What do you think?
Rate this book
The Elusive Eden: Frank McMullan's Confederate Colony in Brazil
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 28, 2011
The Elusive Eden is a clear, well-written history, regarding one of the bands of Confederates who migrated to Brazil after the Civil War. Griggs draws on firsthand accounts and details Frank McMillan’s life, his emigrant plans, the groups problems and setbacks, and struggles to succeed. This is one of these intriguing “footnotes of history” and is a story that deserves being told.
However, the actual story is more interesting in its set up than it its pay off. That is, the concept is fascinating, but the settlers don’t actually do anything all that interesting. Being mostly concerned with scraping together a living, they don’t spout racist rhetoric. They don’t bring back the slave trade. They don’t recreate the plantation system and the antebellum way of life. Instead they build small houses and scratch out a few crops. Many eventually give up and move back home. The movement just peters out.
As far as history books go, this one tends towards the academic side, though it is still quite readable. Those interested in the subject will like it.
However, the actual story is more interesting in its set up than it its pay off. That is, the concept is fascinating, but the settlers don’t actually do anything all that interesting. Being mostly concerned with scraping together a living, they don’t spout racist rhetoric. They don’t bring back the slave trade. They don’t recreate the plantation system and the antebellum way of life. Instead they build small houses and scratch out a few crops. Many eventually give up and move back home. The movement just peters out.
As far as history books go, this one tends towards the academic side, though it is still quite readable. Those interested in the subject will like it.
October 11, 2016
Following the Civil War there were some Confederates who decided, for various reasons, to emigrate to the Empire of Brazil. Among them was Frank McMullan, a Texan who arranged to bring over a hundred colonists to one of the last slave-holding countries the Western Hemisphere. The colonists endured the uncertainty of the Brazilian bureaucracy, the sinister machinations of the crew who was paid to take them to South America, and even a shipwreck. Once in Brazil the southerners found that things were not going to work out as they had planned. Many returned, but some stayed.
McMullan secretly hoped to find a lost treasure in the mountains near the colony (in fact, this was why the area was selected). This idea was handed down to two others in the group and would remain an obsession for them.
The writing is good, but slow in parts. It is also redundant regarding some facts. Still, an interesting (and forgotten!) chapter in American history.
McMullan secretly hoped to find a lost treasure in the mountains near the colony (in fact, this was why the area was selected). This idea was handed down to two others in the group and would remain an obsession for them.
The writing is good, but slow in parts. It is also redundant regarding some facts. Still, an interesting (and forgotten!) chapter in American history.
September 17, 2014
Loved it! I wouldn't say this book is for everyone, but US history buffs would find it fascinating and anyone who likes non-fiction would love it. Fact-filled and detailed. Not a quick, easy, fiction-like read. However, it is a subject that fascinates me! I visited the museum and graveyard in Americana where my curiosity was piqued and I was dying to learn more. I was able to visit with some descendants of the original "Confederados." Fantastic! This history was very thorough and I loved every minute of it! Wow! What a story about human nature and an alternate insight into the minds of the Confederate South as a conquered nation.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews