Scott Ellsworth
@scottellsworth.bsky.social
Writer and historian. Last book, THE GROUND BREAKING. Next one, MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC, out July 15, 2025. Corgis, college hoops, and what’s for dinner.
Delighted to pre-order the forthcoming new book by my friend and Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist Victoria Johnson. GLORIOUS COUNTRY tells the remarkable story of Frederic Church, the 19th century painter who changed American art forever. It's going to be a terrific read!
November 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Delighted to pre-order the forthcoming new book by my friend and Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist Victoria Johnson. GLORIOUS COUNTRY tells the remarkable story of Frederic Church, the 19th century painter who changed American art forever. It's going to be a terrific read!
A big shout out to Jon Shaw and the excellent staff at the Vanderbilt University Libraries for hosting me last night for a MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC book talk as part of the university's celebration of the semiquincentennial of the United States. Terrific audience and great Q&A. Plus: Nashville!
November 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
A big shout out to Jon Shaw and the excellent staff at the Vanderbilt University Libraries for hosting me last night for a MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC book talk as part of the university's celebration of the semiquincentennial of the United States. Terrific audience and great Q&A. Plus: Nashville!
‘Tis a spectacular Autumn day here in Ann Arbor. Happy Fall, y’all!
November 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
‘Tis a spectacular Autumn day here in Ann Arbor. Happy Fall, y’all!
Passing through Gettysburg on a beautiful fall day. Driving back to Ann Arbor after giving a Midnight on the Potomac book talk at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Terrific audience—we sold out all 350+seats!—with a great Q&A. Thank you Richmond.
October 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Passing through Gettysburg on a beautiful fall day. Driving back to Ann Arbor after giving a Midnight on the Potomac book talk at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Terrific audience—we sold out all 350+seats!—with a great Q&A. Thank you Richmond.
Eastern Market, Washington, D.C.
October 4, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Eastern Market, Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian! Delighted to see the MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC in the bookshop at the National Museum of American History, a wonderful institution where I worked for ten years.
October 4, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Smithsonian! Delighted to see the MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC in the bookshop at the National Museum of American History, a wonderful institution where I worked for ten years.
Thrilled that MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC is one of NPR’s Books on the Day. www.npr.org/2025/10/03/n...
October 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Thrilled that MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC is one of NPR’s Books on the Day. www.npr.org/2025/10/03/n...
Hats off to Robin Henry and the other fine folks in the History Department at Wichita State University. Just wrapped up a two-day visit, which included appearing on Allison Johnson and Eugene Pott’s superb Maybe Water, Maybe Vodka history podcast. Let’s Go, Shockers!
September 26, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Hats off to Robin Henry and the other fine folks in the History Department at Wichita State University. Just wrapped up a two-day visit, which included appearing on Allison Johnson and Eugene Pott’s superb Maybe Water, Maybe Vodka history podcast. Let’s Go, Shockers!
Hello Kansans! Just a quick note to announce that I will be speaking about MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC in Wichita this week. Thanks to the Department of History at Wichita State, I'll be speaking at Hubbard Hall, Room 211, 1845 Fairmount, at 5:30 pm on Thursday, September 25th. Let's Go Shockers!
September 21, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Hello Kansans! Just a quick note to announce that I will be speaking about MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC in Wichita this week. Thanks to the Department of History at Wichita State, I'll be speaking at Hubbard Hall, Room 211, 1845 Fairmount, at 5:30 pm on Thursday, September 25th. Let's Go Shockers!
A big thank you to the folks at WBUR Boston who had me on NPR's "Here & Now" midday news program yesterday, talking about political division and the legacy of the Civil War. Recording in link:
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
September 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A big thank you to the folks at WBUR Boston who had me on NPR's "Here & Now" midday news program yesterday, talking about political division and the legacy of the Civil War. Recording in link:
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
Thrilled to be joining the White House Historical Association for a livestream interview on Facebook and YouTube on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 5:30 pm.
www.whitehousehistory.org/events/white...
www.whitehousehistory.org/events/white...
September 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Thrilled to be joining the White House Historical Association for a livestream interview on Facebook and YouTube on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 5:30 pm.
www.whitehousehistory.org/events/white...
www.whitehousehistory.org/events/white...
It was both an honor and a true delight to pay a visit yesterday to the legendary Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc. in Chicago, home to the world's largest inventory of books, manuscripts, antique prints, and sculpture relating to Abraham Lincoln & the Civil War. alincolnbookshop.com
September 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
It was both an honor and a true delight to pay a visit yesterday to the legendary Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc. in Chicago, home to the world's largest inventory of books, manuscripts, antique prints, and sculpture relating to Abraham Lincoln & the Civil War. alincolnbookshop.com
Fortitude the lion, New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue at 41st Street, on a hot August afternoon. Carved by the Piccirilli brothers, Fortitude and his brother, Patience, have stood guard—and won admirers, including yours truly—outside the library since 1911.
