Reviews for West Virginia: A History

The average rating for West Virginia: A History based on 2 reviews is 2.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-09-29 00:00:00 Benjamin Beauregard Books 2020 #84: West Virginia: A History by Otis K. Rice and Stephen W. Brown. A dry academic book but the most up-to-date history of the 35th state. The chapters are divided into short synopses of the major events, mainly political, that can help to help with dry-eye syndrome. One interesting fact is that the coal industry has been reducing its work force since the 1940s. So it's not a current phenomenon that needs to be addressed by the federal government. Stricter enforcement of the Clean Air act should be a priority. But that's just me. Two out of five stars.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-03-16 00:00:00 Mindy Olney The nation is impatient to go to war against the British, but has few resources to support the idea. A deficient American leadership and untrained, insufficient army fight chaotically outside the capitol before ultimately giving in to England's Major General Ross and Admiral Cockburn. The result: Washington gives up without much a fight, and a fire designed to prevent its navy yard from being captured by the British succeeds in burning large areas of the new city as well. The British, sometimes reluctantly, burn The President's House, the Capitol Building, and all state office buildings revealed to them. The events of this short summary cover about the first half of this amazing book. Since its publication in 1998, The Burning of Washington has apparently gone on to become the title to read for info on the events of the War of 1812. The U.S. Senate includes it in its reference book list, and Pitch's book is the only title given by Wikipedia on the subject.