For a 1929 history, the scope of the book, embracing Virginia historic events from Jamestown through the Civil War, isn’t bad. And the conceit-tracing the history of the Tidewater region river by river and town by town-is fine. Unfortunately, “history” seems to have meant “of the Great Men and their plantations,” so the end result, while enjoyable enough for what it is, is still unsatisfying at best, offputting at worst.