-
The Sugar Barons
- Family, Corruption, Empire, and War in the West Indies
- Narrated by: Jonathan Cowley
- Length: 16 hrs and 20 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $18.05
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
To those who travel there today, the West Indies are unspoiled paradise islands. Yet that image conceals a turbulent, dramatic, and shocking history. For some 200 years after 1650, the West Indies became the strategic center of the Western world, witnessing one of the greatest power struggles of the age as Europeans made and lost immense fortunes growing and trading in sugar - a commodity so lucrative it became known as "white gold".
As Matthew Parker skillfully chronicles in his sweeping history, the sugar revolution made the English, in particular, a nation of voracious consumers, so much so that the wealth of her island colonies came to underpin the entire British economy, ultimately fueling the Industrial Revolution. Yet beside the incredible wealth came untold misery: the horrors of slavery and of slaves, on whose backs the sugar empires were brutally built; the rampant disease that claimed the lives of one third of all whites within three years of arrival in the Caribbean; the cruelty, corruption, and decadence of the plantation culture.
For those on the ground, the British West Indian empire presented a disturbing moral universe. Parker vividly interweaves the human stories - since lost to history - of visitors and slaves, overseers and soldiers, and of the families whose fortunes and fame rose and fell on sugar. Their wealth drove the development of the North American mainland states, and with it a slave culture, as the racist plantation model was exported to the warm southern states. Eventually, opposition to sugar policy in London helped to unite the North American colonies against Britain.
Broad in scope and rich in detail, The Sugar Barons freshly links the histories of Europe, the West Indies, and North America, and reveals the full impact of the sugar revolution, the resonance of which is still felt today.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Goldeneye: Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming's Jamaica
- By: Matthew Parker
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For two months every year, from 1946 to his death 18 years later, Ian Fleming lived at Goldeneye, the house he built on a point of high land overlooking a small white-sand beach on Jamaica's stunning north coast. All the James Bond novels and stories were written there. This audiobook explores the huge influence of Jamaica on the creation of Fleming's iconic postwar hero. The island was for Fleming part retreat from the world, part tangible representation of his values, and part exotic fantasy.
-
-
Ian Fleming lead a fascinating life.
- By Allen on 07-02-15
By: Matthew Parker
-
Sugar in the Blood
- A Family's Story of Slavery and Empire
- By: Andrea Stuart
- Narrated by: Lisa Reneé Pitts
- Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the late 1630s, lured by the promise of the New World, Andrea Stuart's earliest known maternal ancestor, George Ashby, set sail from England to settle in Barbados. He fell into the life of a sugar plantation owner by mere chance, but by the time he harvested his first crop, a revolution was fully under way, binding together ambitious White entrepreneurs and enslaved Black workers in a strangling embrace....
-
-
A sweet, historical gem
- By Adrian on 06-29-13
By: Andrea Stuart
-
Astor
- The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune
- By: Anderson Cooper, Katherine Howe
- Narrated by: Anderson Cooper
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From 1783, when German immigrant John Jacob Astor first arrived in the United States, until 2009, when Brooke Astor’s son, Anthony Marshall, was convicted of defrauding his elderly mother, the Astor name occupied a unique place in American society. The family fortune, first made by a beaver trapping business that grew into an empire, was then amplified by holdings in Manhattan real estate. Over the ensuing generations, Astors ruled Gilded Age New York society and inserted themselves into political and cultural life, but also suffered the most famous loss on the Titanic.
-
-
A family first made, then destroyed by wealth.
- By Barbara W. on 09-23-23
By: Anderson Cooper, and others
-
Cuba (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize)
- An American History
- By: Ada Ferrer
- Narrated by: Alma Cuervo, Ada Ferrer - prologue
- Length: 23 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba, where a momentous revolution had taken power three years earlier. For more than half a century, the stand-off continued—through the tenure of ten American presidents and the fifty-year rule of Fidel Castro. His death in 2016, and the retirement of his brother and successor Raúl Castro in 2021, have spurred questions about the country’s future. Spanning more than five centuries, Cuba provides us with a front-row seat as we witness the evolution of the modern nation.
-
-
US Bash Job
- By Derek & Amber Witt on 04-14-22
By: Ada Ferrer
-
Caribbean
- A Novel
- By: James A. Michener
- Narrated by: Alexander Adams
- Length: 32 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Caribbean packs 700 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.
-
-
The last paragraph!
