Welcome to the Virginia History Blog. Titles selected for book reviews are taken from the bibliographies of scholarly, peer reviewed Virginia history surveys. Titles related to the topic and recent publications by authors are also included.
Additional books are chosen from those reviewed in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the Journal of Southern History and the Journal of American History.
After the books are reviewed in the Blog, they are redistributed among historical eras at The Virginia Historian.com: (1) Early and Late Colonial 1600-1763, (2) Revolution-Constitutional-New Nation 1750-1824, (3) Antebellum, Civil War-Reconstruction 1820-1883, (4) Gilded Age, New South, 20th Century 1880-present.
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Civil War economy
In this five-part review of Civil War Era literature at the Virginia History Blog, we will take a look at period topics in politics, war commands, home front, economy, slavery and memory. Turning to the economy, we begin with titles related to plantations and slavery, the emerging market economy, and the industrialization in Virginia that...
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Civil War home front
In this five-part review of Civil War Era literature at the Virginia History Blog, we will take a look at period topics in politics, war commands, home front, economy, slavery and memory. Turning to the home front, we begin with titles related to the state as a whole during the conflict, “Virginia at War, 1861”...
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Civil War Era commanders and commands
In this five-part review of Civil War Era literature at the Virginia History Blog, we will take a look at period topics in politics, war commands, home front, economy, slavery and memory. Turning to war commands, we begin with titles about three West Pointers from Virginia, Unionist George Thomas and Confederates Robert E. Lee and...
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Civil War Era Politics
In this five-part review of Civil War Era literature at the Virginia History Blog, we will take a look at period topics in politics, war commands, home front, economy, slavery and memory. Turning to politics, “Crucible of the Civil War” is a series of essays looking at the Virginia experience from secession through post-war commemorations....
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Civil War Era – Spring 2018
In this Virginia History Blog, we look at recent journal reviews concerning the Civil War Era. The commander featured is Robert E. Lee in “The Religious Life of Robert E. Lee”. Combat is represented in “The First Republican Army” about the western Virginia politically motivated Federal army, and “The Guerrilla Hunters” treating the Confederate Ranger...
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New Nation and Antebellum Virginia
In this Virginia History Blog, we feature four titles related to New Nation and Antebellum Virginia. “Jefferson and the Press” charts the professionalism and partisanship of period newspapers, “Murder at Montpelier” documents the introduction and persistence of Igbo culture among the Piedmont’s African-Virginians. “Proslavery and Sectional Thought” explains the development of organic social theory in...
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New Nation and Antebellum Eras – Spring 2018
In this Virginia History Blog, we present a digest of five reviews related to Virginia in both the New Nation and Antebellum periods. Particularly New Nation time frame are “The Framer’s Coup” in making the Constitution, and “Ties That Bound”. Three journals recently reviewed “Ties That Bound” concerning First Ladies and slaves, and two books...
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The Revolution Politically, Socially and Soldiering
For this Memorial Day, the Virginia History Blog looks at five titles about the American Revolution. “A Leap in the Dark” addresses the challenges of political leadership. “Almost a Miracle” is a military history of the Revolution, and “George Washington’s Enforcers” explains Continental Army justice and discipline. Considerations of political and social history are explored...
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Thomas Jefferson Governance and Legacy
In this Virginia History Blog we look at at Thomas Jefferson, his presidential governance and his historical legacy. “Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power” is a popular account of Jefferson’s use of power in political office. “Jefferson’s Vendetta” describes the prosecution of Aaron Burr for treason during Jefferson’s second administration. “Mr. Jefferson’s Hammer” describes William...
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Thomas Jefferson: Thought, Family and Education
This Virginia History Blog reviews four titles concerning Thomas Jefferson. “The Mind of Thomas Jefferson” investigates Jefferson’s thinking in historical context. “Mr. Jefferson’s Women” accounts for the romances throughout his life. “Twilight at Monticello” describes Jefferson, his family and slaves during the last fifteen years of his life. “Thomas Jefferson’s Military Academy” looks at West...
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