Caribbean Books

This collection of Marti's essays and letters are excellent reading for Marti scholars and beginners alike. The works are in chronological order and cover the most pivotal periods of Marti's life. Both of Marti's strongest qualities, the poet and the freedom fighter, are represented with conviction. This book is a definite must read for anyone looking to explore the mind one of the greatest literary figures of all time.

Marti was a prodigy, a genius, yet he is little known in the U.S. either for his prose or poetry. Those who have heard of him may associate him with Radio Marti or know him as a Cuban revolutionary.

While this beautifully rendered translation includes a broad spectrum of Marti's works, some not previously translated, his descriptions of America in the latter half ot the nineteenth century are by themselves sufficient reason to buy this book.

Marti, coming from a different culture, sees things about America that we do not, and he describes them with a passion lacking in the reportage of his North American contemporaries.

Here at last--in English--is a comprehensive selection of Martí's writing, translated by a masterful hand. It leaves all other attempts at this task far behind. Esther Allen meets the challenges of Martí's exuberant and complex style with extraordinary success. This book will be a landmark text for college courses on Martí as a Latin American and Latino writer, and is an excellent introduction for the general public. Bravo to all involved in this effort to bring Martí to American readers!

Jos Julian Mart y Prez was born in Havana, Cuba on January 28, 1853. He is one of the most renowned writers in the history of Cuba and Latin America. In 1874 Mart earned a Law degree from the University of Zaragoza in Spain. He essentially devoted his life to the cause of independence and to the foundation of a new Cuban nation. As we perceive in the Montecristi Manifesto, Mart was a talented humanist, born out of time; an idealist and martyr that left a legacy on Cuban affairs.

As a philosopher, he attempted to navigate through the intricate mountings of thoughts. "Mart embarked early in life on a mission of political struggle and literary achievement. At fifteen, he wrote an epic poem in praise of Cuba's war of independence against Spain. At seventeen he was imprisoned and sentenced to hard labor for his political activities. For the rest of his life he wrote about and worked unstoppably for the freedom of Cuba. He founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party. His political involvement was accompanied and complemented by a constant and relentless outpouring of poetry, literary prose, journalism and political writing. In 1895 he returned to Cuba with a military force to embark upon another revolution and soon thereafter encountered a suicidal heroic death in battle."

The final battle of his life came in 1895 on Cuban soil, in a place called Dos Rios, after going to the enemy front lines, fighting against the Spanish domination in his beloved land. The expedition that brought the continuation of the war of independence into Cuba commenced in and departed from Florida and passed through the Dominican Republic, on its way to Cuba. Before departing to the east of Cuba, Jos Mart and the General Mximo Gmez, Commander in Chief of the Liberating Army, made public a document in the town of Montecristi, a manifesto exposing the goals of a revolutionary war about to begin. This was an important document that provided the guiding principles for a new Nation or a Republic, as Mart had dreamed.

The Montecristi Manifesto, as it is known in Cuban history, declared the revolution began not in 1895, but 1868, when the Grito de Yara was proclaimed by Carlos Manuel de Cspedes and the Ten Years War (1868-78) against Spanish domination took place. In this manuscript Mart pointed out interesting principles related to Cuba and Latin America, and even of a global undertone. It says: "The war of independence in Cuba...is a far-reaching human event and a timely service that the judicious heroism of the Antilles lends to the stability and just interaction of the American nations and to the still unsteady equilibrium of the world."

The humanistic undertaking of the Manifesto is rooted on the idea of a fully and stable constituted republic with freedom of thought. That republic was to be, not the triumph of one Cuban party over another, but the victory of all elements of the society. Here he establishes the significance of necessary sacrifice for a sublime purpose as the transformation of the old colonial system, a call for harmony and wisdom, and the mandatory establishment of human rights. It denounced the corruption of the metropolis: "The revolution makes use of this language without fear because the mandate to emancipate Cuba once and for all from the irremediable ineptitude and corruption of the Spanish government." Spain was not the only preoccupation on Marti's thoughts; the forces pointing to an annexation of Cuba to the United States were rampant and seemingly viable.

Marti saw in the liberation of Cuba the angular stone to stop the expansion of the North American imperialism. In his last and unfinished written letter to his longtime friend Manuel Mercado, then the Mexican undersecretary of the Interior, he pointed: "Every day now I am in danger of giving my life for my country and my duty-since I understand it and have the spirit to carry it out-in order to prevent, by the timely independence of Cuba, the United States from extending its hold across the Antilles and falling with all the greater force on the Lands of our America. All I have done up to now and all I will do is for that."

The United States was expanding his dominion and influence around its neighbors. The Monroe Doctrine declared by the U.S. President James Monroe in the seventh annual address to Congress, on December 2, 1823, became the United States' policy regarding Latin America, limiting the rights and activities of the European powers in the western hemisphere. In the beginning, it was merely a declaration of policy, but within years, the idea of annexation of the so called backyard (including the Antilles) was supported by Cubans inside and outside the island, thinking that the annexation of Cuba to the Union would be a benefit; even today, such a concept is not a dead thought for many.

Mart, a secular visionary, had the ability to see beyond the horizon in the entrails of the North American monster. In the same letter to Mercado he wrote: "The nations such as your own and mine, which have the most vital interest in keeping Cuba from becoming, through an annexation accomplished by those imperialists and the Spaniards, the doorway-which must be blocked and which, with our blood, we are blocking-to the annexation of the people of our America by the turbulent and brutal North that holds them in contempt." This so called monster, the United States, had seen in its Latin-American backyard a fertile campground to extract raw materials, dreaming one day, maybe, to be able to add more stars to the American flag.

