Grenada: A History of Its People

Is this book worth reading? If you are from Grenada, the answer is "Of course". It is a well-written book that is a great history of your country. It also is the only history of Grenada written recently - 2003 - and the only one in print, at least as far as I can tell. You are lucky to have such a book available. If you are not from Grenada and want to know something about the history of the Caribbean and maybe Grenada in particular, this book is a superb way to satisfy your curiosity. The story was written with the people of Grenada in mind as readers, and this shows at times. Beverley Steele, as she puts it, is a Jamaican-born Grenadian, one who clearly loves her adopted country. This does not mean that the book is merely a tribute to Grenada though. Beverley Steele has written a careful, thorough and interesting history of the islands making up the country Grenada. A great deal of careful work and thought went into writing this book. Research in the United Kingdom's archives illuminates parts of the early history. The works referenced include many that are not readily available. Footnotes are available at the back of each chapter, there is a substantial bibliography, and an index is provided. Her judgments appear to be sound and well reasoned. This is not a bloodless history text though. Ms. Steele has informed opinions about many of the developments in Grenada, from the names for Amerindians to the American assistance to Grenada or invasion of it (depending on your point of view) in the 1980s. Some of the discussions are more detailed than you might want to read if you are a casual reader. While I personally don't have any issues about using Caribs as the name for the Amerindians on the Caribbean islands in the 1600s, it is interesting to read about why the names Kalinago and Galibi might be more accurate. The discussion of locations probably is the major way in which the intended audience of Grenadians gets in the way of a foreigner reading this book. At times, Ms. Steele locates things by saying something was near where a particular building or street corner is located today. If you aren't familiar with locations in Grenada, that's not much help. That is a minor issue though. Isaac Dookhan's history of the U.S. Virgin Islands is the other history of Caribbean islands that is closest to this one. They both are careful, thoughtful and informative histories by local people associated with universities. This book is a delight to read partly though because it is an encounter with Ms. Steele, who does not use the first person in the text but reveals much in her discussion of developments and her judgments about the participants' behavior.