British-born author, broadcaster and world traveler Simon Winchester has turned his sights to American history for his latest book, "The Men Who United the States: America's Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible."
Winchester, who is the acclaimed author of several past books, including "The Professor and the Madman," "Atlantic," "A Crack in the Edge of the World," and "Krakatoa," -- all of which were New York Times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. In 2006, Winchester was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
But his decades-long fascination with the United State caught up to him culminating in his decision recently to become a U.S. citizen.
"I've been enraptured with this country since I first came here as a hitchhiking student in 1962," he said. "Everyone I met was so incredibly kind to me. As an illustration of that kindness, I entered the United States in Washington state and eight months later, exited from Maine having completed 38,000 miles. But I entered America with $200 in my pocket and left with $182 because everyone was kind and wonderful and nice."
While researching this book, Winchester once again set off across the country. Equipping himself with a tent, a compass, a sleeping bag and books by classic American writers, Winchester said he traced the footsteps of early explorers, like Lewis and Clark, as well as those early planners of the transcontinental telegraph and interstate highway system.
To promote his book, Winchester will be speaking at Boswell Book Co. in Milwaukee on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.
