At the Falls: Richmond, Virginia, and Its People (Paperback)

~ (Author) "At the falls of the river the water rushed downstream in swirls, arches, and sprays, and hit with a steady roar against stone piles, jutting..." (more)
Key Phrases: urban slavery, evacuation fire, urban leaders, James River, William Byrd, World War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Tyler-McGraw, a former staff historian at the Valentine Museum in Richmond, has relied heavily on a spate of specialized studies produced on Richmond's history since the 1960s to view the city within the context of an international urban system. Using concepts developed in social and urban history that emphasize race, class, and gender issues, the author sees several major themes that run throughout the city's history, including the James River and its varied uses, the cultural and economic diversity of the inhabitants, and urban/rural/suburban tensions within the physical landscape. Tyler-McGraw's exposition is clear and vivid, and she leaves little doubt that her sympathies lie with the great masses of people rather than the elite as the real force in Richmond's history. She has produced a readable, informative, and contemporary synthesis of the history of one of this nation's most historic cities. Recommended for general readers.
Charles C. Hay III, Eastern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Richmond
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

The most ambitious general history of the city of Richmond yet published.

Virginia Librarian

Sets a high standard for how urban history should be done.

Journal of American History

A readable, informative, and contemporary synthesis of the history of one of this nation's most historic cities.

Library Journal

A worthwhile, informative, and at times provocative addition to the rapidly expanding list of historical analyses of Virginia's capital city.

North Carolina Historical Review

An ambitious book. . . . A book to read and reread, revealing something new at each effort.

Journal of Southern History

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807844764
• ISBN-13: 978-0807844762
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,070,126 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars False Advertising, October 31, 2001

By A Customer

Overall a pretty good read but I was surprised to find many prominent Richmond inhabitants and residents and other Virginians virtually passed over while many lesser lights, nationally (and, I feel quite sure, locally) speaking, received extensive treatment. While I appreciate the author filling what is surely a void in Virginia historical reportage, in the interest of truth in advertising I would have preferred Ms. McGraw and her publisher call the book, "At the Falls: Richmond, Virginia and Its Minority and Female People."

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True History of Richmond, December 15, 2002

By	Edward W. Reid (Rhyl, Wales) - See all my reviews

Most books about Richmond have focused on what we call the "great and good", that is the powerful families who have traditionally dominated the city. Tyler- McGraw, however, chooses to concentrate on the history of the ordinary people of Richmond - working class whites as well as African Americans and woman, who are almost completely forgotten by the official historians of the previous generations.

As someone connected to the city by family ties and who is intimately familiar with the place Tyler - McGraw's history rings true to me and much more than any other book I've seen about Richmond it reflects the history of my own family and of the Richmond I know. A good book, highly recommended.