Dr. Jessica Lepler
@jlepler.bsky.social
Historian at UNH. Teaches early America, capitalism, & animals. 1st Book (2013): "The Many Panics of 1837." 2nd Book (2025): "Canal Dreamers" https://uncpress.org/book/9781469690551/canal-dreamers/
The College of Liberal Arts reported the publication of the book on UNH Today:
www.unh.edu/unhtoday/202...
www.unh.edu/unhtoday/202...
History Professor Pens “Canal Dreamers”
Associate professor of history Jessica Lepler's new book "Canal Dreamers" tells the story of an 1820s attempt to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through Nicaragua.
www.unh.edu
January 13, 2026 at 8:34 PM
The College of Liberal Arts reported the publication of the book on UNH Today:
www.unh.edu/unhtoday/202...
www.unh.edu/unhtoday/202...
Richard Lofthouse’s review for #Oxford University’s alumni “Off The Shelf” column brought back wonderful memories of my year at #mansfieldcollege:
www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/quad/feature...
www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/quad/feature...
OFF THE SHELF: SEPTEMBER 2025
The Panama Canal, our late Queen, teachers, stained glass and liturgy
www.alumni.ox.ac.uk
January 13, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Richard Lofthouse’s review for #Oxford University’s alumni “Off The Shelf” column brought back wonderful memories of my year at #mansfieldcollege:
www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/quad/feature...
www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/quad/feature...
My friend @benjaminepark.bsky.social walked and talked about Canal Dreamers and its connection to his family.
www.instagram.com/reel/DQjtqT7...
www.instagram.com/reel/DQjtqT7...
Benjamin Park on Instagram: "Highlighting a new book by @jlepler from @uncpress on the precursor to the #PanamaCanal, an important story for 1820s #AmericanHistory. #ushistory #bookstagram"
43 likes, 1 comments - benjaminparkhistorian on November 2, 2025: "Highlighting a new book by @jlepler from @uncpress on the precursor to the #PanamaCanal, an important story for 1820s #AmericanHistor...
www.instagram.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:33 PM
My friend @benjaminepark.bsky.social walked and talked about Canal Dreamers and its connection to his family.
www.instagram.com/reel/DQjtqT7...
www.instagram.com/reel/DQjtqT7...
Gavin O'Toole's review for @latamrob.bsky.social shined a spotlight on the longer significance of my 1820s story.
latamrob.substack.com/p/blurred-vi...
latamrob.substack.com/p/blurred-vi...
Blurred visions
The quest to link oceans has driven Central America to distraction. Review: Canal Dreamers, Jessica M Lepler, by Gavin O'Toole
latamrob.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Gavin O'Toole's review for @latamrob.bsky.social shined a spotlight on the longer significance of my 1820s story.
latamrob.substack.com/p/blurred-vi...
latamrob.substack.com/p/blurred-vi...
I enjoyed answering the questions @johnfea1.bsky.social asked for his The Way of Improvement blog:
thewayofimprovement.blog/2025/10/21/t...
thewayofimprovement.blog/2025/10/21/t...
The Author’s Corner with Jessica M. Lepler
Jessica M. Lepler is Associate Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire. This interview is based on her new book, Canal Dreamers: The Epic Quest to Connect the Atlantic and Pacific i…
thewayofimprovement.blog
January 13, 2026 at 7:28 PM
I enjoyed answering the questions @johnfea1.bsky.social asked for his The Way of Improvement blog:
thewayofimprovement.blog/2025/10/21/t...
thewayofimprovement.blog/2025/10/21/t...
I had so much fun discussing writing with @katecarp.bsky.social on her podcast @draftingthepast.bsky.social:
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 75: Jessica Lepler Knows That Criticism Is Praise
Listen to an interview with Jessica Lepler about her book Canal Dreamers, her writing process, the founding of a second book writers workshop at SHEAR, and more.
draftingthepast.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:24 PM
I had so much fun discussing writing with @katecarp.bsky.social on her podcast @draftingthepast.bsky.social:
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
I loved chatting with @lizcovart.bsky.social on her podcast @bfworld.bsky.social:
benfranklinsworld.com/episode-428-...
benfranklinsworld.com/episode-428-...
Episode 428: Jessica Lepler, America’s Forgotten Quest to Link Two Oceans
In the 1820s, Americans dared to dream big. They believed they could cut a canal through the wild, rain-soaked terrain of Nicaragua. This is their story.
benfranklinsworld.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I loved chatting with @lizcovart.bsky.social on her podcast @bfworld.bsky.social:
benfranklinsworld.com/episode-428-...
benfranklinsworld.com/episode-428-...
Thanks @scottsandage.bsky.social for the shout out! I would be happy to Zoom in and talk with your students @corinnegressang.bsky.social. My students at UNH always love getting to ask authors questions about the research, writing, and publishing.
December 18, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Thanks @scottsandage.bsky.social for the shout out! I would be happy to Zoom in and talk with your students @corinnegressang.bsky.social. My students at UNH always love getting to ask authors questions about the research, writing, and publishing.
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Lepler
Great episode!
Fun fact on the sharks, as well as all the canal might-have-beens. *Follow*
Fun fact on the sharks, as well as all the canal might-have-beens. *Follow*
December 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Great episode!
Fun fact on the sharks, as well as all the canal might-have-beens. *Follow*
Fun fact on the sharks, as well as all the canal might-have-beens. *Follow*
You might find this forum helpful. When @econroykrutz.bsky.social and I set up the second-book writers’ workshop for @shearites.bsky.social, this was a standing room only panel. Good luck with the good work!
earlyamericanists.com/2017/08/21/r...
earlyamericanists.com/2017/08/21/r...
Roundtable on “How NOT To Write Your Second Book”: Introduction by Emily Conroy-Krutz and Jessica Lepler
This week we are privileged to feature a roundtable that was organized by Emily Conroy-Krutz and Jessica Lepler and presented at SHEAR’s 2017 conference. It was such a wonderful discuss that …
earlyamericanists.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:07 PM
You might find this forum helpful. When @econroykrutz.bsky.social and I set up the second-book writers’ workshop for @shearites.bsky.social, this was a standing room only panel. Good luck with the good work!
earlyamericanists.com/2017/08/21/r...
earlyamericanists.com/2017/08/21/r...
Wonderful! I will reach out when I get my sealegs under me on the new work. Thank you!
December 10, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Wonderful! I will reach out when I get my sealegs under me on the new work. Thank you!
That's true! I discuss this in the final chapter and epilogue of Canal Dreamers. I am writing about the history of the Lake Nicaragua sharks as a new project!
December 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
That's true! I discuss this in the final chapter and epilogue of Canal Dreamers. I am writing about the history of the Lake Nicaragua sharks as a new project!