RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – As part of its programming commemorating Virginia's role in the 250th anniversary of American independence, the Library of Virginia will present two free book talks this summer that spotlight overlooked aspects of Revolutionary-era history. Book signings will follow both talks.

Author and journalist Andrew Lawler will discuss his latest book, "A Perfect Frenzy: A Royal Governor, His Black Allies, and the Crisis that Spurred the American Revolution," on Thursday, June 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Registration is required at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/14214720. 

"A Perfect Frenzy” explores the surprisingly little-known history of the early American Revolution in Virginia, focusing on Lord Dunmore, the colony’s royal governor, who is commonly portrayed as a villain who opposed the patriots and destroyed the port of Norfolk. The events that unfolded in 1775 and the first half of 1776 shed light not only on Virginia's critical role in pressing for independence, but on the origins of America’s present-day conflicts around race, gun control, immigration and the divide between urban and rural communities.

This event marks the 250th anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s abandonment of the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg. 

Lawler, a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, is the author of the national bestseller “The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke” as well as “Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World's Most Contested City.” As a journalist he has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, National Geographic and Smithsonian magazine, among many others. He is a contributing writer for Science magazine and a contributing editor for Archaeology magazine. 

Author Alan Pell Crawford will discuss his latest book, "This Fierce People: The Untold Story of America’s Revolutionary War in the South," on Wednesday, July 9 from 12 to 1 p.m. Registration is required at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/14417676.

"This Fierce People” examines the overlooked story of the critical aspect of America’s Revolutionary War that was fought in the South, showing that the British surrender at Yorktown was the direct result of the southern campaign, and that the battles that emerged south of the Mason-Dixon line between loyalists to the Crown and patriots who fought for independence were, in fact, America’s first civil war. Upending the essential American myth that the War of Independence was fought primarily in the North, Crawford reveals the misperceptions and contradictions of our accepted understanding of how our nation came to be, as well as the national narrative that America’s victory over the British lay solely with General George Washington and his troops.

Crawford, a Richmond resident, is the author of two acclaimed works of history. His writing has appeared in American History, the Washington Post and the New York Times. His book reviews appear regularly in the Wall Street Journal. 

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ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA’S VA250 CELEBRATION
As America approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Library of Virginia invites the public to explore the significant role that Virginia played in shaping our nation’s beginnings. A new webpage features the Library’s Colonial, Revolutionary War and Early American resources, as well as related events and ways to engage with upcoming projects. The Library is partnering with the American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) in these efforts. Learn more at www.lva.virginia.gov/va250 and https://va250.org.

ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA 
The Library of Virginia is the leading source of information on Virginia’s history, government and people. The Library’s collections, containing more than 134 million items, document and illustrate the lives of both famous Virginians and ordinary citizens. Our online resources draw nearly 2 million website visits per year, and our on-site records, exhibitions and events bring in thousands of visitors annually. The Library is located in downtown Richmond near Capitol Square at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Learn more at www.lva.virginia.gov.

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