A Short History of the West Indies

by Anthony P. Maingot, J.H. Parry, Philip M. Sherlock, et al.

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 033340954X
• ISBN13: 9780333409541
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Macmillan UK - Trade (Ito)
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

solid history

This is a very readable history of the islands in the Caribbean. There also is some supporting discussion of mainland British colonies. The material generally is informative and the writing generally is reasonably good. Probably the major advantage of this book compared to alternatives is the solid discussion of the political development of the islands in a way that is easy to follow and remember. With so many disparate islands being discussed, it is easy to get lost. The discussion clearly distinguishes between the larger and smaller islands and that makes it all clear. The analysis of slavery's development and its consequences also is quite clear. Probably the major drawback of this book -- or at least the printing of the 1987 fourth edition which I acquired in Bequia in the Grenadines -- is the large number of typos. Shame on Macmillan Caribbean. There probably is one typo every ten pages or so. I would rate this book as outstanding if it weren't for two drawbacks: the typos; and the writing style changes at the end because a co-author was added later. Neither of these compromises the high quality of the history itself.

Fascinating overview

This book offered so many fascinating insights into European and colonial history, the slave trade, the way nation states wage war, race relations--topics that are as relevant today as they have been over the last four hundred years. In the small stage of the West Indies you can see them all played out.