Rick Atkinson

Date of Birth: November 16, 1952

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Biography

Rick Atkinson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author and military historian, renowned for his gripping narratives and meticulous research in military history. Born on November 16, 1952, in Munich, Germany, to a U.S. Army officer, Atkinson grew up in a military environment, which profoundly influenced his career. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from East Carolina University and later a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Chicago. Atkinson began his career in journalism, eventually joining The Washington Post where he served as a reporter, foreign correspondent, and editor for more than two decades. His reporting on military affairs and foreign conflicts earned him significant acclaim, including the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1982. Transitioning to book writing, Atkinson has authored several highly acclaimed works, most notably his “Liberation Trilogy,” which chronicles the American and Allied forces in the European theater of World War II. The trilogy includes “An Army at Dawn,” “The Day of Battle,” and “The Guns at Last Light.” Each book in the series was celebrated for its rich detail, compelling storytelling, and scholarly rigor. Atkinson is also known for “The British Are Coming,” the first volume of his “Revolution Trilogy,” which delves into the American Revolutionary War. His works are characterized by their narrative depth and historical accuracy, making him one of the foremost military historians of his generation.

5 Interesting Facts about Rick Atkinson

1. Rick Atkinson won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1982 for his coverage of the West Point cheating scandal.

2. He served as The Washington Post’s Berlin bureau chief in the late 1980s and early 1990s, covering the end of the Cold War.

3. His “Liberation Trilogy” has been praised for its vivid portrayal of World War II and has won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for History for “An Army at Dawn.”

4. Atkinson has received honorary doctorates from several institutions, including the Virginia Military Institute and Norwich University.

5. He was a scholar-in-residence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he conducted research for his trilogy on the American Revolution.