- By Tim Wilson on 01-21-17
-
Empire's Crossroads
- A History of the Caribbean from Columbus to the Present Day
- By: Carrie Gibson
- Narrated by: Romy Nordlinger
- Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ever since Christopher Columbus stepped off the Santa Maria onto what is today San Salvador, in the Bahamas, and announced that he had arrived in the Orient, the Caribbean has been a stage for projected fantasies and competition between world powers. In Empire’s Crossroads, British American historian Carrie Gibson traces the story of this coveted area from the northern rim of South America up to Cuba, and from discovery through colonialism to today, offering a vivid, panoramic view of this complex region and its rich, important history.
-
-
Careless production mars storytelling
- By Brenda Thomas on 03-31-16
By: Carrie Gibson
-
Goldeneye: Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming's Jamaica
- By: Matthew Parker
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For two months every year, from 1946 to his death 18 years later, Ian Fleming lived at Goldeneye, the house he built on a point of high land overlooking a small white-sand beach on Jamaica's stunning north coast. All the James Bond novels and stories were written there. This audiobook explores the huge influence of Jamaica on the creation of Fleming's iconic postwar hero. The island was for Fleming part retreat from the world, part tangible representation of his values, and part exotic fantasy.
-
-
Ian Fleming lead a fascinating life.
- By Allen on 07-02-15
By: Matthew Parker
-
Sugar in the Blood
- A Family's Story of Slavery and Empire
- By: Andrea Stuart
- Narrated by: Lisa Reneé Pitts
- Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the late 1630s, lured by the promise of the New World, Andrea Stuart's earliest known maternal ancestor, George Ashby, set sail from England to settle in Barbados. He fell into the life of a sugar plantation owner by mere chance, but by the time he harvested his first crop, a revolution was fully under way, binding together ambitious White entrepreneurs and enslaved Black workers in a strangling embrace....
-
-
A sweet, historical gem
- By Adrian on 06-29-13
By: Andrea Stuart
-
Astor
- The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune
- By: Anderson Cooper, Katherine Howe
- Narrated by: Anderson Cooper
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From 1783, when German immigrant John Jacob Astor first arrived in the United States, until 2009, when Brooke Astor’s son, Anthony Marshall, was convicted of defrauding his elderly mother, the Astor name occupied a unique place in American society. The family fortune, first made by a beaver trapping business that grew into an empire, was then amplified by holdings in Manhattan real estate. Over the ensuing generations, Astors ruled Gilded Age New York society and inserted themselves into political and cultural life, but also suffered the most famous loss on the Titanic.
-
-
A family first made, then destroyed by wealth.
- By Barbara W. on 09-23-23
By: Anderson Cooper, and others
-
Cuba (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize)
- An American History
- By: Ada Ferrer
- Narrated by: Alma Cuervo, Ada Ferrer - prologue
- Length: 23 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba, where a momentous revolution had taken power three years earlier. For more than half a century, the stand-off continued—through the tenure of ten American presidents and the fifty-year rule of Fidel Castro. His death in 2016, and the retirement of his brother and successor Raúl Castro in 2021, have spurred questions about the country’s future. Spanning more than five centuries, Cuba provides us with a front-row seat as we witness the evolution of the modern nation.
-
-
US Bash Job
- By Derek & Amber Witt on 04-14-22
By: Ada Ferrer
-
Caribbean
- A Novel
- By: James A. Michener
- Narrated by: Alexander Adams
- Length: 32 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Caribbean packs 700 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.
-
-
The last paragraph!
- By Tim Wilson on 01-21-17
-
Empire's Crossroads
- A History of the Caribbean from Columbus to the Present Day
- By: Carrie Gibson
- Narrated by: Romy Nordlinger
- Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ever since Christopher Columbus stepped off the Santa Maria onto what is today San Salvador, in the Bahamas, and announced that he had arrived in the Orient, the Caribbean has been a stage for projected fantasies and competition between world powers. In Empire’s Crossroads, British American historian Carrie Gibson traces the story of this coveted area from the northern rim of South America up to Cuba, and from discovery through colonialism to today, offering a vivid, panoramic view of this complex region and its rich, important history.
-
-
Careless production mars storytelling
- By Brenda Thomas on 03-31-16
By: Carrie Gibson
Critic reviews
Related to this topic
-
I Will Teach You to Be Rich
- No Guilt. No Excuses. No B.S. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
- By: Ramit Sethi
- Narrated by: Ramit Sethi
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buy as many lattes as you want. Spend extravagantly on the things you love. Live your rich life instead of tracking every last expense with Ramit Sethi’s simple, powerful, and effective six-week program for gaining control over your finances. This isn’t typical advice from a money expert. In this completely updated second edition, Ramit teaches you how to choose long-term investments and the right bank accounts. With his characteristic no-BS perspective, he shows how to squeeze every hidden benefit out of your credit cards.
