ISABEL, ANACAONA & COLUMBUS’S DEMISE

Rowen’s latest historical novel in a series offers a fresh, scholarly perspective on Christopher Columbus, focusing on his interaction with the Taíno peoples.

With a plethora of controversial accounts of Columbus on offer, it’s easy to feel discouraged when picking up a new title about the era in which he lived. However, in this work of historical fiction, Rowen brings a fresh, inviting viewpoint on “the last years of Columbus’s governance and the initial rule of crown-appointed successors, from 1498 to 1502.” This narrative has the same scholarly weight as his previous two works—Encounters Unforeseen: 1492 Retold and Columbus and Caonabó: 1493-1498 Retold—but can just as easily be read as a stand-alone. Immediately upon its opening, the author situated readers in the history of Columbus and the Taíno people with a sizable maps and notes section. The story is told through the perspectives of Anacaona, the perceptive, widowed sister and adviser of the Taíno leader, Behecchio, who must negotiate with Spanish colonizers; Spanish Queen Isabel of Castile; Adm. Cristóbal Colón (aka Christopher Columbus); and other leaders, enslavers, and enslaved people on both sides of the Atlantic. The book lays out the political intrigue and terrible violence that various characters encountered around the time of the brutal subjugation of Española (later known as Haiti). Throughout, quick bibliographic notations mark actual events, and the narrative frequently pauses to insert engaging historical clarifications, and an extensive source list is included at the end. Over the course of the novel, Rowen’s writing is clear and easy to read, despite the dense material, and can be enjoyed by laypeople looking for an engaging up-to-date perspective on this time period, or by scholars, who may appreciate the surface-level fictionalized narrative or a deep dive into the bibliographical contents. Despite all the exposition, the dialogue consistently flows well, which makes for an enjoyable, educational read; illustrations from multiple sources add substance and familiarity to lesser-known aspects of the past.

A refreshing, well-informed take on a less well-known period of history.