The Island that Disappeared by Tom Feiling
| The Island that Disappeared by Tom Feiling | |
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| Category: History | |
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Reviewer: Andy Heath
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| Summary: 'The Island that Disappeared' is the history of the Island of Providence in the Caribbean. From its early puritan settlers and the disasters that led many to turn to piracy it captures the human failings that can turn hope and belief into greed and ambition. It is a compelling history that in our current world we could learn so much from. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 400 | Date: May 2017 |
| Publisher: Explore Books | |
| ISBN: 978-1911184041 | |
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'The Island that Disappeared' tells the history of the, largely now forgotten, island of Providence in the Caribbean. It is a fascinating and compelling account of what might have been but ultimately is the story of greed, ambition and human nature. In 1630 on board the Seaflower, a sister ship to the Mayflower, a small group of English puritans sailed to the island to establish a new colony. They were convinced in their belief that the British Empire would rise in the Central America and not in New England. The hopes that they carried was soon destroyed by failing crops, quarrels and rebellions and many turned to piracy and the plundering of Spanish treasure ships. Within ten years, the Spanish retaliated and invaded the island, wiping the colony out. Providence became a footnote of history until it was resettled over a hundred years later. The book tells the island's story from its early puritan beginnings to the present and through its telling it provides a fascinating microcosm of the world we live in today.
The wonderful thing about history is that it is never complete. It is constantly evolving and unfolding as new insights shape our understanding of the past. It is from these insights that we shape our present world as we learn from the lessons of what has gone before. Tom Feiling's book is a welcome addition to this valuable body of knowledge. He writes in an easy and conversational style that draws the reader into his narrative and the arguments he proposes. His style never becomes the stiff academic text of many historical works; it is constantly fluid and accessible. Above all, he has the storytellers' gift of engaging the reader and keeping them engaged as his narrative unfolds. His research is impeccable and remarkable due to the lack of many written resources. As a journalist, he understands how people are shaped by events, largely beyond their control, and as you read, you become captivated by the warmth and love he has for the Island, its inhabitants and their story.
'The Island that Disappeared' is to be celebrated as a triumph. In many respects, it is the history of the underdog. The story of a very small and forgotten corner of the world but a corner that has a lot to say to our modern world and we are duty bound to listen. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone. Tom Feiling has captured humanity in all its guises and in doing so has held up a mirror to the politics and culture we are shaping today. This book is an absolute gem and not to be missed.
If you enjoy The Island that Disappeared, you may also enjoy:
Empire: What Ruling the World Did to the British by Jeremy Paxman
An Empire on the Edge by Nick Bunker
Inventing the Enemy: Essays on Everything by Umberto Eco
Merchant Adventurers: The Voyage of Discovery that Transformed Tudor England by James Evans
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Island that Disappeared by Tom Feiling at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Island that Disappeared by Tom Feiling at Amazon.com.
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