-
-
Repetitive - should be retitled.
- By Truth on 06-20-19
By: Ramit Sethi
-
12 Months to $1 Million
- How to Pick a Winning Product, Build a Real Business, and Become a Seven-Figure Entrepreneur
- By: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Narrated by: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By cutting out the noise and providing a clear and proven plan, this road map helps even brand-new entrepreneurs make decisions quickly, get their product up for sale, and launch it to a crowd that is ready and waiting to buy. This one-year plan will guide you through the three stages to your first $1 million: the Grind (months 0-4), the Growth (months 5-8), and the Gold (months 9-12). If your goal is to be a full-time entrepreneur, get ready for one chaotic, stressful, and rewarding year. If you have the guts to complete it, you will be the proud owner of a million-dollar business.
-
-
Good, but a Little Misleading
- By Chris Love on 11-28-20
-
The Simple Path to Wealth
- Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life
- By: JL Collins
- Narrated by: JL Collins, Peter Adeney
- Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This book grew out of a series of letters to my daughter concerning various things - mostly about money and investing - she was not yet quite ready to hear. Since money is the single most powerful tool we have for navigating this complex world we've created, understanding it is critical.
-
-
Misleading, heavily biased
- By Cody Peralta on 07-19-19
By: JL Collins
-
The Creature from Jekyll Island
- A Second Look at the Federal Reserve
- By: G. Edward Griffin
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 24 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This classic expose of the Fed has become one of the best-selling books in its category of all time. Where does money come from? Where does it go? Who makes it? The money magician's secrets are unveiled. Here is a close look at their mirrors and smoke machines, the pulleys, cogs, and wheels that create the grand illusion called money. A boring subject? Just wait. You'll be hooked in five minutes. It reads like a detective story - which it really is, but it's all true.
-
-
Lost confidence in author
- By Amazon Customer on 07-11-20
-
The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime
- By: MJ DeMarco
- Narrated by: MJ DeMarco
- Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since you were old enough to hold a job, you've been hoodwinked to believe that wealth can be created by blindly trusting in the uncontrollable and unpredictable markets: the housing market, the stock market, and the job market. I call this soul-sucking, dream-stealing dogma "The Slowlane" - an impotent financial gamble that dubiously promises wealth in a wheelchair. For those who don't want a lifetime subscription to "settle-for-less", there is an alternative.
-
-
Excellent!
- By Iray007 on 09-22-15
By: MJ DeMarco
-
The 1-Page Marketing Plan
- Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out From The Crowd
- By: Allan Dib
- Narrated by: Joel Richards
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To build a successful business, you need to stop doing random acts of marketing and start following a reliable plan for rapid business growth. Traditionally, creating a marketing plan has been a difficult and time-consuming process, which is why it often doesn’t get done.
-
-
You Need to buy Book to get key info
- By Rosie's mom on 10-23-18
By: Allan Dib
-
I Will Teach You to Be Rich
- No Guilt. No Excuses. No B.S. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
- By: Ramit Sethi
- Narrated by: Ramit Sethi
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buy as many lattes as you want. Spend extravagantly on the things you love. Live your rich life instead of tracking every last expense with Ramit Sethi’s simple, powerful, and effective six-week program for gaining control over your finances. This isn’t typical advice from a money expert. In this completely updated second edition, Ramit teaches you how to choose long-term investments and the right bank accounts. With his characteristic no-BS perspective, he shows how to squeeze every hidden benefit out of your credit cards.
-
-
Repetitive - should be retitled.
- By Truth on 06-20-19
By: Ramit Sethi
-
12 Months to $1 Million
- How to Pick a Winning Product, Build a Real Business, and Become a Seven-Figure Entrepreneur
- By: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Narrated by: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By cutting out the noise and providing a clear and proven plan, this road map helps even brand-new entrepreneurs make decisions quickly, get their product up for sale, and launch it to a crowd that is ready and waiting to buy. This one-year plan will guide you through the three stages to your first $1 million: the Grind (months 0-4), the Growth (months 5-8), and the Gold (months 9-12). If your goal is to be a full-time entrepreneur, get ready for one chaotic, stressful, and rewarding year. If you have the guts to complete it, you will be the proud owner of a million-dollar business.
