Louis B. Wright (1899–1984)

This is a detailed exploration of colonial Virginia. It is rather scholarly while engaging and not overly dry. The early "colonels", planters, and land barons were really Englishman amassing a fortune in the colonies. As such, they reflected much of the English gentry. Most of this is told through catalogs of book collections. Some noted Virginia families get their own chapters, for example the Lees and Carters.

2217 The Atlantic Frontier: American Civilization [1607-1763], by Louis B. Wright (read 28 Jun 1989) This is a 1947 book which is well-done. It tells of the founding of the colonies and covered them, briefly, to 1763. It is a phase of history I find more and more interesting. The book concludes by quoting Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina in 1765: "There ought to be no New England man, no New Yorker. etc., known on the continent, but all of us Americans..."

Excellent but brief history of the influence of this single document. Wonderful illustrations tied to United States history.

1732 The Cultural Life of the American Colonies 1607-1763, by Louis B. Wright (read 24 Jul 1982) This is the second volume in the series called The New American Nation Series and was published in 1957. I was not too interested by it but it wasn't bad. The bibliography says "One of the best books on foreign immigration, with a useful bibliography, is Marcus and Hansen's The Atlantic Migration, 1607-1869." Whether I am merely interested because I had forefathers who came during that time (1817 show more and 1840) I am not sure, though I claim to have a greater interest in why people came than "why my forefathers came." show less