The early exploration and settlement of the trans-Mississippi West coincided with the birth of American democracy. The West became an arena in which the troubles of democracy were played out. The stakes were the future of the West, and of democracy itself.

"H. W. Brands is a master practitioner in the arena of historical research and writing that reaches, engages, and moves a public audience. A Westerner by birth, upbringing, and character, Brands will provide a fortunate audience with a thought-provoking exploration of the ways in which the fate of American democracy and the course of events in the American West became—and remain—intertwined." ~Patty Limerick

Brands was born in Oregon, went to college in California, sold cutlery across the American West and earned graduate degrees in mathematics and history in Oregon and Texas. He taught at Vanderbilt University and Texas A&M University before joining the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin, where he holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History. He writes on American history and politics, with books including Heirs of the Founders, Andrew Jackson, and The Age of Gold. Several of his books have been best sellers; two, Traitor to His Class and The First American, were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. For the past six years he has been writing a history of the United States in haiku form and publishing it on Twitter (@hwbrands).

Books will be available for purchase and a book signing will follow the talk.

The early exploration and settlement of the trans-Mississippi West coincided with the birth of American democracy. The West became an arena in which the troubles of democracy were played out. The stakes were the future of the West, and of democracy itself.

"H. W. Brands is a master practitioner in the arena of historical research and writing that reaches, engages, and moves a public audience. A Westerner by birth, upbringing, and character, Brands will provide a fortunate audience with a thought-provoking exploration of the ways in which the fate of American democracy and the course of events in the American West became—and remain—intertwined." ~Patty Limerick

Brands was born in Oregon, went to college in California, sold cutlery across the American West and earned graduate degrees in mathematics and history in Oregon and Texas. He taught at Vanderbilt University and Texas A&M University before joining the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin, where he holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History. He writes on American history and politics, with books including Heirs of the Founders, Andrew Jackson, and The Age of Gold. Several of his books have been best sellers; two, Traitor to His Class and The First American, were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. For the past six years he has been writing a history of the United States in haiku form and publishing it on Twitter (@hwbrands).

Books will be available for purchase and a book signing will follow the talk.