Ian W. Toll is an American author and military historian, renowned for his comprehensive works on naval history. Born in 1967, he has established himself as a leading voice in chronicling the events of the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Education and Early Career
Toll graduated from St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Georgetown University in 1989 and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in 1995. Before embarking on his writing career, Toll served as a political aide and speechwriter for U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes and New York Lieutenant Governor Stan Lundine. He also worked as an analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and as an equity research analyst at several investment banks.
Literary Contributions
Toll's debut book, "Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy," published in 2006, received critical acclaim and won the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature and the William E. Colby Military Writers Award.
He is perhaps best known for his "Pacific War Trilogy," a detailed account of naval warfare in the Pacific during World War II:
Each book in the trilogy has been lauded for its meticulous research, engaging narrative, and insightful analysis, with "Twilight of the Gods" achieving bestseller status on The New York Times list in 2020.
Professional Engagements
Beyond writing, Toll has contributed to the field of military history through various roles. He has served as a juror for the National Endowment for the Humanities, acted as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department, and lectured at the Naval War College.
