History of the Virgin Islands of the United States: A

By Isaac Dookhan

Book Overview

The Virgin Islands in the course of centuries have witnessed the coming and going of Ciboney, Arawak and Carib peoples, European discovery by Christopher Columbus, temporary occupation by pirates and adventurers, colonization, commercial and plantation development by Danes and other North European settlers, African slavery and its abolition, American purchase, colonial government, social and political change, and in recent years remarkable tourist and industrial developments.

These and other topics have been narrated and interpreted by Dr. Isaac Dookhan in this first comprehensive history of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dr. Dookhan is eminently well qualified for this undertaking. He was born in the British colony of British Guiana, now independent Guyana, where he was educated in the public schools and served as teacher and headmaster. The author has drawn upon primary and secondary sources in recounting the experience of the Virgin Islands and their peoples. He is concerned with successive waves of immigrants, how they affected the physical environment and cultural life of the islands, the impact of international wars and politics, commodity price movements, and technological changes.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9768125055
• ISBN13: 9789768125057
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Canoe Press (IL)
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

How the West was won

This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in the history of the Caribbean, the age of empire and the days of piracy. Filled with interesting facts and insights you get a very deep understanding of the importance these small islands played in European and American history as well as the character of the men and women who braved long see voyages, pirates, hard living conditions, hurricanes and a world at constant war to settle the truly wild West Indies.

Cant' believe that I'm the first to review this excellent book!

I've read a number of works on the Caribbean and yes, nothing beats Eric William's seminal piece 'From Columbus to Castro'. However, this one by Dookhan is very good. I do wish the chronology was a little more consistent but nonetheless, the book is really informative and insightful. After reading this not only will you have a scholarly grasp of V.I. history but you will also see the origins of the deep rooted problems that still exist.