in the Grand Reading Room at Smathers Library (1508 Union Rd., Gainesville). The 2026 Michael Gannon Lecture speaker will also hold a book signing following the event.
According to the University of Florida release, the annual Gannon Lecture commemorates the achievements of Prof. Michael Gannon, Distinguished Service Professor, remembered at UF as an outstanding teacher, scholar and advocate for fairness and academic integrity. Gannon was known for his books on Florida history and the history of World War II and his career encompassed work as a broadcaster and author, as a priest in the Catholic Church, a professor of religion, ethics, and history and a leader in promoting history to both academia and the public.
The Michael Gannon Lecture features talks by fellow scholars who focus on topics he himself promoted or followed, including the history of religion, Hispanic culture in the United States, the Second World War and the place of Florida in American history.
Atkinson is the author of the Liberation Trilogy, a definitive narrative history of the liberation of Europe in World War II. Its third volume, “The Guns at Last Light,” became a No.1 New York Times best-seller in 2013 and was hailed as “history written at the level of literature.” Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Atkinson shares compelling stories and insights drawn from military history, illuminating timeless lessons about leadership, sacrifice, and the enduring demands of democracy.
He is also the author of the New York Times best-selling “The British Are Coming,” the first volume of his acclaimed Revolution Trilogy, which has earned numerous honors, including the George Washington Prize and the New-York Historical Society’s Zalaznick Book Prize. The second volume in the trilogy, “The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777–1780,” continues the sweeping narrative of the American Revolution, capturing the conflict’s critical middle years with vivid storytelling and deep historical insight. Atkinson also serves as a historical advisor for Ken Burns’ PBS documentary series “The American Revolution,” which commemorates the Revolution’s 250th anniversary.
Please visit UFgive.to/GannonLecture to support the Michael Gannon Lecture Fund, ensuring future events with thought-provoking speakers honoring the legacy and career of Gannon.