"On the morning of 26 April 1607, three small ships carrying 143 Englishmen arrived off the Virginia coast of North America, having spent four months at sea...All hoped for financial success and perhaps a little adventure; as it turned out, their tiny settlement eventually would evolve from colony into a prominent state in an entirely new nation." So begins "Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: A History of Virginia, 1607-2007" and the remarkable story behind the founding not only of the state of Virginia but of our nation. With this book, the historians Ronald L. Heinemann, John G. Kolp, Anthony S. Parent Jr., and William G. Shade collaborate to provide a comprehensive, accessible, one-volume history of Virginia, the first of its kind since the 1970s. In seventeen narrative chapters, the authors tackle the four centuries of Virginia's history from Jamestown through the present, emphasizing the major themes that play throughout Virginia history - change and continuity, a conservative political order, race and slavery, economic development, and social divisions - and how they relate to national events. Including helpful bibliographical listings at the end of each chapter as well as a general listing of useful sources and Websites, the book is truly a treasure trove for any student, scholar, or general-interest reader looking to find out more about the history of Virginia and our nation. Timed to coincide with the 2007 quadricentennial, "Old Dominion, New Commonwealth" will stand as a classic for years to come.

About the Author
Ronald L. Heinemann is Professor Emeritus of History at Hampden-Sydney College. John G. Kolp, now retired, was Professor of History at the United States Naval Academy. Anthony S. Parent Jr. is Associate Professor of History at Wake Forest University, William G. Shade is Professor Emeritus of History at Lehigh University.

Reviews
"For decades, we have lacked a modern account of Virginia's rich, tumultuous, and consequential history, which has shaped so much of our nation's past. Now we have it. In the hands of these four authors, the Old Dominion's story unfolds with compelling force. Theirs is a familiar tale, to be sure, but they tell it here in a new voice that speaks to our own day. All Virginians, indeed all Americans, will find their story appealing." - Nelson D. Lankford, editor of the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography "It has long been a travesty that neither general readers nor scholars could find a good overview history of Virginia. No more. The four authors of this book, each playing to his considerable strengths, have effectively synthesized the vast store of Virginia history into an updated and accessible survey." - Peter Wallenstein, Professor of History, Virginia Tech"



Book Information
ISBN 9780813926094
Author Heinemann
Format Hardback
Page Count 432
Imprint University of Virginia Press
Publisher University of Virginia Press