"Gilded Age Richmond: Gaiety, Greed, and Lost Cause Mania" by Brian Burns, 2017

Brian Burns' new book on Richmond examines the era of the Gilded Age, the 1870s through the turn of the century. Published by The History Press the book is available in local book stores in Richmond and, of course, at Amazon. The History Press' web site gives the background of the book and those times this way:

In the aftermath of the Civil War, Richmond entered the Gilded Age seeking bright prospects while struggling with its own past. It was an era marked by great technological change and ideological strife. During a labor convention in conservative Richmond, white supremacists prepared to enforce segregation at gunpoint. Progressives attempted to gain political power by unveiling a wondrous new marvel: Richmond's first electric streetcar. And handsome lawyer Thomas J. Cluverius was accused of murdering a pregnant woman and dumping her body in the city reservoir, sparking Richmond's trial of the century. Author Brian Burns traces the history of the River City as it marched toward a new century. 

Brian, a native of Chapel Hill, graduated in 1983 from the School of Design at North Carolina State University. He worked as an art director for advertising agencies, including the Martin Agency in Richmond. He was co-producer of The Rainbow Minute at WRIR in Richmond. His first book, Lewis Ginter: Richmond’s Gilded Age Icon, was published by The History Press in 2011.   Gilded Age Richmond: Gaiety, Greed and Lost Cause Mania includes 60 crisp, black and white images, a section of notes to the sources of information he writes about in the book, and a detailed index. Those are major pluses for this book because so many new titles recently published on Richmond history lack those essential parts of a book. 

- Ray