The Disenchanted Island: Puerto Rico and the United States in the Twentieth Century, Second Edition [Paperback]

Ronald Fernandez (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275952274 | ISBN-13: 978-0275952273 | Publication Date: March 30, 1996 | Edition: 2

This is a revised and updated edition of Ronald Fernandez's acclaimed study of the Puerto Rico-United States relationship. Tracing that relationship from the early years of the 20th century through to the present, Fernandez provides a comprehensive analysis of political, economic, and military affairs as they relate to Puerto Rico. The new edition is completely up-to-date through 1995 and includes important new material based upon documents found in the Reagan presidential library, as well as newly declassified documents in the Eisenhower library.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The author of Los Macheteros: The Violent Struggle for Puerto Rican Independence ( LJ 4/15/87) here provides a well-written historical narrative of the island's political evolution vis-a-vis the United States from 1898 to the present. Fernandez argues that, despite slight modifications in the relationship, Puerto Rico remains dependent on the United States. Throughout, he introduces many interesting figures and offers perceptive insights into political and economic developments which have influenced the relationship, including the consequences of the Internal Revenue Service's decisions on resident and nonresident taxes and the gross ignorance of Harding appointee Governor Reilly, in the early 1920s. Highly recommended as a readable general overview.
- Roderic A. Camp, Latin American Ctr., Tulane Univ., New Orleans, La.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“The author of Los Macheteros: The Violent Struggle for Puerto Rican Independence here provides a well-written historical narrative of the island's political evolution vis-a-vis the United States from 1898 to the present. Fernandez argues that, despite slight modifications in the relationship, Puerto Rico remains dependent on the United States. Throughout, he introduces many interesting figures and offers perceptive insights into political and economic developments which have influenced the relationship, including the consequences of the Internal Revenue Service's decisions on resident and nonresident taxes and the gross ignorance of Harding appointee Governor Reilly, in the early 1920s. Highly recommended as a readable general overview.”–Library Journal

“The Disenchanted Island is a well-written sociohistoric interpretation of relations between Puerto Rico and the United States in the twentieth century.”–Latin American Research Review

“. . . one of those rare works which is genuinely useful to both scholars and general readers. This volume contains a significant amount of new insights and documentation, making it interesting to the specialist, while also providing enough background and clear analysis to educate those with little or no knowledge of Puerto Rican affairs . . . this volume makes an important contribution to our understanding of Puerto Rico's colonial dilemma.”–Journal of Third World Studies

“A controversial, readable history.”–World Affairs Council

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Paperback; 2 edition (March 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275952274
• ISBN-13: 978-0275952273
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #671,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wake-up call to Americans and Puerto Ricans alike, February 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Disenchanted Island: Puerto Rico and the United States in the Twentieth Century, Second Edition (Paperback)

This book summarizes the systematic comedy of errors that has been the United State's dominance over Puerto Rico; perhaps the least publicised of America's abuses towards some of its own (if you care to consider Puerto Ricans as Americans, many of which don't themselves). A must read for any Washington politician who dares to deal with the potentially fractitious (and sometimes fraticidal) subject of Puerto Rico's ultimate status solution.

The profuse details on how the United States' government brought the local Puerto Rican economy to its knees soon after the Spanish American War, how it dealt with the islanders as an afterthought (and still does) and how a small elite of local politicians have turned the discussion on U.S.-Puerto Rico relations into a quagmire, would be dismissed as heavily biased towards the left, if it wasn't so heavily researched. Fernandez has done an excellent job of documenting the true story of U.S.-Puerto Rico relations.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A definite wake up call, March 28, 2003

By 

A. Sierra "Ari" (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Disenchanted Island: Puerto Rico and the United States in the Twentieth Century, Second Edition (Paperback)

All throughout my school years up until high school, I was bombarded by statements such as, "Puerto Ricans are lazy. They are always on welfare here on the mainland and on foodstamps on the island. That is why the U.S. should not allow Puerto Rico to become a state. They're too dependent."

Little did I know about "neo-colonialism", nor the economic 'development' in Puerto Rico under the direction of the U.S. government. After reading this book, I felt enlightened and, naturally, rather enraged with history. I have read books on all aspects of my culture, while keeping an eye on the economic and political aspects.

Though more and more Puerto Ricans on the island are in favor of statehood, I feel it is important for them to know the history of the island under all the colonial powers (whether Spain or the U.S.).

I thank Ronald Fernandez for all the factual information that he gave. He has opened up my eyes.

Que viva Puerto Rico!