The Larger World

The question of what causes historical change for Kierner is at first welcoming, but when seen with greater depth, the story that Kierner tells makes the answer difficult to provide.  She is not interested in explained exactly what happened, as has been the objective of historians like William H. Prescott, but she is interested in providing a "glimpse into the world" of the Randolphs.  From the incident on the night of October 1, 1792, she goes into an impressive investigation into the Randolph family, the marriage arrangements of Virginia elite, Cumberland county court records, the lawyer network centered around the College of William and Mary, and other things.  She does not directly tackle what causes historical change, but brings the social reality to the fore.  The reader is left to put together the 'world' of 18th century Virginia, and remember that the scandal at Bizarre (or is it at Glentivar?) is at the center of the narrative.

The depiction of the larger world is illustrated in the example of the drop in tobacco prices in 1760s and 1770s. (15)  Virginia aristocracy continued to purchase imported goods despite the decreased revenue from their main crop.  Richard Randolph after marrying Nancy went on a splurge, buying "several carpets, a table, and a chest of drawers - all of which Richard imported from Britain, on credit, and charged against the small income he received from his father's estate." (25) As a result, his finances became a problem.  His stepfather, St. George Tucker, encouraged him to move to Cumberland County, to the famed Bizarre estate.  Kierner does not directly tell you that tobacco prices caused Richard Randolph to move to Bizarre.  She simply records the drop in prices and leaves the reader to infer its significance on the indebtedness of the gentry.  Nevertheless, the fact is a part of the context and explains the Randolphs' change of residence.  A cause of historical change is noted, but in line with writing micro-history, the direct logical connection is put aside so that the larger world can be seen.