This monster has not changed too much since then. Its Transnationals, under the concept of democracy and prosperity, can annexate the innocent intentions of a nation. Today, Mart's concerns are incredibly up to date. Is that monster ready to conquer the Latin American lands? As it refers to a military occupation, that is perhaps and most certain a utopia. But things actually have not changed. The United States of America exhibits the same power thirst for money, wherever the possibility arrives. Within the Cuban exiled population, new modern oligarchs see the opportunity of enrichment, possibly after an overturn of the actual political system in the island. Cubans from both outside and inside the island must take Marti's flag again and fight with dignity for a better Cuba, for the principles of justice, and not a mere copy of the savage capitalism that monopolizes even your will, and all that money can buy.

After the 1959 revolution, a new revolution is obligatory. That revolution brought a real independence to the island, but soon the egoist and dictatorial way of the government chose to incline the heart of the country to the red European bear. The Soviet Union made of Cuba a mere atheist puppet, a satellite of the communist interests in the world, an idle society, permanently dependant and attached to its belly button, through an umbilical square line of thought imposed on every Cuban. The Cuban Nation needs no more umbilical lines or written schemes of imported societies from the north, east, west, or south political science books. Our Judeo-Christian values had nothing to do with the reign of the dollar, the euro, or the peso. A mature society based on freedom and equality, justice for all, and dignity that embrace a brilliant future must to be built in godly honesty, sincerity and temperance.

The times of Cuban legends must be buried in the deep sea that surrounds the archipelago. Martyrs, heroes, caudillos, and good-looking stars are enjoyable in the history books; hence, the history of the island should be written in present time. Cuba has no need for last names or bank account numbers to be counted as the many stars in its national blue sky. It is necessary to proceed in a peaceful but profound continuance of the transforming revolutionary process that began in 1868; Cuba has enough heads and hearts to build a society as the Montecristi Manifesto proclaimed: "A country must find a manner of government that can satisfy both the mature and cautious intelligence of its literate sons and the necessary conditions for the assistance and respect of its other people...From its origin, the patria must be constituted in viable forms, forms born of itself."


Nac en un Archipilago
rodeado de azules mares
donde el disentir
se silencia con deshonra

All me impusieron al abuelo Lnin:
destructor,
apstata cegado
y mediocre constructor de un porvenir atascado

Ahora vivo en Troya
y conozco al Caballo desenfrenado.
Se afana mirando al tablero
donde las carreras se apstan
y el dollar se amontona
para agasajar al incrdulo

Hacia dnde vas
Caimn que te escapas?
Quin te lleva, florido ensoador?
Has dejado de contar tus palmas reales;
desmantela el oro,
ese que te pertenece,
no el que en el Atlntico profundo
tus colonizadores sepultaron.

Alejandro Roque.

One of the most amazing writers, and a wonderful small volume, showing the diversity of his talents through many years in a great translation (the poems include the Spanish and English texts). "Our America" is an essay on the cosmopolis that is Latin America, and essays on Emerson and Whitman are among the best that exist. Furthermore, one can forget that Marti spent perhaps more time in New York than anywhere else in his life, and his writings on some of the everyday things there, particularly "A Chinese Funeral," my favorite piece in the book, give one a great sense of the city from a unique and often unrepresented perspective. There is no American literature without Jose Marti.

Revolutions are not always the noble struggles that many idealistic people embellish them as. They are often sordid, bloody affairs in which one tyrant is replace by an even worse tyrant. The demagogues and megalomaniacs who lead such revolutions always claim to be acting on behalf of the poor, the working class, and the common people. It's these very same people who wind up victimized by the revolution that was supposed to liberate them.

Enrique Encinosa shows us how Castro's Cuba was such a revolution by presenting us with first hand accounts of the people who suffered from it. Many of these people were tough, independent rural campesinos who had their farms taken by Castro and were forced to work as laborers on collective farms. They defied Castro and felt the awful wrath of his brutality.

Encinosa turns alot of left-wing myths about Castro's glorious revolution on their head. In the beginning, the Cuban Revolution had little to do with socialism or communism. The different factions looked to Castro as their leader, which turned out to be a huge mistake. Castro sold out to the Soviets and betrayed many of his fellow revolutionaries who wanted a democratic revolution. Castro admitted that he lied to the people but that it was "for their own good".

The CIA did not initiate the resistance against Castro. It was started by the very same people who helped Castro overthrow Batista who felt they had been betrayed by Castro. Many of these people turned to the U.S. for help because Castro was already receiving Soviet and East bloc military support to secure his power.

Castro controlled the Cuban media and duped the world into believing he was a "David" who was taking on Goliath (the U.S.). The truth is, Castro was a puppet of the Soviet empire which enabled him to be Cuba's dictator.
This was never a peoples' revolution.

Another myth is Cuba's economic crisis being caused by the U.S. embargo which Castro used as an excuse for his own economic failures. Encinosa claims the embargo was more symbolic than real. The best human resources in Cuba were drained by fear and repression which gave Cubans little incentive to work. In addition, the government had to intervene in all labor disputes. Workers were not allowed to dispute with management or organize unions on their own behalf. Pretty convenient considering that the government owns the factories!

