Seven Yegorov

I really enjoyed this book. Page-turner in a way. In a lively language with plenty of interesting historical examples paints the history of Bahamas with the emphasis on the experience of Bahamian free blacks and black loyalists. There are many good books on colonial history of Florida, Carolinas and Georgia. But it feels like the neighboring British colony in Bahamas is under-researched in comparison. Prof. Curry's book filled the void I had in understanding of life in late XVIII, early XIXth century Bahamas. It is also interesting for the sake of the story it tells, as it has plenty of inspiring vignettes where blacks achieved freedom, some degree of economic independence, civic engagement, education and prosperity. In a way it hints that the fact that Bahamian society was largely non-plantation based and had so many successful free blacks in eighteenths and nineteenth centuries – helped to contribute to the success of Bahamas today. As unlike many of its neighbors who had plantation-based economies – it is well run and prosperous and can be genuinely called a successful rich democracy. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in colonial history, black experience and to Floridians, so they get to know their next-door neighbor better.