Antigua and the Antiguans, Volume 2 (of 2)

This two‑volume work offers a sweeping portrait of Antigua from its earliest Carib inhabitants through the height of the sugar‑plantation era. Drawing on official statistics, personal memoirs, and colourful folklore, the author weaves together demographic data, family biographies, and vivid anecdotes that bring the island’s social fabric to life.

The narrative treats both the indigenous people and enslaved Africans with a measured eye, describing everything from canoe building and traditional foods to plantation discipline, religious conversion, and the occasional act of resistance. Readers will hear the rhythms of daily labour, the music and dances of the negro community, and the debates surrounding emancipation, all presented in a straightforward, documentary style that feels both scholarly and accessible.

For anyone interested in Caribbean history, the book serves as a valuable reference, offering detailed maps, population tables, and first‑hand accounts that illuminate the complexities of colonial life. Its blend of fact and storytelling makes the distant past feel surprisingly immediate.