The top people in the government became the new aristocracy in Cuba. The Marxist aristocrats were more oppressive and decadent than the rulers they had replaced. An exiled general in Castro's Cuban air force described how Castro and high ranking communist party members lived like kings while the Cuban people lived in misery.

The lesson to be learned here (my own thoughts,not the author's) is that if you ever hear a demagogue spout off about how he's going to "liberate" you, grab your guns and head for the hlls. That's the guy you're going to need to be liberated from.

A concise, but comprehensive look at anti-Castro resistance by Cubans inside and outside the island from 1959 to the present. Encinosa tells an important story that is rarely known outside of the Cuban exile community, as such it is an invaluable study for serious Cuba watchers.

Of special interest, from a military history perspective, was the chapter on the mid-60's anti-Castro guerilla campaign centered in the Escambray mountains of central Cuba. This story is virtually unknown to the outside world, yet captures the courage and defiance to Communist rule, while detailing the uncompromising and brutal tactics Castro used in putting it down. I only wish that a more detailed examination of the Escambray campaign could someday be published. The book flows easily through the various decades, using numerous first-hand accounts of the bravery of those who resisted and the savagery of those who repressed them. Readers will also realize that many of those who took up arms against Castro, had previously supported him. Encinosa also details little known facts about Cuban domestic opposition to their overseas wars. Lastly, a discussion on resistance in the last decade brings to light the viciousness of the Castro regime, best captured in the comments of an individual who tried to set up an 'independent library'.

This book is a great eye-opener that reveals the regime for what it is - repressive and unpopular. Very necessary in light of the constant, and effective propaganda that comes from the island as it tries to influence the more gullible and economic minded sectors of the US. A relevant read given today's developing events.

An extremely well researched book that leaves no doubt in the mind of this reader that despite almost fifty years of totalitarian rule the dissident voices calling for freedom and justice in Cuba will never be silenced.

This book will likely be dismissed by the Castrophiles on the academic left who paint the Cuban exile community as a collection of ignorant fascists. Those who approach the text with moral sobriety and decency, however, will be moved by Mr. Encinosa's tribute to the Cuban martyrs who were either murdered, or suffered in Castro's gulags, while having been ignored by the world press. The romantic delusion that Cuba represents a good faith attempt to create a socialist society while defending itself against evil capitalists has been refuted over and over again by the brutality and mendacity of the system. Like Che Guevara's false archetype of the saintly revolutionary, the revolution itself was a pathetic lie and Cuba eventually became the playground for Castro's egocentric fantasies. I should know. During the revolution my father fought against Batista in the Escambray front and my maternal grandparents ran one of the largest safe houses on the island, which offered refuge to many who later became ranking members of the regime. Fortunately, my family recognized the nature of the beast early on and we fled paradise in 1965.

Among the many stories that Mr. Encinosa recounts, one that Americans should become familiar with is the imprisonment of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, an Afro-Cuban physician who is currently wasting away in a Cuban prison. While the left is busy denouncing the detention of Islamic radicals at Guantanamo, Dr. Biscet, a Christian pro-life activist and advocate of Dr. Martin Luther King's teachings of nonviolent resistence, is serving a 25 year sentence. He previously served a three year prison sentence for holding a Cuban flag upside down during a press conference. After his conviction on April 7, 2003, Dr. Biscet was placed in solitary confinement in a tiny cell where he was denied sunlight for the first year of his imprisonment. He has been forced to live on handouts from other prisoners because the authorities refused to feed him, he lost several teeth and exists on the verge of starvation. Dr. Biscet's plight is a living synopsis of Castro's experiment in Carribean Stalinism and the motivation for the resistance movements described in the book.

Academia claims that the basis for intellectual advancement is the un-biased pursuit of the truth. However, when it comes to events that challenge leftist and liberal views, there is a vacum of "openess and understanding" to opposing realities. This is the case with the study of Cuban socialism and the Cuban exiled community which opposes it. Academias' cover up and blatant manipulation of the exile point of view is a classic example of brainwashing in a massive scale.

Anyone wishing to break away from Academia's stranglehold on the minds of the young, should read this book. You will begin to see the truth about what has happened in Cuba, and how it has been covered up in the US by the liberals and the left.

That's only what I may say

Poeta mas famoso en el mundo nos trajo una obra fantastica, cuando leia, me siento el amor perdido a el. Una obra de Pablo increible, y si no te gusta este, no sabes de poecia! Las poemas te dares un conocimiento que tu no olividaras, y lo regresara lo unico a tu vida

Con versos fáciles de recordar, Neruda escribe en su juventud, este fundamental libro de poesía que cambiaría los ritmos y la forma de enamorar a generaciones de jóvenes, que aún copian sus versos para expresar sus sentimientos. Es una lectura indispensable que recomiendo a los que deseen acercarse a la mejor poesía de amor en español.

magnifica poesia romantica llevada a los limites sin parecer melosa ni trilada. neruda le da una nueva cara al romanticismo, al amor, a los deseos, sus poemas son breves y concisos, libres del influjo de largos y reconditos poemas casi inentedibles escritos por algunos poetas y que estan escritos para analisis eruditos. estos en cambio estan en lenguaje llano y conciso y logran sacarle a este el maximo. me encantaron todos sus poemas.... LUIS MENDEZ

PABLO NERUDA POEM IS A MASTERPIECE, THIS POEM SPEAKS OUT THE FEELINGS THAT YOUNG OR OLD LOVERS WISH THEY COULD SAY. THE POEM IS A WORK OF ART BY THE WAY MR. NERUDA DEALS WITH THE LOSS OF SOMEONE SPECIAL.MY FAVORITE LINE IS "ES TAN CORTO EL AMOR,Y ES TAN LARGO EL OLVIDO." WOW! THAT SAYS IT ALL FOR ME. IT IS VERY EASY TO FEEL THE PASSION OF HIS WRITING STYLE. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AT Tarleton State UNIVERSITY AND I AM GOING TO READ THIS POEM TO MY UPPER LEVEL SPANISH CLASS THURSDAY FEB.5,1998 THANK YOU.

