Dr. Jessica Lepler

One month from today, I will be discussing my book Canal Dreamers at @amantiquarian.bsky.social in Worcester, MA. It is a hybrid event so distant folks can join the fun! March 5, 7-8 PM. Here's the registration link:
www.americanantiquarian.org/programs-eve...
@uncpress.bsky.social #skystorians
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Jason Farago’s deep dives into art are all awesome!

Cultivated to be ephemeral, this Shaw's orchid has survived a decade. It was on death's door a few years ago. It hadn't produced a bud in about five years. And then, in the last six months, it has produced two rounds of flowers. Resiliency in floral form, and a model for us all.

We discussed the Monroe Doctrine, the former plans for a canal in Nicaragua - not Panama - and a great deal more on the Colombia Calling podcast this week with @jlepler.bsky.social.

Tune in for this and the news by Emily Hart on the Colombia Briefing.

podcasts.apple.com/co/podcast/c...

598: The Quest for the Nicaragua Canal: A Historical Perspective

A quick follow up on the Colombia Calling Podcast post, here are links to the podcast:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5nzZ...

iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/co/podcast/c...

Youtube: youtu.be/I9jeypBI4J0?...

Despite a nasty cold, I thoroughly enjoyed my chat with @londomomposino.bsky.social on his Colombia Calling podcast. His enthusiasm for my research was heartwarming. I loved discussing the British and Spanish American aspects of Canal Dreamers. colombiacalling.co
#skystorians @uncpress 🗃️

Looking forward to publishing this one online, so everyone can read it. But for now, AHA members should check it out in their print #AHAPerspectives!

Image of the UNH Butter Churning Team in an Elementary School Classroom.

@ksalex10.bsky.social and I wrote a new article about UNH students churning butter with 500 5-12 year olds to bring the humanities into an elementary school's STEAM night. The kids ate it up! Find the full article in @historians.org "Perspectives Magazine" www.historians.org/perspectives...
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I had so much fun chatting with @londomomposino.bsky.social about Canal Dreamers. He was such a wonderful conversationalist! I am currently reading a new source he recommended for my research on the history of Nicaraguan Sharks! 🌎 🌊🦈 🗃️
@uncpress.bsky.social #envhist #histsci #oceanhist #skystorians

History Professor Pens “Canal Dreamers” Associate professor of history Jessica Lepler's new book "Canal Dreamers" tells the story of an 1820s attempt to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through Nicaragua.

The College of Liberal Arts reported the publication of the book on UNH Today:
www.unh.edu/unhtoday/202...

OFF THE SHELF: SEPTEMBER 2025 The Panama Canal, our late Queen, teachers, stained glass and liturgy

Richard Lofthouse’s review for #Oxford University’s alumni “Off The Shelf” column brought back wonderful memories of my year at #mansfieldcollege:

www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/quad/feature...

Benjamin Park on Instagram: "Highlighting a new book by @jlepler from @uncpress on the precursor to the #PanamaCanal, an important story for 1820s #AmericanHistory. #ushistory #bookstagram" 43 likes, 1 comments - benjaminparkhistorian on November 2, 2025: "Highlighting a new book by @jlepler from @uncpress on the precursor to the #PanamaCanal, an important story for 1820s #AmericanHistor...

My friend @benjaminepark.bsky.social walked and talked about Canal Dreamers and its connection to his family.
www.instagram.com/reel/DQjtqT7...

Blurred visions The quest to link oceans has driven Central America to distraction. Review: Canal Dreamers, Jessica M Lepler, by Gavin O'Toole

Gavin O'Toole's review for @latamrob.bsky.social shined a spotlight on the longer significance of my 1820s story.
latamrob.substack.com/p/blurred-vi...

The Author’s Corner with Jessica M. Lepler Jessica M. Lepler is Associate Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire. This interview is based on her new book, Canal Dreamers: The Epic Quest to Connect the Atlantic and Pacific i…

I enjoyed answering the questions @johnfea1.bsky.social asked for his The Way of Improvement blog:
thewayofimprovement.blog/2025/10/21/t...

