Vignettes of Colonial Virginia

Illuminating stories of colonial life from the dean of Virginia history

How did ordinary people experience life in the colonial era, from the humdrum happenings of the day-to-day to the extraordinary events still familiar to millions? In his latest book, renowned historian Brent Tarter paints a vibrant, colorful portrait of the Old Dominion in the era before the Revolution, presenting a new collection of stories culled from the depths of his unparalleled career in archival research. Using the language of his historical subjects, Tarter brings the experience of the past to life in his own inimitable but readily accessible style.

Vignettes of Colonial Virginia encompasses thirty-three episodes in total, ranging chronologically from 1607 to the eve of the War for Independence, and features stories of Virginians of all backgrounds and stripes, told with startling immediacy. With the 250th anniversary of the declaration of American independence upon us, this book situates the reader among the ordinary people who lived on the eve of those extraordinary times.

Brent Tarter, retired historian and a founding editor of the Library of Virginia’s Dictionary of Virginia Biography project, is the author of many books, including Virginians and Their Histories.