The first biography of Shaw in a quarter century, A Glorious Fate: The Life and Legacy of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw
A Glorious Fate traces Shaw’s transformation from a rebellious son into one of the Civil War’s most celebrated heroes. Acclaimed historian Kevin M. Levin also reveals the sacrifice and service of the African American men who fought and died for their freedom afresh through Shaw’s eyes. Though Shaw never fully reconciled his own racial prejudices, Levin shows how the Civil War changed the young colonel, just as it did the nation.
Welcome. My name is Kevin Levin. No, the name doesn’t rhyme.
Originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey, I currently reside in Boston, Massachusetts. I am an experienced and award-winning educator, author, and historian with expertise in high school and college classroom instruction, historic site tours, museum collaboration, and history teacher training.
My Books—
Public Speaking
In addition to the subjects of my four books, I am available to speak on a wide range of subjects related to the history and memory of the Civil War era. Some of my most popular presentations focus on the ongoing controversy surrounding Confederate monuments and debates concerning the teaching of slavery and race in the classroom.
I have led or co-led history education workshops with the National Park Service, Civil War Trust, Organization of American Historians, Ford’s Theatre, The Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College, Georgia Historical Society, and Massachusetts Historical Society.
Upcoming Events
→ Sept. 23, 2026: William Crozer Lecture at the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History at the University of Virginia
→ September 29, 2026: Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago, Virtual discussion about Robert Gould Shaw..
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