Rick Atkinson
Lawrence Rush "Rick" Atkinson IV (born November 16, 1952) is an American author who has won Pulitzer Prizes in history and journalism.
After working as a newspaper reporter, editor, and foreign correspondent for the Washington Post, Atkinson turned to writing military history. His six books include narrative accounts of four different American wars.
His Liberation Trilogy, a history of the American role in the liberation of Europe in World War II, concluded with the publication of The Guns at Last Light in May 2013. In 2010, he received the $100,000 Pritzker Military Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing.
Life and career
Atkinson was born in Munich to Margaret (née Howe) and Larry Atkinson, who was a U.S. Army officer. He grew up on military posts around the world, including stints in Salzburg, Georgia, Idaho, Pennsylvania, California, Hawaii, Kansas, and Virginia. Turning down an appointment to West Point, he instead attended East Carolina University on a full scholarship, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in English in 1974. He received a master of arts degree in English language and literature from the University of Chicago in 1975.