Description: A deeply informed yet concise and sprightly narrative traces the stories of the people, events, and developments that have shaped the Old Dominion State and also the USA.
Brief description: Peter Wallenstein is professor of history at Virginia Tech. His books include Blue Laws and Black Codes: Conflict, Courts, and Change in Twentieth-Century Virginia.
Review Quotes:
"This book serves as a valuable reminder of the degree to which Virginia's history is America's history."--Journal of Southern History
"A major contribution is Wallenstein's emphasis on the history of Virginia from the late 19th into the 21st century. Another is his discussion of issues much larger than Virginia, which dramatically affected, if not changed, the course of its history."--Choice
"Wallenstein's prose makes reading about our history enjoyable."--Roanoke Times
"Cradle of America is so good you'll wonder why in Jefferson's name it was published by KU Press and not UVA Press. . . . This ain't your mama's textbook. It is lively, unafraid, real and credible."--Blue Ridge Business Journal