Een Reis naar het Land van de Cacao en de Suiker De Aarde en haar Volken, 1908

A French agricultural official sets out in 1901 on a steamship bound for Barbados, British Guiana and Trinidad, tasked with uncovering why the once‑prosperous sugar economies of the French Antilles are now in crisis. Through vivid travel notes he sketches the stark contrast between bustling ports and the hardship of planters facing collapsing prices, mounting debts and the lingering scars of earthquakes, cyclones and devastating fires.

The narrative follows his investigations into modern sugar factories, the practices of rival British colonies, and the daily lives of islanders striving to keep their communities afloat. Along the way, he encounters the lively winter tourism of North Americans, the colorful streets of Saint‑Pierre on the eve of disaster, and the resilient spirit of the Caribbean people. His keen eye for detail offers listeners a snapshot of a pivotal moment when agriculture, politics and natural forces intersected, shaping the future of the region’s most treasured crop.