I am including this review as it best reflects my goals in writing the book, as well as the BVI Community's reactions to it!

'Virgin Gorda, an Intimate Portrait' by Joan Soncini

Joan Soncini's new book: "Virgin Gorda, an Intimate Portrait" provides a picture of Virgin Gorda, her people, and change since 1964 when Little Dix Resort opened its doors, transforming this quiet, idyllic place. Referred to as a "must read", the book combines some 200 pictures with some 30+ personal accounts filled with warm, humorous anecdotes, profound wisdom and fascinating observations. Waldo O'Neal, older brother to the Honorable first Premier Ralph O'Neal, 92 years old, says in the book: "Like many others, I only had a primary school education since there was no secondary school in Virgin Gorda at that time...Rockefeller was greeted with open arms by all in the BVI. Why? Jobs!" Louis Walters remembers how he got his "very first pen." His mother first gave him a hen, that laid ten eggs, which he then sold for 50 cents in St. Thomas- 17 cents short! He needed that pen, so, he said, "I had to beg for extra money to buy my pen. It was a hard life."

Soncini is a cross-cultural psychotherapist and adjunct professor at the New York University, living part-time in her Virgin Gordian villa with her husband, Mario. "With 15 years worth of pictures of Virgin Gorda I've waited for years to put everything I know and love about this island into a book: a true labor of love!". In the words of Premier Ralph O'Neal at the November Book Launch Party at Chez Bamboo:

Joan strives to let us tell our own story in our own, namely how Virgin Gorda has evolved. Sometimes it takes a person coming from far away to make the tremendous effort to record our history. We thank her! Joan, I think you were right to record how you see the Virgin Islands and challenge us to try to conserve their natural beauty!

Ms. Soncini said she couldn't feel satisfied about the book until she got enough feedback. "I feel grateful and gratified. I set out to write a book where people would be proud
of it ... and nothing could have given me a better sense of accomplishment than Premier O'Neal talking about the importance of the book, saying that it really served the people of Virgin Gorda."

The stories told in taped interviews explain how Virgin Gorda once was (with pictures from Ewan MacFarland, taken in the 1960s), when life was hard but rich with community and family connections, few jobs, fewer goods and services, transforming into the worldwide fame of today, with the wonderful resorts, restaurants, and private villas. Soncini underlines her experience of Virgin Gorda:

Virgin Gorda has an external beauty, unsurpassed anywhere in the world, but her real richness and wonder is her people! I wanted the readers to delve more deeply into her soul to see what often is unavailable to the eyes of visitors.

Julian Putley says of Dr. Soncini:

It becomes obvious as you read through her book that Ms Soncini has a singular talent in getting her interviewees to reveal their innermost feelings and to recall distant memories. The photographs too, capture a way of life, both past and present, and a glimpse of the beauty that is today's Virgin Gorda.

Ms. Soncini introduces us to people of all walks of life, those born and brought up on Virgin Gorda and those who moved here to work. In addition to the optimism of most, there are words cautioning that progress comes at a cost, primarily in the transformation from a community-based to a more individualistic culture. The "lend a hand" philosophy does, however, still exist among many, thank goodness!

Finally, in the words of Sharon Flax Mars of Little Dix Bay: "Joan has been able to capture the true essence and beauty of Virgin Gorda...that element that sets Virgin Gorda apart from other islands - its people... the wrinkles and crinkles of a life that has seen changes ...the smiles of everyone...and their stories told in their own words."


The book is available: direct sales from the author, soncijo@gmail.com; on Virgin Gorda in local stores and resorts; and on Tortola, through Julian Putney 284 542 3400 (phone) or putley@surfbvi.com (email).

Kudos to the author/photographer Joan Soncini. Finally, a book whose title captures its content! Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait wonderfully describes the development of a fairy tale island which hasn't lost its heart & soul in the process of modernization. The book reads like a love story of the island, beautifully capturing the essence & pride of its people, as well as what made the "newcomers" captivated & unable to leave. The author is an artist & ethnographer par excellence! Dr. Soncini's breathtaking photographs peer right into the soul of her subjects, as does her intimate interviews with Virgin Gorda's citizens, new & old. Such intimacy can only be achieved by someone in love with the island herself, someone who her interviewees know can be trusted with their cherished memories of Virgin Gorda, & someone who wants to preserve the island's essence for generations to come. Dr. Soncini has done an outstanding job at creating a visual & visceral portrait of an island beaming with pride. This is a 5 star review for a 5 star author/photographer & 5 star island.

Author Joan Soncini has captured the magic and soul of Virgin Gorda in her book "Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait". The photographs are a visual delight that gives readers not only a history of the island over the years, but a glimpse into the people. It's the interviews with the residents of Virgin Gorda that brings out the islands soul. Joan found special nuggets of information in everyone's story to bring the island the life. A week vacation to Virgin Gorda is a wonderful introduction to the island, but reading " Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait" gives everyone a chance to really get to know the island. So, enjoy!!

