Acclaimed author Alan Pell Crawford to visit Williamsburg Library for ‘One Book One Community’ series

WILLIAMSBURG – Alan Pell Crawford, a celebrated author and historian, will appear at Williamsburg Library on March 24 at 7 p.m. for a discussion related to his award-winning book, “This Fierce People: The Untold Story of America’s Revolutionary War in the South.”

The event, part of Williamsburg Regional Library’s annual One Book One Community program, is free and open to the public.

“We’re excited to invite our community to read ‘This Fierce People’ and discover a side of the Revolutionary War that many of us haven’t heard before,” said Williamsburg Regional Library Director Sandy Towers. “As we commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, this year’s One Book One Community gives us a meaningful opportunity to welcome new perspectives into the story of our founding.”

Topics in the program series include the Battle of the Virginia Capes, the war on Chesapeake and African American life during the Revolution. Several community book discussions will also take place.

The details: “This Fierce People” tells the story of the Southern campaign during the last three years of the American Revolution leading to the British surrender at Yorktown, highlighting the men and women who helped secure America’s Victory. The book also sheds light on misperceptions and contradictions around our accepted understanding of how the nation was founded.

Crawford is the author of four books and previously worked on Capitol Hill as a Senate speechwriter and congressional secretary. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, American History, The Wall Street Journal, The Nation, and Vogue. “This Fierce People” won the 2025 American Battlefield Trust book award.

Upcoming programs in the One Book One Community series include:

• Book Discussion: March 14 at 11 a.m. – James City County Library
• The War on the Chesapeake talk from Mike Steen of the Watermen’s Museum: March 16 at 7 p.m. – Williamsburg Library Theatre
• Turning Pages Book Group Discussion: March 17 at 6:45 p.m. – Williamsburg Library
• Real People, Real Stories Book Group Discussion: March 19 at 2 p.m. – Stryker Center
• African American Life During the Revolution talk from Harvey Bakari of the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation: March 19 at 7 p.m. – Williamsburg Library Theatre
• Author Visit with Alan Pell Crawford: March 24 at 7 p.m. – Williamsburg Library Theatre

For more information about One Book One Community programs, click here. The book is available for checkout in multiple formats at the library.