Rum: A Social and Sociable History

by Ian Williams

Book Overview

Rum arguably shaped the modern world. It was to the eighteenth century what oil is to the present, but its significance has been diminished by a misguided sense of old-fashioned morality dating back to Prohibition. In fact, Rum shows that even the Puritans took a shot now and then. Rum, too, was one of the major engines of the American Revolution, a fact often missing from histories of the era. Ian Williams's book -- as biting and multilayered as...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560258918
• ISBN13: 9781560258919
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Bold Type Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A very good book!

A very good book! It has facts, anecdotes, and humor. Not only is it scholarly, but it reads like a good novel. You can't put it down. Williams describes a time in the Americas when rum was the oil that fueled colonialism, trade, war, and slavery. While astonishing to ponder, Williams convinces you that this was the way of the world back then.

Fun Read

This books is great for travelling. Good story lengths to get you from point to point.

Rum...Enjoyment in Literature

This is a fantastic book. It is a history book that reads like a novel. I had no idea that the history of "Kill-Devil" was so convoluted and storied. Mr. Williams clearly not only understands his subject,but is passionate about it. I recommend this book to every armcahair alcoholics who love their booze and love thier history. It never hurts to know what you're getting into, or what's geting into you.

A delightful read

Ian Williams sheds light on the role of the sugary distillation in shaping America in the Revolution and thereafter. The book is filled with juicy anecdotes and tales. You will have a new respect for rum after reading this amusing and enlightening book