I'm generally not a big fan of coffee table photo books, but Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait is so much more than that. I've been to Virgin Gorda many times and I have to confess that I didn't know nearly as much about the island as I thought I did. Dr. Soncini is a psychologist who has a clear eye for what really drives people, and she manages to bring out the stories of many untold heroes who made the island what it is today in this book. The undercurrents of what really goes on in the lives of everyday people on this beautiful little island are truly fascinating. There is no other book like this that tells the story of the people who bring this island to life. Oh, and by the way, the photos are mesmerizing. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand more about this spectacular island than the sand and surf.

Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait

First of all, I want to offer a caveat: I am a close friend of Joan Soncini, so I am NOT an unbiased reviewer but believe I can offer some background and insight into her book, "Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait."

As a homeowner on Virgin Gorda, Joan has spent over 15 years photographing the Island and getting to know its people and culture. She has made hundreds of friends and acquaintances on the Island; thus, the interviewees felt comfortable and open in sharing their views and concerns about the Island. Their words and Joan's photos paint an important, never-before-seen documentation of Virgin Gorda as it grew and is today.

According to remarks by Ralph O'Neal, premier of the British Virgin Islands, at the book launching party on November 17, 2007: until this book was written, there had been scant historical and cultural literature on the Island. He said that he feels that this book is so important that he plans to give a copy each BVI graduate in the 2007-08 year. Books are being supplied to all the schools and teachers as well.

Yet, this is not a stodgy book: far from it. The interviews are engrossing and interesting, and the gorgeous photos are culled from thousands Joan has taken over the years. I have watched Joan's photographic skills grow over the years. Her keen eye and therapist background find the "real" Virgin Gorda in every photo.

Sail along with Dan and Judi and the Lady in the second book of their life as they charter the best sailboat and motor yacht in the BVI. You can almost smell the briny sea and taste Judi's gourmet meals as page after page unfolds a story of life on the ocean and the people they encounter. After reading Judi's story, I felt a strong bond with her and now know why I admired her so much when chartering. Her books are a pure delight.

The Voyage of The Capricorn Lady is a voyage anyone can take without leaving your living room. From the moment I began reading, I understood that Judi was not only sharing with us a wonderful part of her life, but developing a bittersweet peace within herself as she wrote. She writes simply and beautifully as she takes us on a voyage of success, failure, and success, peppered with the determination and self doubt we all experience. As we come to know Judi and Dan, we can relate to their difficult choices, and we can rejoice in their happiness.

Throughout this journey, we are confident that Dan and Judi's business savvy, and devotion to family and each other will inspire them through their most difficult times.
These books are not only a tribute to a man by his wife, but a true to life experience of living a dream laced with laughter, danger,and above all love...

This is a true story of a man and a woman destined to meet and share a life of adventure, laughter, tragedy and love. From their first lunch together in 1964, to their last embrace in April 2003, Daniel Gilman and Judith Bauer epitomized the term "soul mates".
Book one takes us on their journey from the world of high level real estate, through an abrupt departure on their 40' sail boat Capricorn and finally to the Caribbean. The agony of leaving family and possessions behind is gradually softened by their new lives, new friends and a grand new world.
Through a tapestry of defeats and accomplishments, Judi takes us with her on a cruise through her most cherished years with her "Danny" by her side. We experience their hartache and their hard earned victories. As we sail with them on the Capricorn from island to island to the acquisition of their motor yacht, Capricorn Lady, we eat, swim, dive, and tour their stunningly beautiful yet at times unforgiving part of the world.

Judi's vivid and deeply personal account of their life together leaves the reader with an enticing anticipation for book two. These books are just not for those who shared the experience of a cruise with Dan and Judi. It is for the romantic, the gourmet, and the adventurer in all of us.

In Book 1, we meet Captain Dan and his "Capricorn Lady", Judi. Overcoming unbelievable personal challenges, they continue charting their course on the 71 foot luxury Trumpy Motor yacht. "Capricorn Lady" is a labor of love, and we live each moment with Dan and Judi. Charter guest stories are touching, funny and human nature at its best! Book 2 takes you on many trips around the British Virgins, and you feel like you are also escaping on the "Lady," savouring each adventure with the Gilmans and their guests. Book 2 is an intimate, loving tribute to Captain Dan. Judi has opened her heart and the diary of her life with her beloved husband. Readers will relate to her emotions and cheer her independance. Can hardly wait for Book 3!

The second book in this series is wonderful. It brings back memories of days living in the islands, when the challenges of living were overcome by the joy and energy of Caribbean life. Be sure to have a tissue close at hand when reading this book, as it is not all chuckles, as you read of entertaining charter guests and crew. The book deals with deeper subjects such as family, illness and death, and there is an undercurrent of regret for the things that might have been, but this is overcome by the sheer joy the author, my Mother, felt about her life with her captain. I shared the adventure with "The Capricorn Lady", and loved every minute of it.

Book review of behind the mountain

My book is called Behind the Mountain by Edwidge Danticat.
A family is broke and they are trying to get to New York. They live in Haiti. Bombs are going off all over the place. A girl in the family is trying to help her mom from almost dying from a bomb. That was my introduction.

The main characters are the dad, manman which is the mom and Celiane the dater. Manman is almost dead from a bomb. Celiane want's her dad. The father is in New York giving money to the mom and dater and brother who also has money. The brother is working to give them money to. Those were all the characters.

