History of the West Indian Islands of Trinidad and Tobago: 1498-1900

Carmichael, Gertrude, History of the West Indian Islands of Trinidad and Tobago: 1498-1900 London: Alvin Redman, Ltd., 1961.

Reviewed in Race & Class.

Excerpt from the inner sleeve:

Mrs. Carmichael goes back to Columbus’ discovery of the West Indies in 1498 and the story sweeps through the wild days of Spanish dominion and the great adventurers – including Sir Walter Raleigh and the pirate Blackbeard – to the establishment of British colonial rule and sound government during the 19th century. She describes the prickly years of transition from slavery to freedom and the great immigrations of Chinese, Portuguese and East Indians which contributed so much to the colour and variety of these gay, beautiful calypso islands.

Gertrude Carmichael is Assistant Librarian to the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture in Trinidad and was lately Librarian to the Trinidad and Tobago Historical Society.