Name: Caribbean
ISBN: 9780812974928

James Albert Michener

The turbulent history of the Caribbean islands is chronicled, from tribal conflicts on Dominica and the age of exploration, to the Cuban revolution and the tempestuous present, through the colorful lives of characters, fictional and real-life. Reprint. 15,000 first printing.

Caribbean

James A. Michener

In this acclaimed classic novel, James A. Michener sweeps readers off to the Caribbean, bringing to life the eternal allure and tumultuous history of this glittering string of islands. From the 1310 conquest of the Arawaks by cannibals to the decline of the Mayan empire, from Columbus’s arrival to buccaneer Henry Morgan’s notorious reign, from the bloody slave revolt on Haiti to the rise of Cuba’s Fidel Castro, Caribbean packs seven hundred dramatic years into a tale teeming with revolution and romance, authentic characters and thunderous destinies. Through absorbing, magnificent prose, Michener captures the essence of the islands in all of their awe-inspiring scope and wonder. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener's Hawaii. Praise for Caribbean “Michener is a master.”—Boston Herald “A grand epic . . . [James A. Michener] sympathizes with the struggles of the region’s most oppressed, and succeeds in presenting the Caribbean in its rich diversity.”—The Plain Dealer “Remarkable and praiseworthy . . . utterly engaging.”—The Washington Post Book World “Even American tourists familiar with some of the serene islands will find themselves enlightened. . . . In Caribbean, there appears to be a strong aura of truth behind the storytelling.”—The New York Times

A Novel

Janet Doré

James Michener is my go to author when I want to learn the in depth history of an area. The Caribbean was at the top of my list because of my impending move to Panamá. This book is definitely being added to my Panamá Book List!

James has a formula that totally works for me. He starts as far back as he can, in this case with the wonderful Arawak indigenous tribe, and weaves stories out of non-fiction facts and fictional stories. Each (long) chapter is vignette covering a particular time frame, which is nice because if one is boring, it won't be long until you're reading something quite different! 

I am no longer naïve about the history of the Caribbean. Wow, so incredibly tumultuous and heartbreaking for huge portions of the population. It will definitely help me have a deeper understanding of the mindset and opinions of local Panamanians (and other Caribbean locals)—and LOTS more empathy.

Caribbean

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