In this book they want to leave there country. There is a lot of bombing happing so they want to leave their country Haiti. In Haiti 2 kiddies died from the bombing happing in Haiti. They finally got to New York and they were happy because they would not die any more. When Celiane got to New York she had a good school and like before. That was my setting.

The family is trying to get courage to move to New York with there dad. They don't want to be in bombs any more. The girl want's a better school. The family is trying to get money from people to go to New York. The theme is courage.

If you read this book you will be able to visualize the book. So if you read it now I won't let you stop. This book is about one big adventure in 2 different countries. If you like weapons I think you should read this book. That was my conclusion.

Book review of behind the mountain

My book is called Behind the Mountain by Edwidge Danticat.
A family is broke and they are trying to get to New York. They live in Haiti. Bombs are going off all over the place. A girl in the family is trying to help her mom from almost dying from a bomb. That was my introduction.

The main characters are the dad, manman which is the mom and Celiane the dater. Manman is almost dead from a bomb. Celiane want's her dad. The father is in New York giving money to the mom and dater and brother who also has money. The brother is working to give them money to. Those were all the characters.

In this book they want to leave there country. There is a lot of bombing happing so they want to leave their country Haiti. In Haiti 2 kiddies died from the bombing happing in Haiti. They finally got to New York and they were happy because they would not die any more. When Celiane got to New York she had a good school and like before. That was my setting.

The family is trying to get courage to move to New York with there dad. They don't want to be in bombs any more. The girl want's a better school. The family is trying to get money from people to go to New York. The theme is courage.

If you read this book you will be able to visualize the book. So if you read it now I won't let you stop. This book is about one big adventure in 2 different countries. If you like weapons I think you should read this book. That was my conclusion.

Read as part of a course on bilingualism & biculturalism this book provided a personal glimpse into a child's life and how it changed.

Not only is this a well-written, interesting story of a young girl's life in Haiti, it truly gives the reader a taste of what Haiti is like today. My daughter, age 10, and I read it together, after my first trip to Haiti on a medical mission. I felt like I was back in Haiti, and loved the description, historical information and perspective of a young girl watching her life and country change. Behind the Mountains is written in diary form, and really draws the reader in, allowing her to see things through the eye's of the young narrator as her family is uprooted and moved to another country.

I highly recommend this to young readers (4th-6th grade) or even adults who enjoy historical fiction, learning about other cultures, or are undergoing family changes.

I give this a 5 star rating for the wonderful prose, easy readability, smooth incorporation of beautiful cultural and historical facts, and engaging characters.

As I walked through the leafy Boston suburb, I saw a uniformed chauffeur waiting outside a big house. He was gazing into the trees, obviously enjoying the quiet spring morning. A nametag on his lapel identified him as "Jean."

"Are you from Haiti?" I asked.

He nodded, surprised.

"I just read a great book about your country," I told him. "I learned about the beautiful mountains and hibiscus flowers there."

I watched the smile spread across his face. Were it not for Edwidge Danticat's young adult novel, Behind the Mountains, I might have walked wordlessly past this stranger. Now I was curious about his journey, and he was thrilled by my knowledge of his country and culture. That's the purpose of Orchard's First Person Fiction series - to create understanding and empathy for the immigrants around us. Using fictional diary entries, Danticat recounts Celiane Esperance's journey from a rural town to Port-au-Prince to Brooklyn. I painlessly learned about Haitian history and politics, and gained insight into why some Haitians desire to immigrate to America.

The book is also particularly written for immigrant teens. Danticat, the acclaimed author of three adult novels, expertly depicts Celiane's high hopes of seeing her father again and the subsequent stressful reality of a family reunion. Reading about Celiane's first miserable days in New York will encourage immigrant teens to welcome other newcomers. As Celiane describes her sorrow over her father's conflict with her older brother Moy, I remembered my older siblings hammering out compromises with our parents. These and other themes common to immigrants from any country make me wish this book had been around when I was reading out on that Flushing fire escape.

I found this guidebook to be quite useful during our recent trip to Bermuda. Tom Moore's Tavern was as excellent as you promised. Lonely Planet has a great index, and the maps were expecially helpful.

I'm a fan of Lonely Planet guides, as I like to get out and explore offbeat places on my own and meet the locals. Their Bermuda guide was a great planning tool to do so. Coupled with Insight's laminated [eraseable] map, it was all I needed for my 9-day trip. The Guide is set up by Bermuda's parishes, which is a bit cumbersome until you get a grasp of the island's geography. Even when you do, it's a bit difficult to figure out if the place you saw on the road by bus is in Warwick or Southampton or Somerset Parish. So the really map helped orient me before I hit the tarmac.

As my work keeps me indoors when at home, I like to spend as much time as possible physically engaged in the outdoors when I'm on vacation. The only portion of the guide which should be changed is the part about biking the Old Railway Trail. This "trail" ranges from grass with a tire rut, to dirt and rocks through the woods, to becoming synonymous with the main roads of the island, depending on whether it's been taken over by development. Very little of the trail is paved off of the main road, and there are places with steep grades with steps. Also, about every quarter to half mile on the real "trail," there are metal barriers over which you have to lift your bike, making a continuous pedal cumbersome. The scenery is great on many portions of Warwick and Somerset in particular, but I wouldn't plan on a cycling vacation for exercise or for primary transportation. Cycling the roads is precarious, as they are barely wide enough for two cars, and I never saw a straight segment of street on the island. Shrubbery juts out from stone walls at bike level in yards all over the island, making the situation even more difficult. I did about 40 miles of trail and road, and although I'm happy I did it, I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart.

