A Continent Of Islands: Searching For The Caribbean Destiny [Paperback]

Mark Kurlansky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 1993

In this richly detailed portrait of the individual countries and peoples of the Caribbean, Mark Kurlansky brings to life a society and culture often kept hidden from foreigners—the arts, history, politics, and economics of the region, as well as the vivid day-to-day lives of its citizens. From the Newyoriccans of Levittown, Puerto Rico; to the state-salaried popular musicians of Cuba; to the practitioners of good political hurricanemanship (who know how to stretch statistics to bring in relief funds), A Continent of Islands paints portraits that will prove equally fascinating to tourists who know the Caribbean only as a string of beach resorts, and to readers curious about U.S. efforts to influence its neighbors.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Journalist Kurlansky has packed a lot of information in a relatively slim book. Readers who are familiar with one but not all of the Caribbean nations covered will find no errors in his facts and learn a great deal. He has designed his book's format to cover cultural topics, comparing and contrasting countries rather than plodding from country to country. He discusses various topics: AIDS; the 500th anniversary of Columbus's landing; the African roots of voodoo, arara, santeria, and shango; and the status of women. The bibliography is well planned with a wide selection of fiction and nonfiction titles. Highly recommended for all col P.L. System, Fla.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

A penetrating analysis of the social, political, sexual, and cultural worlds that exist behind the four-color Caribbean travel posters. Kurlansky, who reports on the Caribbean for The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, etc., has wide-ranging interests. Here, he discusses such diverse (and unexpected) aspects of his subject as the politics of hurricanes--how island leaders and their rivals take advantage of natural disasters to further their aims; the effects of AIDS on sexual practices throughout the region--the sections on Castro's handling of the AIDS emergency are particularly engrossing; and the impact of American Fundamentalist proselytizing on traditional West Indian religious groups. The author leavens his material by alternating these in-depth discussions with amusing vignettes of some of his own experiences below the Tropic of Cancer. His description of the arrival of the first McDonald's outlet on Barbados, for example, is hilarious: The Bajans, originally excited at the prospect of Big Macs, considered the burgers disappointing ``little bitty thing[s]'' when they finally appeared. One of Kurlansky's major themes is the danger inherent in a tourism-based island economy--which he believes could lead to the corruption of West Indian culture. He speaks eloquently about the cultural roots of the Caribbean peoples--though he seems not fully aware of the discrepancies that lurk there--pointing out, for example, that ``There are those Caribbeans, usually lighter- skinned, who argue that Caribbeans...use their history as an excuse...to avoid accepting responsibility....Even this is part of the conditioning of their history....To fight this mentality is to fight the legacies of history.'' Should be read by every West Indies traveler and even by old Caribbean hands, who will find here page after page of highly original insights. (Black & white photos--not seen.) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (March 21, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201622319
• ISBN-13: 978-0201622317
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Travel > Caribbean > Cuba

More About the Author

Mark Kurlansky is a New York Times bestselling and James A. Beard Award-winning author. He is the recipient of a Bon Appétit American Food and Entertaining Award for Food Writer of the Year, and the Glenfiddich Food and Drink Award for Food Book of the year.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Move over Travel Guides!, June 2, 2000

By 

Luis Hernandez (New York, New York, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Continent Of Islands: Searching For The Caribbean Destiny (Paperback)

A "Continent of Islands," by Mark Kurlansky was one of my favorite history/anthropology books while in college. The author, who delves into the Caribbean's complex cultures, does a wonderful job blending realities with warm humor. Whethere it is the influx of American culture and goods into the region or the complex nature of racial politics in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Kurlansky awakens the reader's mind with interesting tidbits and case studies. This should a must-read for students or admirers of Latin American & Caribbean culture and society. It should also be read by many here in the United States who want to know a bit more about the recent waves of immigrants from the Caribbean and what is motiviating the mass exoduses from their lovely islands. Indeed, the Caribbean is a "continent of islands," and just reading this book allowed me to discover more about our country's "backyard" even more so than before.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Overview, September 20, 2002

By 

Richard R. Wilk (Bloomington, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Continent Of Islands: Searching For The Caribbean Destiny (Paperback)

This is not your scholarly tome, an arid recitation of events and facts. For such a fascinating part of the world, the Caribbean has generated very few readable histories that keep a reader's interest. Kurlansky includes a modicum of facts, but the real power of this book is the sweep, and the themes that tie different islands and eras together. I would recommend this book without hesitation to anyone who wants to know something about the Caribbean - or even someone just looking for an entertaining piece of non-fiction. Unlike the single grumpy reviewer, I would have no hesitation using this book in an introductory class on Caribbean culture.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book on a diverse subject, March 9, 2004

By 

Seth J. Frantzman (Jerusalem, Israel) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Continent Of Islands: Searching For The Caribbean Destiny (Paperback)

SO few books exist on general Caribbean history this book, despite its many small flaws, is a very good read. Perusing many different subjects without much connection and hopping from island to island(one has to in the Caribbean) this book details many of the issues the Caribbean faces. From large remnants of the salve trade to smaller remnants of the indigenous people(Arawak and Carib) as well as the everlasting sting of colonization this book paints a colorful picture of the many personalities of the islands and their diverse history. Probably the most ignored fact of the book is that while the British dominated islands have become largely successful democracies the former French and Spanish colonies have slumped into depravity. Little analysis is done and the figures presented mostly are not analyzed. Nevertheless this book is more travel journal then history, and popular history at best, so it does its trick. Anyone interested in an introduction to the Caribbean will be happy.

Seth J. Frantzman