The Torrid Zone

"The Torrid Zone capitalizes on the burgeoning interest in the seventeenth century Caribbean region. Covering a variety of undertakings, especially English but also Dutch, Danish, French and indigenous, this collection makes a welcome contribution to our understanding of a pivotal period in the history of the West Indies."—Carla Gardina Pestana, University of California, Los Angeles

"This illuminating collection of essays brings the Caribbean squarely into the frame of analysis strongly making the case that the experiences and developments of the Caribbean colonies remained crucial to the history of colonial America. The contributions cover the centrality of enslaved people's labor and the actions of Indigenous and peoples of African descent who shaped the history of the region through their resistance, accommodation, and engagement."—Ignacio Gallup-Diaz, Bryn Mawr College

"Using a transnational and multifaceted approach that will appeal to students and scholars alike, The Torrid Zone offers fresh perspectives on both the indigenous and European residents of the seventeenth-century Caribbean. The book reveals the enduring strength of native cultures and the impermanence of European colonies."—Willem Klooster, Clark University

"The chapters collected in The Torrid Zone demonstrate the historical significance of the long seventeenth century as the foundational period that shaped the emergence of the Greater Caribbean. Each author offers new insights into old issues and debates, while drawing attention to new areas of inquiry. A splendid collection of refined scholarship that stirs the mind and imagination."—David Barry Gaspar, Duke University