August 12, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Fortitude the lion, New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue at 41st Street, on a hot August afternoon. Carved by the Piccirilli brothers, Fortitude and his brother, Patience, have stood guard—and won admirers, including yours truly—outside the library since 1911.
A nice way to kick off a trip to NYC. Thank you Amanda Brickell Bellows for the terrific review of MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC in today’s Wall Street Journal. “Suspenseful . . . ‘a fight for the very soul of the nation.’”
August 12, 2025 at 10:01 AM
A nice way to kick off a trip to NYC. Thank you Amanda Brickell Bellows for the terrific review of MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC in today’s Wall Street Journal. “Suspenseful . . . ‘a fight for the very soul of the nation.’”
New Englanders! I am heading your way. I'll be doing a book event for MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC at the Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave, Cambridge, on Thursday, August 14th, at 7 pm. Even better, I'll be interviewed by the wonderful novelist Steve Yarbrough. Hope you can come.
August 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
New Englanders! I am heading your way. I'll be doing a book event for MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC at the Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave, Cambridge, on Thursday, August 14th, at 7 pm. Even better, I'll be interviewed by the wonderful novelist Steve Yarbrough. Hope you can come.
With all of the petty hassles of air travel, it’s easy to forget the majesty of flight. I absolutely adore being above the clouds. Have a good day everybody.
July 23, 2025 at 2:08 PM
With all of the petty hassles of air travel, it’s easy to forget the majesty of flight. I absolutely adore being above the clouds. Have a good day everybody.
Michiganders! Hope to see you tomorrow night, Tuesday, July 22nd, at 6:30 pm at Literati Bookstore, 124 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor. I'll be discussing my new book, MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC, and how a remarkable coalition of loyal Americans defeated the Confederacy and destroyed slavery.
July 21, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Michiganders! Hope to see you tomorrow night, Tuesday, July 22nd, at 6:30 pm at Literati Bookstore, 124 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor. I'll be discussing my new book, MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC, and how a remarkable coalition of loyal Americans defeated the Confederacy and destroyed slavery.
Hey, fellow Okies! I'll be speaking about my new book, MIDNIGHT IN THE POTOMAC, this Wednesday, July 23rd, at 7 pm at Congregation B'nai Emunah, 1719 S. Owasso Avenue, Tulsa. Let Freedom Ring.
July 19, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Hey, fellow Okies! I'll be speaking about my new book, MIDNIGHT IN THE POTOMAC, this Wednesday, July 23rd, at 7 pm at Congregation B'nai Emunah, 1719 S. Owasso Avenue, Tulsa. Let Freedom Ring.
Hey, Michiganders! I'll be speaking about my new book, MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC, this Tuesday, July 22nd, at 6:30 pm at Literati Bookstore, 124 E. Washington, Ann Arbor. Hope you can swing by!
July 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Hey, Michiganders! I'll be speaking about my new book, MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC, this Tuesday, July 22nd, at 6:30 pm at Literati Bookstore, 124 E. Washington, Ann Arbor. Hope you can swing by!
Five days until MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC is released. The book is about how close we came to losing our country during the last fraught months of the Civil War, and the loyal men and women who defeated the Confederacy, destroyed slavery, and gave our nation a new beginning. Out July 15th.
July 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Five days until MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC is released. The book is about how close we came to losing our country during the last fraught months of the Civil War, and the loyal men and women who defeated the Confederacy, destroyed slavery, and gave our nation a new beginning. Out July 15th.
This advance copy of my forthcoming new book arrived in the mail yesterday—and I’m over the moon with the design. What do you all think? The book drops on July 15th.
June 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This advance copy of my forthcoming new book arrived in the mail yesterday—and I’m over the moon with the design. What do you all think? The book drops on July 15th.
What a delight it was to be interviewed this morning alongside the amazing Dr. Irene Butter for Bob Greenberg’s Brainwaves video series. Holocaust survivor, emerita University of Michigan professor, and author, Irene had friends in common with Anne Frank.
June 2, 2025 at 4:19 PM
What a delight it was to be interviewed this morning alongside the amazing Dr. Irene Butter for Bob Greenberg’s Brainwaves video series. Holocaust survivor, emerita University of Michigan professor, and author, Irene had friends in common with Anne Frank.