Caribbean Books

Updated and enlarged Paperback edition with a new introduction.
Just published
Reviews of the hardcover edition:

"A comprehensive and tolerant study, devoid of jargon. . . . Calder,a historian at the University of Illinois at Chicago, fairly describes the mixed results of the occupation. . . . Some readers may disagree with Mr. Calder's assessment of the occupation's long-term costs-Dominican hostility to the United States and, less directly, the Trujillo regime that began in 1930-but this is nevertheless an excellent study." -The New York Times Book Review
"A work of exceptional historical analysis. . . . Calder is to be commended for his forthright analysis of the American occupation." -American Historical Review
"A particularly good summary of U.S. imperialism at the turn of
the century and a clear description of Dominican society and the
political system at that time." -Political Science Quarterly

BRUCE CALDER, University of Illinois, the author of Politics of Spirit,wrote a new introduction to this book.

"A comprehensive and tolerant study, devoid of jargon. . . . Calder,
a historian at the University of Illinois at Chicago, fairly describes
the mixed results of the occupation. . . . Some readers may disagree
with Mr. Calder's assessment of the occupation's long-term
costs--Dominican hostility to the United States and, less directly,
the Trujillo regime that began in 1930--but this is nevertheless an
excellent study." --The New York Times Book Review

It's pretty depressing that this book is number 1,773,851 on the Amazon sales list. Let's see: Invade and occupy a country to bring it stability and democracy, provoke a stubborn insurgency, antagonize the populace, find it difficult to complete ambitious infrastructure plans, alienate your allies. Where have I heard this before? Let's hope the epilogue-- a 31-year rule by a brutal despot-- doesn't repeat as well. This is a superb treatment of the US occupation of the Dominican Republic that began in 1916; it's thorough, fair, and well-written. If more citizens--and more policy makers--read books such as this, America would be a humbler, wiser, and stronger country. Why has the Uiversity of Texas Press stopped printing it?

"In Miserable Slavery" is the copilation of Thomas Thistlewoods 10,000 page diary that he kept while he was an overseer in colonial Jamaica. Douglas Hall has done an excellent job of distilling this document into a readable version of approxamately 300 pages. What we find in Thistlewood is comentary on everyday life in colonial Jamaica without racial bias. Thistlewood is frank about all aspects of his experience, from his sexual relations, to whom he dined with, and the intricate opperations of the plantations where he was employed, and the one which he finally owned. This is primary source material that gives a humanity to slaves and those who enslaved them, which is extremely rare and of high value to historians. All of that and it is excellent reading as well.

Hall does an outstanding job of putting together the diaries of Thistlewood. You really get a good picture of slave life in Jamaica

Thistlewood's diaries contain a fascinating account of his interaction with his slaves. Thistlewood was not an English Gentry, but an overseer who left his employ with the established Cope family and ventured on his own. He learned that he could hire his slaves to the crown, and gave them more freedom than most slave owners of the time. Because of his "good treatment"sic he developed some very interesting relationships with the slaves he owned. His meticulous documention of his sexual involvement with the slaves shows what a voracious man he was. It also showed how much power his favorite slave Phibba had.

My family is from Trinidad, so I am already quite familiar with the island and its culture and customs. Nevertheless, I learned so much from this book regarding the rich history of Trinidad and Tobago ("T & T"). It is also an excellent travel guide. Photography is wonderful. I couldn't be any more pleased with this book. In fact, I will be taking it with me on my next trip to T & T.

This book was both insightful and accurate. It provided detailed information about the people, culture, customs and the lifestyle of the Trinidadian and Tobagonian people. There are many pictures representing the most popular vacation spots and the book provides historical detail about the areas and all of the influences of the various countries to colonize Trinidad. It provided a wealth of information for the average reader and even supplements the knowledge of the local Trinidadian who cannot accurately explain certain aspects of the culture. It is a must have book for every Trinidadian and Tobagonian and anyone who intends to visit Trinidad and Tobago. I can honestly say that the authors of this book did their research in an attempt to provide a fair and across the board view of all the racial groups which live in Trinidad and Tobago. The pictures are vivid and the diversity and beauty of the flora and fauna of Trinidad is beautifully exhibited in this book. The pictures alone would make one homesick and long to return to the beautiful island. This is one of the best sources of information I have come across on Trinidad and Tobago it provides, historical, geographical, cultural, political and social views of this wonderful paradise island.

I was told by the locals that I was "well read" after reading this one. Lot's of pictures, lots of history and lots of current information make it a perfect preparation for a trip to the island.

A great detailed map of Bermuda. Lightweight, and won't get wet. This guide will be very helpful when planning your trip to Bermuda.

This map provides a great island map, as well as more detailed inset maps of the more populated areas of interest. Highlights of attractions and sights are interspersed, making this a great resource. Very durable and waterproof! I used the map for 9 days by foot, bike, bus and ferry, and it was useful throughout my trip.

This sturdy map will be used for years. The clear coating prevents that fuzziness from wear at the folds. The street listings will be useful for exploring the island on foot, and all the print is clear and easy to read. A must for visitors to Bermuda, well worth the price.

