Review of Columbus, Slave Trader

[Splendour Ayewoh]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Columbus, Slave Trader" by Marcus Wilson.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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It's a hard story to tell about Guarocuya, alias Enriquillo, a Taíno kidnapped by Columbus and taken to Spain. And when he does return home, he finds that it has been reduced to shambles by Spanish colonization. It accounts for Enriquillo's actions in his quest to unify the chiefs of the Taíno against the Spanish, including meetings with Columbus, and later travels to Spain to plead for freedom. This is a story of cruel Spanish conquest, Taíno strength and complex interaction between the colonizers and indigenous peoples. The major themes it deals with are cultural clashes, resistance and the struggle for justice.

The thing that attracts me to the storyline is that it reveals the binding force a family really is. I like the extremely tender relationship between Guarocuya and his family, especially his mother. It was his mother's strong belief in his survival and the special way she hugged him—by which she revived him as a baby—that showed deep love and connection within the family.

Now, this bond can give Guarocuya the strength to stand against his enemies and motivate him to save his people. One clear thing that this book shows is that family is one of the biggest sources of strength and support during life's hardships. It also taught me to appreciate and care for my relationship with my family, since they can offer me strength and hope at any time. The book was exceptionally well edited and error-free.

I dislike the way Columbus, Slave Trader by Marcus Wilson deals with very heavy, hardly straightforward themes. It goes deep into the brutalities of colonialism, slavery, religious persecution, and cultural destruction. These are things that one reads about with much emotional and intellectual effort. It is exhaustive to read about all those cruelties and injustices, one after another, in the book. I don't like how heavy elements of the story dominate, making it tough and, at times, overwhelming to read. Now, that high intensity is not suited to everyone's taste—it's emotionally draining.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because the struggle to survive in Guarocuya and the deep family ties are inspiring and touching. At the same time, it can be very tiring on an emotional level with all those descriptions of colonial brutality and cultural destruction. I would recommend it to readers who like historical fiction, struggles with indigenous peoples, and stories of resistance, but be prepared—it's intense and a challenge.

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Columbus, Slave Trader
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