From Columbus to Castro: The History of the Caribbean 1492-1969 (Paperback)

by Eric Williams (Author) "The decisive landmark in the history of the fifteenth century, representing the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern era, was the Portuguese exploration..." (more)
Key Phrases: international abolition, ameliorating measures, beet sugar industry, West Indies, United States, West Indian (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Mr. Williams is forced to write about so much greed and cruelty that it is remarkable that he keeps his temper and his perspective. He succeeds, and his practical discussion of the current state of the Caribbean is among the best of its kind...He writes better than many historians and almost all politicians."

-- The New Yorker -- Review

Review
"Mr. Williams is forced to write about so much greed and cruelty that it is remarkable that he keeps his temper and his perspective. He succeeds, and his practical discussion of the current state of the Caribbean is among the best of its kind...He writes better than many historians and almost all politicians."

-- The New Yorker

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Vintage; 1st Vintage Books ed edition (April 12, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394715020
• ISBN-13: 978-0394715025
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #196,180 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great story -difficult to read, February 10, 2005

By	Richard F. Sethre (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The story of how Europeans "discovered" the Caribbean, and how they governed it, is a fascinating tale of adventure, greed and cruelty. Unfortunately, this book tells it in an style that is pedantic and often uses archaic terms. Here is a typical sentence.

Whatever the cogitations of Parliament on these nuances of international trade in the eighteenth century, it laid it down decisively, according to an American merchant, in the omnicompetence lauded by Blackstone, "as a fundamental that the Islands were the only useful colonies we had and that the continent was rather a nuisance." (page 223)

If has a lot of data, which you will enjoy if you want to know how many hogsheads, barrels and tierces of sugar were exported from a particular island in a particular year. At times the author provides page after page of this information, which is a bit dry for the non-economist. He also assumes that his reader knows European history in some detail.

It is a tough read at times, but the fascinating story usually wins out over the style and the data. If you scan it and focus on the sections that document the human dramas, especially in regard to slavery, you will probably learn a lot and enjoy it. You many want to keep a dictionary and a historical reference book handy, however.

18 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truth and Closure.....A Must Read for Everyone!!!!!!!, January 21, 2002

By	Eddie Johnson Jr. (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

I can not put into words what this journal of the truth has done for me as a African-American Male living in the United States of America. I was introduced to this book by a man of Guyanese decent who knew I needed to read this book. I have to admit it was a difficult read because my primary education only spoke of American History and there was no mentioning of any African-Caribbean contributors from the "Middle Passage" period. Now, at thirty-nine many things are clearer to me. "Roots" and "Beloved" are historic, well-documented treasures and need to be used in educating all children no matter race, creed or color. To make sure what I read had some semblance of truth while in Puerto Rico I visited a sugar mill in Guanica and my heart just melted. If you read the book you will understand my feelings. I became angry because something as simple as not being forthwith with documented history such as this to young minds of American children lead to misunderstandings amongst the masses hailing from Africa, South America, The Caribbean, Asia, United States and Europe. Eric Williams I know I can not thank you in person because you are no longer here physically but your spirit lives on in your books and you will always be alive everytime one more person reads your book and awaken "Thank You"! For everyone else read the book it will cleanse your soul and feed your mind. Once you finish this read "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa" by the same author.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and full of facts, February 17, 1997

By A Customer

A handy and indepth guide to the history and economy of the Caribbean from 1492 to 1960s. He provides ample numerical data to illustrate the period. There is also, an extensive bibliography and a fine index.