Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History by Michel-Rolph Trouillot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an excellent book, for many reasons.
First, it’s a book about the history of the Western Hemisphere (mostly), centering on Haiti and San Souci, and then upon Columbus.
Second, it’s a book about how history is determined. It’s not just a compendium of facts. History is developed and managed based upon certain facts and upon the suppression of other certain facts.
Third, it’s a book about what history means, how facts are presented or suppressed, what the history of that history is.
Fourth, it is simply an excellently written book. The language is crisp and accurate, the thought advances at a smooth but swift state, and the author is present in every paragraph and word. There is no hesitancy or evasiveness.
I enjoyed this book. It’s a history book, but I enjoyed it.