Scooters look pretty dangerous, and accidents and fatalities are rampant, even amongst locals. I took a ride my last evening on the back of one, and the curvy roads are precarious even when seated behind an experienced local. I'm a big risk taker, but I respect limits of common sense. No rental cars are available on the island, but the bus and ferry service is good. So get a multiple day buss/ferry pass and enjoy the public transportation after perhaps one full day on a pedal bike. Rentals are steep at $25 a day published, but I got the shop to reduce it to $15 with some quibbling. My Huffy 18 speed mountain bike was sufficient, and you do need those speeds on the steep hills!

Do a lot of online research on the Bermuda sites listed in the Guide when planning your trip and email or phone ahead of time, as Bermudians tend to change printed schedules on a whim.

The guide should emphasize that cab fares are very, very expensive, with a minimum fare of about $5 for a very short ride to $20 or more to traverse from one hotel to another for dinner. Cabbies are independent and subscribe to a call service.

The other part the guide left out is that single women are pursued by Bermudans to no end. The first question I always seemed to get is "Where is your husband?" to confirm I was fresh meat on the island. It seems that American women traveling alone are curious commodities and perhaps seen as "easy" by local men.

The other part the guide leaves out is that the tourist industry is heavily supported by guest workers from Europe, Asia and Latin America, making communication sometimes problematic. All in all, a great source to give you planning tools, costs, and the inside scoop on the island.

I received this book the day after I had to postpone my planned ninth trip to Bermuda. Ouch! Even though I've been to Bermuda several times, my last trip was a few years ago. This book brought me up to date on what has changed (fortunately, not much) and new things to see and do. I like Lonely Planet's approach to guide books. They don't focus on just the fancy, popular "tourist trap" types of places but also include slightly off-beat attractions, restaurants, etc., that other guidebooks tend to ignore.

The major obstacle which hinders the performance of Lonely Planet and other guidebooks is that they often try and cover a very wide country or region, such as "Lonely Planet China" or "Lonely Planet USA", not to mention things like "Lonely Planet Africa on a shoestring". This often means that, in over 800 pages of a bulky book, only few are really relevant to what the reader is looking for. Indeed, the reader can be lost among lots of information, data, etc., which she or he has no interest in: if I find myself in Nairobi and am looking for a restaurant, do I really need to find myself browsing information about the visa procedures for Cameroon or the hotels of Sierra Leone ? Luckily, Bermuda is a much smaller place, and this has enabled the author and editors to truly produce a well-focused, condensed and overall excellent guidebook. The information for the visitor is complete and accurate, up-to-date, and indeed extremely useful (even in a place which does not present particular cultural or social obstacles for the average visitor): while Bermuda may still be possible to get to know on one's own, the aid of this little guidebook will be paramount. Its sections on hotels, restaurants, entertainment, are excellent. Coverage of things to see and do, sports and other activities, is down-to-the-point and very full. The sections on history and culture are also of great value, excellently written, easy-to-read in a captivating and pleasant prose, making this truly enjoyable and worthy reading for everyone. It is indeed a book one should surely pack before setting off to Bermuda.

I spent two weeks in Bermuda, and was very glad I brought this book along with me. I doubt very much that there are many interesting corners of the country that have been overlooked by the authors of this guide -- some of which I never would have thought to investigate had this book not alerted me to their existence. I especially appreciated all the historical and cultural details, and found that it was an invaluable tool in keeping costs down in a country where just about everything is VERY pricey. This book has since been re-used by other members of my family on their own trips to Bermuda, and has paid for itself several times over.

A beautifully designed and thoughtful book. The watercolors evoke the pink gentile Bermuda I visited as a child. This book is a must for any history and nautical buff who wants to learn of the origins of the island,as well as shipping and sailing lore.400 pages of comprehensive, thorough, detailed information about this corner of paradise on earth

A beautifully designed and thoughtful book. The watercolors evoke the pink gentile Bermuda I visited as a child. This book is a must for any history and nautical buff who wants to learn of the origins of the island,as well as shipping and sailing lore.400 pages of comprehensive, thorough, detailed information about this corner of paradise on earth

An atlas usually provides a singular function: helping you find somewhere on the globe. The "Bermuda Atlas and Gazetteer" is SO much more with its insightful examination of practically every street, path, hill, island, rock and all things named on the beautiful islands of Bermuda. Upon closer inspection, you realize that everything has a story, and Mr. Blagg has uncovered some tremendous history in this text. As a resident of Bermuda, I find it an invaluable aid in learning more about my home. If I were a visitor to these islands of paradise, I would find this book to be the most tasteful souvenir or gift. T-shirts just don't cut it.

(Well done, Dan. I'm proud of you.)

BERMUDA ATLAS AND GAZETTEER

Paradise lost, paradise found,
In pages that are bound.
A timeless treasure of pictures and words,
If you've never seen, nor heard
The Siren's song like those who've been.
You'll want to return again and again.

-----------------------------------------------------

1962

Thoughts of the past come back
To a place called "Cotton Patch",
It's not here in Tennessee,
But somewhere far across the sea.
A pale green house high on a hill,
I wonder if it sits there still,
Surrounded by banana trees
And childhood memories.
Salt spray on shutters in a storm,
A pony to ride in the neighbor's barn,
White steps on our roof to catch the rain,
I wonder if it's still the same.
Caves to hide in and rocks to climb,
Out all day, never mind the time,
Easter lilies grown to sell,
But we didn't have to pay for the smell,
Or the view--
Every day was something new.
Gnarled cedars on a sandy path--
I think I found it on a map
In the BERMUDA ATLAS AND GAZETTEER,
A book to ponder year after year,
To find the places I have seen,
Long ago and in my dreams.

