From the Past to Pages: A Master of Storytelling, Investigative Inquiry, and Historical Unveiling

David Grann, F92

Fletcher alumni have been recognized for their accomplishments all over the world and in many areas. Not many, however, have seen their work nominated for 10 Academy Awards, as has David Grann, F92, for Killers of the Flower Moon, a nonfiction story about murder and the control for oil in 1920s Oklahoma turned popular movie directed by Martin Scorsese. A best-selling author and a staff writer since 2003 at The New Yorker, David’s full-length works also include The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder and The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon, which is also being adapted as a film.

Having studied government as an undergraduate, David became a freelance journalist and thought about becoming a foreign correspondent. His interests in international relations brought him to Fletcher, impressed by its broad-based curriculum with emphasis on international history and political philosophy. 

Fletcher helped David solidify his interest in becoming a writer and offered a solid foundation as he developed his analytical skills and sharpened his writing abilities. He credits Fletcher with teaching him to navigate the murky world of international relations where “truth is often difficult to ascertain,” and reliable information depends on in-depth cross-checking and verification, essential skills in his line of investigative reporting.  He fondly remembers a joke from one of his professors, “Once a lie has been repeated three times, it becomes a fact.” David has never forgotten this and applies it consistently by trying to get to the bottom of a source and determining whether the information is a lie or a fact. 

David appreciated Fletcher’s interdisciplinary curriculum and focus on research and structured writing and considers its commitment to experiential learning as significantly important in helping students gain real world knowledge and skills. He traveled to the Middle East right after the Gulf War as a student; during the trip he had the opportunity to speak with officials from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, which provided illuminating insights and further drove his interest in writing and journalism. 

“The parts of the Fletcher curriculum that had the most impact on me were those that concern philosophy and history and that were rooted in the humanities,” David observes, adding, “Humanities are often devalued increasingly in our society where there's so much specialization. However, as citizens and thinkers, it is important to have broad-based knowledge.”