Britain and the American Dream

August 21, 2025 · 7 p.m.

Zoom

Join us for the first program of the “Declaration Deep Dive” series, a collaboration between KTM&HC and Ridgefield Library to commemorate America 250.

British writer and historian Peter Moore will explore the trans-Atlantic origins of Thomas Jefferson’s fabled phrase, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” - perhaps the most famous line of the 1776 Declaration of Independence. Approaching a distinctly American ideal from a definitively British perspective, Moore will discuss the contributions of signficant thinkers such as Samuel Johnson, Catharine Macaulay, John Wilkes, and Benjamin Franklin.

Moore teaches creative writing at the University of Oxford. He is the Sunday Times Bestselling author of Endeavour and The Weather Experiment, the latter of which was a New York Times “Notable Book of the Year.” His latest book, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: Britain and the American Dream 1740-1776 was published in 2023.

This virtual program is free for all. Registration is required and will open soon.

“Declaration Deep Dive” commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by featuring experts who will share insights about the document’s historical context, language, and impact. The next program in this series will feature Dr. Akhil Amar, in conversation with Todd Brewster, at the Ridgefield Library in September. More details coming soon.