Marc Aronson

I was very surprised at the author's ability to deal with some heavy historical realities gracefully and without throwing blame at just one group of people. He deftly placed Sir Walter in a historical context that did not excuse him or his peers from their incredibly violent treatment of other people, but it did allow him to be a sympathetic character with a cultural context that allowed for the decisions made to massacre the Irish or try to steal gold from the Native people of South America. Very well constructed and written.… (more)

I just finished reading Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos. I read it over a day and a half. The reviews were almost overwhelming glowing. Notwithstanding I give this book a "three." First, the quibbles.

I read Sugar Changed the World with interest, since I am a history buff. I did find it readable, enjoyable and informative. The book leaves more than a few unanswered questions. First, the discussion about Hawaii does not mention one of the most important and damning facts; that sugar growers toppled the formerly independent monarchy and replaced it with the bogus Republic of Hawaii. The latter "invited" annexation.Recently, Abigail Kawananakoa, Hawaiian princess and last heir to the Hawaiian throne, died at 96, see Abigail Kawananakoa, Hawaiian princess, dies at 96.

Another is a question for academic debate. Weren't the people from the slave source countries in Africa and India pretty miserable already? After all, there has been no widespread kidnapping of U.S. citizens for slave purposes.

This is more of a fact-checking issue. The book stated that India was the first breakaway from Britain since the U.S. had gained independence. That omits Canada, Australia, Ireland and I believe New Zealand. Granted, Canada my have been more "exclaved", to coin a word, that broken away on its own, since Britain had no wish to be embroiled in the U.S. Civil War. These are quibbles, but do somewhat detract from the book for serious, informed readers.… (more)