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Exploring the Global Scope of the Revolutionary War
The instructor will discuss his new book, The Forgotten World War: Exploring the Secret History of the America Revolution, from Spain to India and Back Again. In it, Baxter tells the story of the revolution as a vast war fought across four continents, showing how deeply interconnected America’s story was with events across the globe. He traveled in person to many of the places where the war was fought. In the book, he journeys to an island in the English Channel, a jungle in the Yucatán, the fortress of Gibraltar, a palace in India, and many other surprising sites where allies took on the British, their common foe.
The Forgotten World War demonstrates how France, Spain, the Dutch, the Oneida Indian nation, enslaved and free African Americans and the Mysore Kingdom all contributed to the struggle for American independence. It expands the conversation around America’s founding. The book invites audiences to reconsider independence as interdependence from the beginning.
Cosponsored by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University (OLLI Mason).
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Derek Baxter is a Fairfax native. He has written two books: In Pursuit of Jefferson: Traveling through Europe with the Most Perplexing Founding Father and The Forgotten World War: Exploring the Secret History of the American Revolution, from Spain to India and Back Again.

ABOUT OLLI MASON
OLLI Mason provides intellectual and cultural experiences to curious individuals. Learn more at OLLI.gmu.edu.
INVITE
This program is appropriate for ages 18+. Register by clicking on the "Begin Registration" button. A Zoom link will be emailed a day before start of each program.
- Date:
- Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- Time:
- 9:40am - 11:05am
- Library Branch:
- Virtual Event
- Categories:
- America 250 Presentation/Performance
- Audience:
- Online:
- This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email.
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