# Event Details - **Event Name**: Nathaniel Philbrick with John Markoff - **Event Start and End Date**: Sun, 18 Oct, 2026 at 04:00 pm – Sun, 18 Oct, 2026 at 05:00 pm (-07:00) - **Event Description**: National Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Nathaniel Philbrick joins us with "The Rush."About this EventNational Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea and Mayflower, reveals how California’s Gold Rush forged the modern United States—and lit the long fuse to civil war.About the BookIn January 1848, a carpenter spotted flecks of gold in a shallow stream at Sutter’s Mill in California, triggering the greatest voluntary migration in US history, as hundreds of thousands raced west in pursuit of sudden wealth, reinvention, and power. From the feverish gold-mining camps of the Sierra Nevada to the wharves and vigilance committees of San Francisco, Nathaniel Philbrick renders a combustible, all-world society: Chilean brothers reinventing themselves to outrun prejudice; Native communities navigating dispossession and violence; the merchant-showman Samuel Brannan, drawn into the center of early vigilantism; and the politicians vying for control of California’s future—the ambitious Free-Soil political boss David Broderick, who squared off against William Gwin, the Southern power broker intent on tilting the state toward slavery and the Confederacy.In The Rush, Nathaniel Philbrick transforms the Gold Rush from a tale of sudden riches into the origin story of America’s modern contradictions—capital consolidated at dizzying speed, democracy in thrall to private power, xenophobia weaponized in the name of liberty—and a stubborn belief in the American experiment that refuses to die. This is the story of a nation tearing at the seams and a republic tested by its own ideals. Not until a year after the outbreak of the Civil War, when President Lincoln signed legislation that would unite the nation east to west by building a transcontinental railroad, was California’s loyalty secured.Philbrick follows the gold as it moves from riverbed to countinghouse to the halls of power, revealing how vigilantism hardened into law and how debates over slavery in the West tipped the balance in Washington. The result is a clear, human story of how a scramble for wealth reshaped ideas of freedom, labor, and belonging—and how California’s rise helped push a fractured nation toward war. The Rush is alive with characters whose choices still reverberate: a searing, panoramic epic that captures both the fury and the promise of America.ACCESSIBILITY: We never want cost to be a barrier to admission for our community. Please email events [at] keplers [dot] org if you would like to attend this event but cannot afford a ticket. To request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for this event, please email events [at] keplers [dot] org at least one week prior to the event.REFUND POLICY: We will refund your ticket up to 7 days before the event.We want Kepler’s to be a welcoming and comfortable space for everyone. If you are feeling unwell, especially with respiratory symptoms, please stay home. Thank you for helping us create a safe and considerate environment for our community. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/menlo-park/nathaniel-philbrick-with-john-markoff/100001994374311252 - **Event Categories**: art, literary-art - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 1 hour - Location: Kepler's Books - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 11.49, max: 69.24, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Menlo Park - **state**: CA - **country**: United States - **location**: Kepler's Books - **lat**: 37.453569 - **long**: -122.182167 - **full address**: Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Nathaniel Philbrick with John Markoff - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/d50416351491497dbce896eb404656847afb0d2b57d6cbcda3aed70cda53e8bd-rimg-w1200-h1613-dca8a8b8-gmir.jpg?v=1786342272 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Nathaniel Philbrick with John Markoff being held? - **A:** Nathaniel Philbrick with John Markoff takes place on Sun, 18 Oct, 2026 at 04:00 pm to Sun, 18 Oct, 2026 at 05:00 pm at Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Nathaniel Philbrick with John Markoff? - **A:** Nathaniel Philbrick with John Markoff is organized by Kepler's Literary Foundation. - **Q**: What has been the experience of attendees at Kepler's Literary Foundation's events? - **A:** Attendees have given Kepler's Literary Foundation a rating of 4/5 based on reviews from early attendees on AllEvents. Kepler's Literary Foundation has a verified profile on AllEvents where you can read reviews and explore their upcoming events. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Nathaniel Philbrick with John Markoff is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Menlo Park, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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We produce over 150 programs each year bringing celebrated writers, artists, and original thinkers to engage with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.Your ticket purchases and donations support our ability to provide outstanding literary programming for the readers and writers in our community. It also enables us to bring exceptional writers to underserved schools, put books in the hands of children who often don't have books at home, and offer free admission to students and their teachers to our literary events." } ] } ] ```