Episode 75: Jessica Lepler Knows That Criticism Is Praise Listen to an interview with Jessica Lepler about her book Canal Dreamers, her writing process, the founding of a second book writers workshop at SHEAR, and more.

I had so much fun discussing writing with @katecarp.bsky.social on her podcast @draftingthepast.bsky.social:
draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...

Episode 428: Jessica Lepler, America’s Forgotten Quest to Link Two Oceans In the 1820s, Americans dared to dream big. They believed they could cut a canal through the wild, rain-soaked terrain of Nicaragua. This is their story.

I loved chatting with @lizcovart.bsky.social on her podcast @bfworld.bsky.social:
benfranklinsworld.com/episode-428-...

Canal Dreamers In the 1820s, there was a little-known quest to unite the world by building a waterway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As Spanish American nations d...

Today's release of the Canal Dreamers audio book made me realize that I should pin a thread with links related to the book. Starting with the @uncpress.bsky.social website:
uncpress.org/978146969055...

Canal Dreamers Check out this great listen on Audible.com. In the 1820s, there was a little-known quest to unite the world by building a waterway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As Spanish American nations ...

Today is the release day of the Canal Dreamers audio book! I listened to Word's read aloud feature while I was writing. I haven't heard the tracks yet & am so curious how professional voice actor Kristin Price tells the story!
@uncpress.bsky.social
#skystorians
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www.audible.com/pd/Canal-Dre...

RIP Dan Howe, a great historian of the antebellum United States

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I spy with my author eye a familiar book cover on that poster. Happy #AHA26 to all who celebrate!

Thank you, @benjaminepark.bsky.social! So happy that Canal Dreamers made you list!

Thanks @scottsandage.bsky.social for the shout out! I would be happy to Zoom in and talk with your students @corinnegressang.bsky.social. My students at UNH always love getting to ask authors questions about the research, writing, and publishing.

🚨 JOB JOB JOB!!! 🚨
Late-breaking job! Indigenous history at University of Colorado Boulder. Assistant or eatly associate. Been trying to get this line for forever. It’s finally happening 🙏 Great place to live and work. Fabulous colleagues (ask me how I know!) networks.h-net.org/jobs/69637/u...

Great episode!
Fun fact on the sharks, as well as all the canal might-have-beens. *Follow*

Thank you!

Why didn’t the U.S. build a canal through Nicaragua?

☑️ Geopolitics
☑️ Rainforest
☑️ Rival New Yorkers
☑️ Sharks (yes, really)

This week's episode explores an almost-history you’ve never heard.

🎧 www.benfranklinsworld.com/428

#Skystorians #HistoryPodcasts #CanalDreamers

Can a failed dream shape history?

The Nicaraguan canal was never built, but its dream influenced U.S. diplomacy, Latin American politics, and the Panama Canal.

This week on Ben Franklin’s World: the power of dreams that didn’t come true.

🎧 www.benfranklinsworld.com/428

Mapping. Data. Climate. Geopolitics.

The 1820s canal dream has a lot to say to our present.

In the latest episode of Ben Franklin’s World, Liz Covart and Jessica Lepler explore a major, failed idea and what we can learn from it today.

🎧 www.benfranklinsworld.com/428

Roundtable on “How NOT To Write Your Second Book”: Introduction by Emily Conroy-Krutz and Jessica Lepler This week we are privileged to feature a roundtable that was organized by Emily Conroy-Krutz and Jessica Lepler and presented at SHEAR’s 2017 conference. It was such a wonderful discuss that …

You might find this forum helpful. When @econroykrutz.bsky.social and I set up the second-book writers’ workshop for @shearites.bsky.social, this was a standing room only panel. Good luck with the good work!

earlyamericanists.com/2017/08/21/r...

Wonderful! I will reach out when I get my sealegs under me on the new work. Thank you!