William H. Boyer will be at Dockside Bookshop signing the second edition of his book, “America’s Virgin Islands,” from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Dockside Bookshop is located in Havensight Mall.
This second edition of “America’s Virgin Islands” by William W. Boyer is the only history of the United States’ territory covering the period from 1492 to 2010. Especially emphasized is the period since 1917 when the U.S. acquired the Islands from Denmark. Constituting three small Caribbean islands: St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, each island is unique, but together they are widely known as a favorite tourist destination featuring sun, sand and surf.
In many respects, the territory is a microcosm of the human family. The diversity of its physical environment is matched by the diversity of its people. The focal point of the book is a record of the struggle of the islanders’ greater number as slaves, then serfs and, lastly, as citizens to gain control of their own destiny. Broadly conceived, this is a history of human rights and human wrongs. The author does not merely portray the history of the Islands and their people; he also shows how the islanders share the same aspirations as other colonial subjects. In so doing, he taps previously unused sources.
The relationship between the U.S.A. and the Virgin Islands has been marked by indifference and vacillation on the part of American officials. Moreover, thousands of tourists who flock to the territory annually are unaware of the Islands checkered and rich history. For many, they are simply a tropical paradise. “America’s Virgin Islands” is a fascinating, extensively documented and detailed source of information, valuable to those interested in a political and cultural perspective, to those interested in African-American or Caribbean history, and to those who live in or visit the islands.
For more information, contact Dockside Bookshop at 774-4937.