The marinades and sauces that are in this book make the most mouth watering barbecue that I have ever had. Most of the ingredients you can find in supermarkets. If you like a zing in your food, try this book out.

This was a fun book to read for me. The stories that were read made the visualization process much more appealing. A cookbook should not be just recipies, but an inspiration to the craft. For me, Island Barbeque has been an inspiration as well as good source of information. I have used it to make wonderfully hot jerk marinades and sweet and spicy ginger beer, among other fantastic dishes.

Last week I went through my cookbooks, to see if I could weed some out, because I have too many to mention. It's hard getting rid of a cookbook, especially one with a few recipes in it that you've come to love. But I've scanned the recipes I need to keep forever into my MacBook. However, there were an even dozen I couldn't part with. These are books I turn to time and time again, even though I consider myself somewhat of a gourmet chef.

Dunstan Harris' and Brooke Scutter's ISLAND BARBECUE is one of the books I kept. One because the recipes are so delicish, and two, because it's informative and well written. I like the way the author's tell you about and how to use the fuels used in barbacue -- charcoal briquettes, mesqjuite charcoal and other hardwood charcoals. I like the little essays, like the origin of sauces for example, but most of all I like the delicious recipes, like the "Spicy Barbecued Tuna with Mango Salsa". You just have to try that. A favorite of my hubby's is the "Spicy Jerked Steak". Actually he likes most of what I make him from this very fine cookbook and you will too, I'm sure of that.

Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Giftus John continues to "Sing" like a true Island man. As I read his poems, I was taken on a journey back home - to Dominica. The art and richness of the collection is a treasure. I strongly encourage the purchase and enjoyment of "The Island Man Sings His Song." It captures with authenticity, the essence of what Dominicans experience at home and abroad. This is definitely one of Giftus' best works.

This is trully a masterpeice. This is by far one of Giftus' greatest works. The poems took me back to my youthful days growing up in Salisbury. It brought back fun memories of listening and sharing stories, and riddles under clear moonlight skies. "The Island Man Sings His Song" is as real as I remember. For those who forgot or did not have the uniques opportunity to experience life in Dominica, "The Island Man SIngs His Song" takes you there. It is a great educational tool. I highly recommend it.

I have the pleasure of knowing Giftus John, so my comments may appear biased. BUT I know other published poets and you won't see any of my positive comments around their work, and that's because I consider Giftus' poetry to be that of a truly inspired writer with music coming out of his pen. He has the absolute right to use the words "Sings" and "Songs" in his title.

Several of the poems harken back to Giftus' days in Dominica, as he reexamines the joys and the pains of his youth. But it isn't a total introspection, as he applies the same lessons he'd learned to the youthful experiences of his own young children. Many other poems reflect the adult Giftus, now in New Jersey. There's a melancholy longing in these poems but never does he give into self-pity. He always has that music, he always has his island songs to get him through. And we are better for that, too.

Olga's vivid details about her life growing up under Fulgencio Batista and later Fidel Castro Ruz are very revealing, even to those who also lived this nightmare. An incredible account of Fidel's manipulation and betrayal of the revolution, resulting in Cuba's subservience to the Russians.

Very good book that shares the personal experiences of a family living in Castro's Cuba. The author shares the situations her and her family encountered both in Cuba and in trying to leave Cuba.

This is an amazing story of the early days of Fidel Castro written from the perspective of a young Cuban woman. The writer exhibits an intuitive understanding of the evil nature that is
Fidel Castro and his ability to suffocate and stop time on the island of Cuba. It is a story filled with passion and insight.

I have this book and it is side-splitting funny. It is written in Caribbean English and has many cliches that takes you back to the islands. It contains a few hilarious stories of "man and woman ting". A definate pick-me-up for those who miss the Caribbean. Do not read it in public you may end up laughing out loud. I long for more literature like this. It is well worth buying and sharing.

I have this book and it is side-splitting funny. It is written in Caribbean English and has many cliches that takes you back to the islands. It contains a few hilarious stories of "man and woman ting". A definate pick-me-up for those who miss the Caribbean. Do not read it in public, you may end up laughing out loud. I long for more literature like this. It is well worth buying and sharing.

I have this book and it is side-splitting funny. It is written in Caribbean English and has many cliches that takes you back to the islands. It contains a few hilarious stories of "man and woman ting". A definate pick-me-up for those who miss the Caribbean. Do not read it in public, you may end up laughing out loud. I long for more literature like this. It is well worth buying and sharing.

La revolución granadina de 1979 1983 fue una experiencia política de inmensa importancia, tanto por los pueblos del Caribe como trabajadores y campesinos del mundo entero. Un país pequeño, con apenas 100 mil habitantes, pero con una rica lucha revolucionaria estableció un gobierno de los trabajadores y campesinos. Junto con Cuba y Nicaragua sandinista, Granada fue uno de los "tres gigantes" de aquellos años. Granada enfrentó todos los problemas del mundo actual: la dominación del imperialismo, el subdesarrollo, el racismo. Y tomó pasos gigantes en el camino para construir una nueva sociedad, basada en la solidaridad humana e el internacionalismo.

