On Wednesday, November 18, 2026, Spinner Publications will host author Nathaniel Philbrick, author of IN THE HEART OF THE SEA and MAYFLOWER at the Steeple Playhouse, 159 William Street, New Bedford, MA, from 6pm to 8:30pm. Philbrick will introduce his newest book, THE RUSH: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World, a captivating novel about how California’s Gold Rush lit the long fuse to civil war and forged the modern United States. This engaging and informative talk will begin with beverages and hors d’oeuvres and conclude with a Q&A session with the audience. Copies of THE RUSH will be available for purchase and signing.

Steeple Playhouse is a vibrant, community-focused performing arts center located in the heart of historic downtown New Bedford. It is housed inside the former First Baptist Church, a significant 1829 Greek Revival structure. Historically, this building is famous as the birthplace of Robert’s Rules of Order (drafted by Henry Martyn Robert). Tickets are $40. Seating is limited. Reservations can be made through Paypal https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/F95PKDT26PKUJ. Or reserve your tickets by calling the Spinner office at 508-994-4564. www.spinnerpub.com

In THE RUSH, Nathaniel Philbrick follows the gold as it moves from riverbed to countinghouse to the halls of power, revealing how vigilantism hardened into law and how debates over slavery in the West tipped the balance in Washington. The result is a clear, human story of how a scramble for wealth reshaped ideas of freedom, labor, and belonging—and how California’s rise helped push a fractured nation toward war. The Rush is alive with characters whose choices still reverberate: a searing, panoramic epic that captures both the fury and the promise of America.

Nathaniel Philbrick is the author of IN THE HEART OF THE SEA, winner of the National Book Award; MAYFLOWER, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; AMBITION, winner of the George Washington Prize; BUNKER HILL, winner of the New England Book Award; TRAVELS WITH GEORGE; AWAY OFF SHORE; SECOND WIND; SEA OF GLORY; and THE LAST STAND.

Spinner Publications is a nonprofit publishing house in New Bedford dedicated to recording and promoting the history, stories, and culture of the cities and towns in southeastern New England. Spinner’s Author-Talk series is a fundraising event that supports Spinner’s mission to preserve local history and culture through storytelling, documentary, and photograph preservation. The series will feature local, regional, and nationally known authors.