The Dutch Atlantic interrogates the Dutch involvement in Atlantic slavery and assesses the historical consequences of this for contemporary European society.Kwame Nimako and Glenn Willemsen show how the slave trade and slavery intertwined economic; social and cultural elements; including nation-state formation in the Netherlands and across Europe. They explore the mobilisation of European populations in the implementation of policies that facilitated Atlantic slavery and examine how European countries created and expanded laws that perpetuated colonisation.Addressing key themes such as the incorporation of the formerly enslaved into post-slavery states and contemporary collective efforts to forget and/or remember slavery and its legacy in the Netherlands; this is an essential text for students of European history and postcolonial studies.
#702475 in Books 2006-11-14 2006-11-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.44 x 1.20 x 5.50l; .99 #File Name: 0743284267480 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A nice biography -- more factual than insightfulBy Patrick W. CrabtreeThis English translation by Antonina W. Bouis of this Russian work is quite good. Within these 463 pages; you'll learn pretty much everything there is to know about Romanov Tsar Alexander II of Russia who reigned between 1855 and 1881.Alexander was generally regarded as a reformer; keeping in mind that prior Russian rule by his father; Nicholas I; was draconian at best; thus any liberal change was significant. Alexander's most significant reform was to free the serfs (1861). Subsequent to multiple attempts during his rule; Alexander was ultimately assassinated by revolutionaries (proto-communists) in 1881 and he was succeeded by his son; Alexander III who returned Russia to oppression; but this autocratic action came along too late to reverse the flywheel of massive political unrest.Author Edvard Radzinsky departs somewhat from the tradition of most other Russian writers who have simply told their stories with little or no concern as to the "marketability" of their finished works. The yield of this text is pretty much limited to factual information with not a huge amount of insightful speculation about Alexander's thoughts (other than political ones for which there were clearly stated motivations). This writing style is neither bad nor good in itself but simply manifests a particular reader's personal preferences.This 2005 book is illustrated with some very relevant and helpful black-and-white photographs and artwork. As a contemporary work; the author had the advantage over earlier-period authors who were forced to garner their facts under the Soviet Union's communist regime -- Radzinsky was clearly afforded full access to information about his subject.The book's subtitle ("The Last Great Tsar") is somewhat misleading in that Alexander could be pretty rotten when he so desired; especially regarding the Romanov propensity to bed any woman who struck their fancy.If I have a critical comment about this work it would be that newbies to Russian culture and to the royals in particular will have difficulty in keeping the principals straight since so many family names were used and re-used to the extreme. I've read piles of books about Russia; its people; and its leadership and I still had to "go back" from time to time and re-read what Radzinsky had said.Overall; for those folks who are particularly interested in Russia and its people; I can definitely recommend this book.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great Tsar?By Kieran O'KeefeThe title of this book is "Alexander II: The last Great Tsar". While the book was well written and very interesting; I did not finish this book with the feeling that Alexander II was a great Tsar. I left the with the feeling that he was a man who meant well and did some good things for the country but was often misguided; confused and received a severe lack of respect from his subordinates. Certainly he did some great things. Freedom of the Press; freeing the Serfs etc. But he strikes me as a man who left things in control of his subordinates and made quite a few grave errors. While he may have been a decent Tsar; or maybe even a good Tsar; I do not; judged by this book; consider him to be a Great Tsar as the title of the book implies.On the other hand this is a fascinating account of a very important man in Russian History. It is well written; and intriguing enough too keep you wanting to read more. Ultimately; I give this 3 stars because I believe the author fails to prove that the man was a Great Tsar.12 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Drama; Romance; Heroism; Betrayal -- What More Could Be Asked?By Reader from Washington; DCI have been an avid consumer of Russian history books since I was a small child. (My father taught Russian history). I had always admired Emperor Alexander II; who freed the peasants from centuries-old enslavement; and tried to steer Russia on a moderate course. I had always wondered why this handsome; kindly; romantic and very able ruler never got a good modern biography like Russia's other two great rulers; Peter the Great; and Catherine the Great.Edvard Radzinsky's book definitely meets the need for a readable; dramatic account of Alexander II's life. It reads like a historical novel; filled with drama and intrigue.But it is the true story of a hero who was eventually murdered -- just as he was preparing Russsia's first constitution -- and who may have been betrayed to his death through an odd alliance between his opponents on the extreme left and the extreme right; neither of whom wanted Alexander to create a moderate; constitutional government.I had not known that Alexander's court also feared that he would replace the heir to the throne -- his very conservative; reactionary oldest son; Grand Duke Alexander; with his much younger half-brother; Gregory; Alexander's son by a mistress that he had recently married.It is a valuable cautionary tale for anyone seeking to create major societal change -- or anyone seeking an absorbing; eventful story as fascinating as any of the novels of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky that were written during Alexander's reign.