Jane Barcroft Forgy
9/6/00

As a first-time visitor to Bermuda, I was looking for a comprehensive book to learn about the island's history and culture. I was struck by this sophisticated volume - it stood out among the others for its beautiful look and feel, more like a fine 19th century guide for the well-heeled traveler. I found the watercolors alluring and then, as I scouted Bermuda, I realized that the artist had painted with such sensitivity and grace that he captured the real beauty of his chosen sites. For instance, the magnificent painting of the cave in Tom Moore's Jungle is exactly as the mystical and enchanted grotto appears in real life. Yet the artist's style still adds something magical that photographs or other mediums could not match. The book is also a joy to read as well as behold. The author's writing style, while factual, is easy to read and the entries include interesting folklore and anecdotes about all the places of Bermuda. The book is at once a valuable reference volume, an atlas with sixteen fold-out maps, and a beautiful collection of exquisite watercolors. Although it is pricey, the Bermuda Atlas is well worth the money spent as the ultimate souvenir of the island.

As a genealogist, I have a particular interest in these types of publications. Guillermo Baralt has collected priceless information on Puerto Rican history.

I have a lot invested in this book as my mom's family comes from hacienda life and are from this area of the island. It helped me flesh out a better picture of my ancestral movements. For my mom and aunts, reading this book was like reading a diary. This was their life experience. Thanks so much for translating this. It can be enjoyed by any serious historian of the Caribbean.

Historically, factual, fascinating, a wealth of information culturally, and a must read (required) for all Puerto Ricans, Newyoricans, and ANYONE interested in the history of the founding fathers of the New World!...I found this book, while researching the archives online at the New York Historical Society's Library. But, it only showed the original, which was written in Spanish. The history and clarity of the subject matter contained in this book is long overdue, and covered the subject spectrum 100%!


After speaking with my brother, whose first visit to Puerto Rico (at a ripe old age of 49), included a visit to 'Plantation Buena Vista,' he told me about the rich history that he saw there, and that he was totally fascinated by it! I again, researched this book online at [...], and saw, that it was redone in English, so that, I could read it!

If I were asked to contribute anything to this book, I would just say, that I would have liked it to be broader to include more chapters! Perhaps, a sequel to this book can be written! Or, maybe even, it should be made into a TV Series...muchas, Alex Haley's TV miniseries, "ROOTS!"

The ongoing saga of the Buena Vista Plantation, rich cultural history of the Vives Family and Puerto Rico after the turn of the century, is equally, and, even more, compelling a story!

Thank you Amazon for providing this book, as it filled in the facts that not being able to read comprehensively in Spanish has cost!

I received this book on Saturday and finished it Sunday . An excellent, detailed account on life in a Puerto Rican Hacienda. Wonderful illustrations of people of the time and details of sophisticated equipment used in those time. A true picture of how life was then. My grandfather was a farmer and worked on a plantation so this gives light to some of the stories he told me about. An excellent books for anyone that wants to know about their roots and is especially interested in the Ponce area although this was probably typical of all plantations. A must read!!!

If your really into history Colonial days you should really put your hands on this one. It takes you on a drive full of feeling to that era. Im Italian and it made me recall my grandparents village in Palermo... I give Gullermo A. Baralt an A+

(From Planeta journal): This new English-language translation of an established Caribbean classic traces the history of the Buena Vista estate in the foothills of Puerto Rico's central mountain range. Now a living history museum, Buena Vista gained its initial success producing food for the town of Ponce, proving that raising crops for local consumption could be as profitable as sugar or coffee for export. The text spans almost a century -- a time in which slavery ended and technology expanded at a phenomenal rate. This is an exceptional book, one that any visitor to Puerto Rico should read before making an obligatory visit to the island's Living Museum of Art and Science.

the first time i recieved this book it took me about 2 weeks to read it all the way through and i would have to say this is a great book for people are seeking more knowledge about all aspects of what rastafarI is from its origan till its current standings it covers the tip of all subjects that flows on through rastafarian teachings and wisdom comming from someone who knew not much about rastafaI before reading this book i give it a 10 because it gives you info on lots of subjects discussed on rastafarI but leaves much for your mind to want to continue to search out more for yourself

This is the best book I've read on the subject. It is complete and gives the views of various scholars both Rasta and non-Rasta. I keep it as a resource and have read it 3 times.

A very large wealth of information on the rastafarian movement. A very scholarly anthology. Read it three times over and learn more each time! Will use for years.

Chanting Down Babylon is a welcomed addition to the growing literature on Rastafari. This reader sucessfully brings together most of the scholars studying Rastafari, as well as Rastafarians themselves, providing an important insight into Rastafari. The inclusion of articles addressing biblical hermeneutics as well as Rastafari theology begins to fill an important gap in Rastafari scholarship. A real treasure for those interested in learning about Rastafari for the first time, and for those who wish to expand their knowledge of this important religious movement.

I found this work to be one of the most complete on the study of the the Rastafarian movement.The information is well presented and is cohesive and highly informaive. This work is ideal for the new convert or anyone who wants a thorough examination of the faith. I highly recommend it.