Thursday, December 17, 2026
The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport
4pm to 6pm | Book Signing Event
Accused of treason four times by three governments, William Rotch led a harrowing life. A Quaker merchant in the Age of Revolution, he refused to fight for either independence or empire. To governments and neighbors, his pacifism looked like treachery. As he fled from Nantucket to France to Britain and back again, Rotch suffered looting, inquisitions, and the threat of imprisonment and execution for his principled refusal to fight.
Quaker, Whaler, Traitor, Spy! uses the comic form to tell this remarkable story from all angles, showing how different sources paint Rotch’s character in different lights. Through striking visuals and careful storytelling, this graphic history invites readers to question how history gets made and how we ought to reconcile seemingly contradictory accounts. Both engaging narrative and scholarly case study, this book is not only ideal for methods courses and classes in US history but also an accessible and compelling read for general audiences.
Please join us at the Colony House on Thursday, December 17th from 4:00pm-6:00pm where you can purchase a copy of Quaker, Whaler, Traitor, Spy! & have it signed by both the author and illustrator!
RSVPs are recommended but not required.