Eric Rutkow

Eric Rutkow is an American historian and author, who has written extensively about topics ranging from American politics and legal affairs to the history of disease, warfare and exploration. A foremost expert on the American Revolution, Rutkow’s work has been praised for its expansive scope and rigorous academic approach. Throughout his career, Rutkow has made a point of examining history from multiple angles, opening up space for new and urgent questions about the subject.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1976, Rutkow graduated from Harvard College in 1998 before earning his PhD in History from Princeton in 2004. It was during his PhD studies where he began to develop his research focuses and interests. In addition to incredibly well-received Harvard- Radcliffe Honors Theses and Princeton’s highest honor, the Seeley Prize, Rutkow was awarded the prestigious George L. Mosse Prize in History.

Rutkow’s career since completing his PhD has been varied and impressive. Yet his highest rate accolade has come from his published books. His debut title, American Canopy: Trees, Forests, and the Making of a Nation (2012), used the American wilderness and its influence on the country’s history. He showed throughout his work how wild places have shaped our culture, economy and attitudes towards nature, offering a timely and much-needed perspective. His examination of tree-cutting as a tool for migration, land management and colonial expansion provides a fascinating insight into our past.

Rutkow’s next book, our own U.S. Access to the World: A History of the American People (2015), is a comprehensive look into the diverse relationship between foreign relations and the American public. His examination of foreign affairs, international criminality, civil rights, free trade and economic protectionism, the development of international financial organizations, and the roles played by non-governmental organizations and private citizens make up an incredibly detailed account of the past – allowing readers to question the present.

Perhaps Rutkow’s most well-known work, however, is The Long Road to Antietam: How the Civil War Became a Revolution (2019). Through his deep archival research and vivid writing, Rutkow takes us into the heart of the Civil War. He explains how decisive defeats and the social, economic and ideological forces at play turned the Battle of Antietam into a formative turning point in the history of the United States. This gripping, multi-faceted account uncovers the heartbreaking and inspiring stories of those involved in the battle.

Most recently, Rutkow released When Disease Makes The News: The Press and Science in America from Kansas to Ebola (2020). In this book he provides a sweeping look at the portrayal of contagious diseases and public health challenges in American history, from smallpox to polio, AIDS to Zika, and SARS to Coronavirus. His examination of the complex network of actors involved and the history of how public health challenges have been communicated reveals the essential roles and struggles of both the press and the sciences in modern society.

From everything he has done and the works he has created, it’s clear that Eric Rutkow is an immense talent in the field of history. His expansive and meticulous approach to research offeres a unique perspective to topics ranging from forestry to foreign relations. His keen eye, carefully crafted detail, and bold questions make each book a profoundly eye-opening and emotionally gripping experience that all readers can enjoy.