The History and Present State of Virginia : A New Edition with an Introduction by Susan Scott Parrish

Overview: While In London In 1705, Robert Beverley Wrote And Published The History And Present State Of Virginia, One Of The Earliest Printed English-language Histories About North America By An Author Born There. Like His Brother-in-law William Byrd Ii, Beverley Was A Scion Of Virginia's Planter Elite, Personally Ambitious And At Odds With Royal Governors In The Colony. As A Native-born American--most Famously Claiming I Am An Indian--he Provided English Readers With The First Thoroughgoing Account Of The Province's Past, Natural History, Indians, And Current Politics And Society. In This New Edition, Susan Scott Parrish Situates Beverley And His History In The Context Of The Metropolitan-provincial Political And Cultural Issues Of His Day And Explores The Many Contradictions Embedded In His Narrative. Parrish's Introduction And The Accompanying Annotation, Along With A Fresh Transcription Of The 1705 Publication And A More Comprehensive Comparison Of Emendations In The 1722 Edition, Will Open Beverley's History To New, Twenty-first-century Readings By Students Of Transatlantic History, Colonialism, Natural Science, Literature, And Ethnohistory. A Note On The Texts -- The History -- Book I : The History Of The First Settlement Of Virginia, And The Government Thereof, To The Present Time -- Book Ii : The Natural Productions And Conveniencies Of The Country, Suited To Trade And Improvement -- Book Iii : The Native Indians, Their Religion, Laws, And Customs, In War And Peace -- Book Iv : The Present State Of The Country, As To The Polity Of The Government, And The Improvements Of The Land. By Robert Beverley With An Introduction By Susan Scott Parrish ; Editorial Assistance By Daphna Atias And Helen C. Rountree ; Transcription By M. Kathryn Burdette. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 279-305) And Index. Written and published in London in 1705, this was one of the earliest printed English-language histories about North America by an author born there. Robert Beverley was a scion of Virginia's planter elite, ambitious and at odds with royal governors in the colony. As a native-born American he provided English readers with the first full account of the province's past, natural history, Indians, and current politics and society. This new edition places the author and his book in the context of the political and cultural issues of his day and explores the many contradictions embedded in his narrative