These are two “popular” books by academics who are specialists in the field. The Worlds of Christopher Columbus is not so much a biography as a meticulous and well-annotated account of the circumstances in which Columbus operated. The first third of the book deals with the “old worlds” before giving an account of the Admiral’s life and voyages. The account is notably balanced, less hagiographie than the work of Samuel Eliot Morison but far from the strident accusations of Kirkpatrick Sale. The final chapter, concerning “The Post-Columbian World,” is particularly rich, and should be required reading as an introduction for students of the quincentenario.
Kingdoms of Gold, Kingdoms of Jade is a similar type of book, not advancing any striking new hypotheses but summarizing our knowledge in a particularly lucid and readable way. The chronological chart on page 16 sets out the various peoples with whom the book deals in a roughly geographical series of divisions. Brian Fagan is very strong in his descriptions of the latest archaeological work and its significance; the excellent illustrations also bring a great sense of immediacy to his arguments. Taken together, these two books offer a striking introduction to the nature of the Columbian encounter, which, as they both insist, is crucial to understanding many aspects of our present predicament.
