Published: Aug. 19, 2010
Words: 166,186 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781452372143

Short description

(Doubleday, 1985) 'Action-crammed, historically factual novel . . . is a rousing read, ably researched by Hoover” Publishers Weekly Barbados and Jamaica 1648. The lush and deadly Caribbean paradise, domain of rebels and slaveholders, of bawds and buccaneers. Colonists fight a wishful war for freedom against England. Idea points: Slavery, slaves, Caribbean, sugar, sugar mill, bu

Extended description

Barbados, 1648. The lush and deadly Caribbean paradise, domain of rebels and freeholders, of brigands, bawds and buccaneers. CARIBBEE is the untold story of the first American revolution, as English colonists pen a Declaration of Defiance ("liberty" or "death") against Parliament and fight a full-scale war for freedom against an English fleet -- with cannon, militia, many lives lost -- over a century before 1776.

The powerful story line, based on actual events, also puts the reader in the midst of the first major English slave auction in the Americas, and the first slave revolt. We see how plantation slavery was introduced into the English colonies, setting a cruel model for North America a few decades later, and we experience what it was like to be a West African ripped from a rich culture and forced to slave in the fields of the New World. We also see the unleashed greed of the early Puritans, who burned unruly slaves alive, a far different truth from that presented in sanitized h.. (Read more) Barbados, 1648. The lush and deadly Caribbean paradise, domain of rebels and freeholders, of brigands, bawds and buccaneers. CARIBBEE is the untold story of the first American revolution, as English colonists pen a Declaration of Defiance ("liberty" or "death") against Parliament and fight a full-scale war for freedom against an English fleet -- with cannon, militia, many lives lost -- over a century before 1776.

The powerful story line, based on actual events, also puts the reader in the midst of the first major English slave auction in the Americas, and the first slave revolt. We see how plantation slavery was introduced into the English colonies, setting a cruel model for North America a few decades later, and we experience what it was like to be a West African ripped from a rich culture and forced to slave in the fields of the New World. We also see the unleashed greed of the early Puritans, who burned unruly slaves alive, a far different truth from that presented in sanitized history books. Finally, we witness how slavery contributed to the failure of the first American revolution, as well as to the destruction of England's hope for a vast New World empire.

We also are present at the birth of the buccaneers, one-time cattle hunters who banded together to revenge a bloody Spanish attack on their home, and soon became the most feared marauders in the New World. The story is mythic in scope, with the main participants being classic American archetypes -- a retelling of the great American quest for freedom and honor. The major characters are based on real individuals, men and women who came West to the New World to seek fortune and personal dignity.

Reviews

“This action-crammed, historically factual novel . . . is a rousing read about the bad old marauding days, ably reserarched by Hoover”

Publishers Weekly

“Meticulous . . . compelling.”

Kirkus Reviews

“It should establish Thomas Hoover in the front rank of writers of historical fiction."

—MALCOLM BOSSE author of THE WARLORD

Tags: Slavery, slaves, Caribbean, sugar, buccaneers, pirates, Barbados, Jamaica, Spanish Gold, Spanish Empire, Port Royal, Barbados
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Tags

new world, slavery slaves caribbean sugar buccaneers pirates barbados jamaica spanish gold spanishempire, port royal barbados british empire

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Reviews

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Review by: read more on May 01, 2013 :
Interesting history slant ,an enjoyable read.
(review of free book)

Review by: Richard Sommery-Gade on Feb. 12, 2013 :
A true swashbuckling story derived from the true history of Hispaniola, Jamaica, Tortuga, basically all the Caribbean Islands of legend and the men & women of the 1600's to the 1700's in Charles II & Cromwell's rule of England. Before slavery had taken hold in the Americas, instigated by the Puritans & Roundheads of the time, while chastising the Roman Catholics for their Church policies, were in a lot of instances worse than the people they were at war with, which is so often the case.
This is a wonderful book giving a true colorful description of the times, morals, habits and accurate picture of life in their non air conditioned, sweaty, often filthy, disease ridden society, where the people the upper levels scorned were often a step a head of the 'superior' ones who had enslaved them. The corruption, greed, desperation go beyond belief in this fascinating look into the reality of the famous Spanish Main. Some spelling errors are the only errors that I found marring this piece, so I give it a 4.9 on the 5.0 scale of excellence. Don't miss this one as I couldn't put it down once I started it.
(review of free book)

Review by: sue b on June 02, 2011 :
Excellent - would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good historical novel by a writer who knows his stuff!
(review of free book)

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