Our driver, Sweeney Toussaint, also provided an unlikely tidbit that has only strengthened my love and understanding of the islands. He recommended James Michener's CARIBBEAN as a reliable source of accurate, historical accounts...and how right he was!
Michener has recreated authentic events, using fictional characters and storylines, to bring them to life in fascinating ways no history textbook ever did. Keeping this in mind, I encourage readers to familiarize themselves with the Fact and Fiction page, right before the table of contents.
Earliest civilizations, and their power struggles before/during the arrival of Columbus, all but determine the course which follows. Pay close attention to family names as they're interwoven throughout the rest of the book. The final chapters detail events of my/our lifetime that are easily recognizable, including the emergence of tourism and its importance for the islands, as well as on-going political agendas and the all-important question: What role will Cuba play once Castro is gone and a stable democracy restored?
Michener uses words to paint the tranquil island settings we've came to love, while reminding us of the ongoing troubles in paradise. So much of European history was determined in the Caribbean through conquests and extreme politics/religion which manifested their best and worst. Issues regarding sugar and slaves were the driving forces; the saddest reminder that Haiti was once the most wealthiest, prosperous land of the New World. 250 years later, it's the most impoverished! While you'd expect the ruthless tales of Drake, Hawkins, Morgan, you might be surprised to find that Darwin, Dickens, Tennyson, and other prominent figures have squared-off over time in ways which further shaped this region.
Except for brief mention in the final chapter, St. Lucia isn't anywhere else in the book, and I'm still not sure why. All Saints is the "fantasy island" which replaces St. Lucia on the map and combines all islands' top qualities into one place. A modern-day cruise in the final chapter tightly summarizes elements discussed from all islands - both passed, present, and future.
I wouldn't call this an easy read; it took quite the effort to put a dent in this book, but I look forward to rereading it periodically. Frequent Caribbean travelers and resort tourist-types can only benefit from the self-education and awareness this book provides. Paperback is $6.95, I found a used copy for $1.