|
 The
cost of sugar
by Cynthia Mc Leod
In an engrossing historical account, Cynthia Mc Leod takes her readers
back to the 18th century (between 1765-1779, to be precise),
recapping the intriguing history of those rabid times through the eyes
of two Jewish step-sisters, Elza and Sarith, descendants of the settlers
of “new Jerusalem of the River”, known today as Jodensavanne, the oldest
Jewish settlement in Suriname which boasts the first synagogue in the
Western Hemisphere.
The cost of sugar is a frank exposé of life in the Dutch slave colony
when sugar ruled as king.
 The
lonely Londoners
by Sam Selvon
At Waterloo Station, hopeful new arrivals from the West Indies step off
the boat train, ready to start afresh in 1950s London. There, homesick
Moses Aloetta, who has already lived in the city for years, meets Henry
“Sir Galahad” Oliver and shows him the ropes. In this strange, cold and
foggy city where the natives can be less than friendly at the sight of a
black face, has Galahad met his Waterloo?
But the irrepressible newcomer cannot be cast down. He and all other
lonely new Londoners must try to create a new life for themselves
 The
free negress Elisabeth : prisoner of color
by Cynthia Mc Leod
Elisabeth Samson was a remarkable black female millionaires. She was a
mysterious, fascinating, and intelligent woman. Her immense wealth
puzzled many early historians who concluded that it could only have been
the result of an inheritance from a master with whom she had cohabited
and by whom she had been set free. After all, many thought, a black
woman in the eighteenth century could have accumulated wealth in no
other way. Why then, was she so eager to marry a white man in a time
when whites established their own rules and standards for all?
 She’s
gone
by Kwame Dawes
The front man of a Jamaican reggae band touring the United States,
Kofi’s thoughts have turned back to Jamaica. He meets Keisha, a social
researcher from South Carolina, and persuades her to leave America and
return with him to a Caribbean haven. They find themselves in a Jamaica
thick with the politics of class and identity, full of characters with
distinct agendas and needs. As Kofi struggles to deal with the pressures
imposed by himself and by others, Keisha becomes increasingly isolated
on an island entirely foreign to her.
 Seasoned
by salt
by
Jerry L. Mashaw
and
Anne U.
Macclintock
Part escapist adventure and part historical journey to the Caribbean,
this book tells the tale of a couple who took a year off from their
careers to sail the Caribbean. Along the way they sailed angry seas near
Bermuda before reaching the British Virgin Islands and heading south to
Grenada. They each recount their fears and adventures from a different
perspective which makes for compelling reading. Apart from depicting the
magic of sailing away the authors also delve into the history and the
economy of the islands. An entertaining book for all those who are ready
to escape from their daily life in a sailboat.
 The
Golden book of St Maarten
Published by Media Publishing International on behalf of the Government
of the Island Territory of Sint Maarten
This book is the third edition of a reference manual for businessman ,
investors and tourists. Apart from general information about our island
and its history the Golden Book contains valuable economic and statistic
information for prospective investors. Information about the different
Business support organizations is also given. In the part about tourism
the main touristic events as well as interesting places to visit are
covered. The last part of the book deals with the neighboring
‘islands’ St Martin, Saba, St Eustatius, Anguilla and Saint Barthelemy.
 Admirals
of the Caribbean
by Francis Russell Hart
This book consists of a collection of monographs about the different
admirals that operated in the Caribbean in
the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries. It is often forgotten that
the events that took place in the Caribbean in these three centuries
were an important factor in making peace or war in Europe.
These historical events also had a direct effect on the material,
political and racial development of the North American colonies. The
monographs were written as a contribution to better understanding of
West Indian history.
A must read for persons interested in the history of our region.
To view this document, please ask at the Information desk of the library. |
Philipsburg Jubilee Library
Book
reviews July 2008