-
-
Good, but a Little Misleading
- By Chris Love on 11-28-20
-
The Simple Path to Wealth
- Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life
- By: JL Collins
- Narrated by: JL Collins, Peter Adeney
- Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This book grew out of a series of letters to my daughter concerning various things - mostly about money and investing - she was not yet quite ready to hear. Since money is the single most powerful tool we have for navigating this complex world we've created, understanding it is critical.
-
-
Misleading, heavily biased
- By Cody Peralta on 07-19-19
By: JL Collins
-
The Creature from Jekyll Island
- A Second Look at the Federal Reserve
- By: G. Edward Griffin
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 24 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This classic expose of the Fed has become one of the best-selling books in its category of all time. Where does money come from? Where does it go? Who makes it? The money magician's secrets are unveiled. Here is a close look at their mirrors and smoke machines, the pulleys, cogs, and wheels that create the grand illusion called money. A boring subject? Just wait. You'll be hooked in five minutes. It reads like a detective story - which it really is, but it's all true.
-
-
Lost confidence in author
- By Amazon Customer on 07-11-20
-
The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime
- By: MJ DeMarco
- Narrated by: MJ DeMarco
- Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since you were old enough to hold a job, you've been hoodwinked to believe that wealth can be created by blindly trusting in the uncontrollable and unpredictable markets: the housing market, the stock market, and the job market. I call this soul-sucking, dream-stealing dogma "The Slowlane" - an impotent financial gamble that dubiously promises wealth in a wheelchair. For those who don't want a lifetime subscription to "settle-for-less", there is an alternative.
-
-
Excellent!
- By Iray007 on 09-22-15
By: MJ DeMarco
-
The 1-Page Marketing Plan
- Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out From The Crowd
- By: Allan Dib
- Narrated by: Joel Richards
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To build a successful business, you need to stop doing random acts of marketing and start following a reliable plan for rapid business growth. Traditionally, creating a marketing plan has been a difficult and time-consuming process, which is why it often doesn’t get done.
-
-
You Need to buy Book to get key info
- By Rosie's mom on 10-23-18
By: Allan Dib
-
Los secretos de la mente millonaria (Narración en Castellano) [Secrets of the Millionaire Mind]
- Domina el juego de la riqueza [Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth]
- By: T. Harv Eker
- Narrated by: Ivan Villanueva
- Length: 2 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
El autor estaba en bancarrota, en solo dos años y medio se convirtió en millonario y construyó una de las más grandes firmas de consultoría para el éxito. Con sus enseñanzas ha tocado la vida de millones de personas. Este audiolibro te enseña a observar como piensas. Es un reto a tus ideas que te limitan, a los razonamientos que no te apoyan y a tus acciones con respecto al dinero.
-
-
El libro está bien, pero ES VERSION RESUMIDA
- By alexnvlp on 08-24-23
By: T. Harv Eker
-
How to Day Trade for a Living
- A Beginner's Guide to Trading Tools and Tactics, Money Management, Discipline and Trading Psychology
- By: Andrew Aziz
- Narrated by: Kevin Foley
- Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Very few careers can offer you the freedom, flexibility, and income that day trading does. As a day trader, you can live and work anywhere in the world. You can decide when to work and when not to work. You only answer to yourself. That is the life of the successful day trader. Many people aspire to it, but very few succeed. In the audiobook, I describe the fundamentals of day trading, explain how day trading is different from other styles of trading and investment, and elaborate on important trading strategies that many traders use every day.
-
-
Its a sales pitch
- By Xavier Foley on 02-08-18
By: Andrew Aziz
-
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
- The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns, 10th Anniversary Edition
- By: John C. Bogle
- Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing is the classic guide to getting smart about the market. Legendary mutual fund pioneer John C. Bogle reveals his key to getting more out of investing: low-cost index funds. Bogle describes the simplest and most effective investment strategy for building wealth over the long term: buy and hold, at very low cost, a mutual fund that tracks a broad stock market Index such as the S&P 500.
-
-
One star for every point this 5 hour book makes.
- By Matt on 01-31-19
By: John C. Bogle
-
Plan Your Year Like a Millionaire
- By: Rachel Rodgers
- Narrated by: Rachel Rodgers
- Length: 2 hrs
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Plan Like a Millionaire is part of a riveting three-part series, and it's all about elevating your game and setting goals like a seven-figure earner. In this wealth-inspiring listening journey, Rachel reveals the secrets of how to set goals, manage time wisely, build essential support systems, break free from financial constraints, and make savvy money decisions.