Este folleto -- realmente un libro-- publica el discurso de Maurice Bishop, el dirigente central de la revolución, ante una multitud de personas reunidas en la universidad Hunter College en Nueva York en junio de 1983; el discurso de Fidel Castro en al acto de mases conmemorando los trabajadores cubanos muertos en combate contra la invasión norteamericana de la isla en octubre de 1983; y un largo análisis de los logros y la caída de la revolución escrito por Steve Clark como introducción al libro Maurice Bishop Speaks.

Entre las cuestiones más importantes para la humanidad es la tarea de la construcción de una vanguardia revolucionaria capaz de encabezar la lucha de masas en el mundo de hoy -- y evitar lo que al fin pasó en Granada, un levantamiento contrarrevolucionario desde dentro de la misma dirigencia revolucionaria. Los hechos documentados en este folleto bien vale ser estudiado, tanto para conocer nuestra historia verdadera y para preparar mejor las luchas obreras que se avecinen.

Este folleto cuenta la historia de una gran revolución en una isla pequeñita; en 1979 el movimiento encabezado por Maurice Bishop derrocó el dictador de Granada, Eric Gairy, acto que también derrocó el dominio imperialismo de este país caribeño. Las nuevas políticas: la reforma agraria, la educación y el seguro social -ambos ya gratuitos-, las nuevas formas del poder popular obrero y campesino en lugar de la "democracia parlamentaria" anterior, el desarrollo de la agricultura y el turismo como industrias nacionales en beneficio de los obreros y campesinos en lugar que los superricos patrones extranjeros, todas ellas enfurecieron a los imperialistas y su gobierno en Washington, pero sobre todo los imperialistas odiaron y temieron el hecho de que Granada marchó al lado de las otras revoluciones anticapitalistas en la región: las revoluciones sandinista y cubana. Lee este folleto y aprenda porque Fidel Castro calificó a Cuba, Nicaragua y Granada como tres gigantes que alzan en el umbral del imperialismo. Esta obra también explica por un lado el golpe del estado estalinista que asesinó a Bishop y así dio paso a la invasión brutal, y por otro la complicidad de los políticos del Partido Demócrata estadounidense en esa invasión.

The revolution in Grenada was the first socialist revolution in the English-speaking world, the first socialist revolution in a country of Africa descended people,and sadly the first revolution smashed by the combination of Stalinist counterrevolution and imperialist invasion. As the world in general, and the West Indies, Africa, and Black people in America are already facing conditions as bad as those of the great depression, working people will return to this battle, and seize not just the spirit and courage of this small island fighting against the imperialist monster, but of the concrete lessons, bad and good, won in their blood. This small pamphlet recounts that history, those lessons, and that spirit, not in the style of some history teacher, or in the style of sentimentalist wanting you to cry over Grenada's past. It is written so the blood and struggle of the Grenadian people can teach today's fighting workers and farmers, across the globe to win their triumphs and avoid their defeats.

Ahora más que nunca, cuando Cuba aparenta cambios político/económicos en un futuro cercano, la importancia de conocer su historia es fundamental. Porque solo cuando las personas conocen la historia es que pueden aprender de ella para evitar los errores del pasado. El autor recoge con ejemplar claridad este panorama que se vivía en la Cuba desde principios de siglo hasta el año 1959. "La Semilla" nos muestra como todo hecho no ocurre espontáneamente sino que sus causas se pueden trazar a través del tiempo. Y es así que transcurre la trágica historia de nuestro país, ya destinado a fracasar desde que su semilla fue mal plantada y a través de los años aquellos con poder para remediarlo no lo hicieron, ya fuera por ignorancia o por beneficio propio. Este libro no es solo para aquellos interesados por Cuba sino para todo aquel interesado en el futuro de su propio país.

¿Qué relación tuvo la Guerra Fría con la prematura muerte de un líder azucarero y congresista cubano?¿Qué hizo el estudiante Fidel Castro el día que asesinaron a Manolo Castro, el ex presidente de la Federación Estudiantil Universitaria (FEU)? ¿Qué papel desempeñaba en el escenario político de Cuba el Ministro Plenipotenciario (y, más tarde, embajador) Benjamin Sumner Wells: el carismático estadounidense de trajes impecables confeccionados por un sastre londinense?

Las respuestas a esas preguntas (y a muchas otras) se encuentran en este libro cuyo tema es un análisis crítico que abarca desde 1902, año del nacimiento de la república cubana, hasta principios del año 1959, cuando triunfó la Revolución en ese país. Economía, política y sociedad en un devenir de medio siglo que conoceremos más y comprenderemos mejor gracias a esta obra.

Desarrollada con rigor, inteligencia y honestidad, La semilla (I) se destaca además por un sostenido interés narrativo que combina crónica, testimonio y reflexión analítica.

Escrito con un estilo fluido de novela de acción, este libro presenta una enorme cantidad de información de la historia de Cuba, combinando un enfoque detallado de eventos con el entorno político/social/económico de los mismos.