Vivid and thought-provoking ? Spectator

Carrie Gibson manages to weave 500 years of complex history into a brilliant narrative ... [A] strikingly assured debut. ? Observer

Carrie Gibson has written a compelling history of the Caribbean, rightly placing it at the heart of European imperialism. This is a gripping account by a gifted scholar and story-teller -- Tristram Hunt

A fine introduction to the history of a turbulent and fascinating region ? The Times

Carrie Gibson has written a judicious, readable and extremely well-informed account of a part of the world whose history is seldom acknowledged. Too many people know the Caribbean only as a tourist destination; she takes us, instead, into its fascinating, complex and often tragic past. No vacation there will ever feel quite the same again. -- Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold's Ghost

Sharp, gripping ... packed with the stories of tyrants and insurgents, and images of violence and beauty ... A great read about some fantastically absorbing - and to many people, little-known - history ... An exceptionally impressive debut. -- Alex von Tunzelman ? Literary Review
Carrie Gibson was born in the USA and now lives in London. Following a PhD at Cambridge, she combines serious historical research with a career in journalism, contributing to a range of publications, including the Guardian.