-
-
Feel Good Book, only
- By Maggie on 01-06-24
By: Rachel Rodgers
-
Six-Figure Side Hustle
- By: Rachel Rodgers
- Narrated by: Rachel Rodgers
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rachel Rodgers, financial maven and heralded author of We Should All Be Millionaires, has created a groundbreaking new Audible Original series with Six Figure Side Hustle. In this installment of a dynamic three-part audio journey, Rachel unveils the blueprint for turning spare time into a $100,000-per-year side hustle in just three months.
-
-
Not For YOU!
- By S. Seigel on 03-02-24
By: Rachel Rodgers
-
The Most Important Thing
- Uncommon Sense for The Thoughtful Investor
- By: Howard Marks
- Narrated by: John FitzGibbon
- Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Howard Marks, the chairman and cofounder of Oaktree Capital Management, is renowned for his insightful assessments of market opportunity and risk. After four decades spent ascending to the top of the investment management profession, he is today sought out by the world's leading value investors, and his client memos brim with insightful commentary and a time-tested, fundamental philosophy. The Most Important Thing explains the keys to successful investment and the pitfalls that can destroy capital or ruin a career.
-
-
Five Star Book, two Star Audiobook
- By Johnny on 06-08-15
By: Howard Marks
What listeners say about The Sugar Barons
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Marsha
- 10-06-11
Very Happy
If you could sum up The Sugar Barons in three words, what would they be?
Interesting, Informative, Well Written
Which character – as performed by Jonathan Cowley – was your favorite?
There were so many characters, it was hard to keep up with them all but I think the Beckford's were pretty interesting.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It only reinforced my belief that greed is timeless. And that there is hope that we learn from our mistakes and try to correct it.
Any additional comments?
I really liked Sugar Barons but there is a lot of information. I listen when I walk and the author was pretty good at keeping you up on who was who. A lot of names and dates and statistics. I did thoroughly enjoy the book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Pamela
- 02-11-12
Little known bit of history
I am intrigued by the seemingly minor aspects of history which take on disproportionate influence when we look at the concentric rings that are sent out by a small island or tiny group of people.
Sugar did change the world. Not the commodity we think little of today, but the highly sought after luxury of centuries past. Military action, murder, intrigue, colonization and the enslavement of communities all resulted from the economic power of those who controlled the plantations.
This book is a bit drier than others on similar topics and there are times when it seems to represent the worst of school textbooks with lists of names and dates. But the story itself and the decades it covers are full of pirates, family feuds and licentious behavior, so it could not be called boring.
The narrator is fine - he does not intrude on the book, but does not particularly add anything to it. Nothing wrong - a few place and family names are pronounced differently than I am used to, but I will not claim that he is wrong and I am right as I do not know for certain.
If this is a subject you enjoy, I found Nathaniel's Nutmeg (by Giles Milton - not available on Audible) and Salt (by Mark Kurlansky - available here) to be more engaging. But this is far from a bad book and deserves its place on the shelf of those who find the history of trivial items to be eventful and enlightening.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John Alessi
- 07-25-23
Fascinating, essential history; excellent narration
If I taught university level American History, this would be the first book I would have students read. The history of the West Indies is essential to put the US revolution into proper political and economic perspective. I found the book easy to get through as an audio experience. The narrator is excellent.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kindle Customer
- 02-13-21
Exhilarating History
Well Done! Small mistakes. Namely the first name of White Witch Rosehall author is incorrect.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Caribe
- 05-15-22
great history
I learned a lot. it got a bit detailed but made sense later as the parts came together
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 08-08-24
fascinating
Very interesting. Glad I listened; I learned a lot, especially about the relationships between Britain and it's various colonies.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Andy
- 01-04-12
on the backs of slave labor
Way before Barbados and Jamaica were destinations for sun 'n fun, they were major producers of sugar cane. This is the story of how the sugar industry was built, mostly on the backs of slave labor. Solid narration too.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Michael
- 09-24-16
dry delivery
difficult to follow main storylines. monotonous delivery. content has potential but had to focus intently to fat the main messages.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- irene
- 12-11-11
Good book overall
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, but the book got a bit drifty at sea (for me) when the book gave too many details on the characters,,rather than a continuous, good, smooth listen. Overall, if you enjoyed
Would you be willing to try another book from Matthew Parker? Why or why not?
Most likely.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
With every wish there comes a curse. Springsteen 1992
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Big Mu Ha
- 02-19-23
Great Listen.
This makes you look at the “ islands” in a different way! Great history book, especially for West Indians
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!