Torn Between Empires: Economy, Society, and Patterns of Political Thought in the Hispanic Caribbean, 1840-1878

by Luis Martínez-Fernández

Focuses on the development of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic during the time of deteriorating British influence in the region and the underlying transformations in the balance of power. Demonstrates how the events of these decades were sparked by tensions between Creole elites, free blacks and slaves, and by the colonial bureaucracies of Europe. Covers the regional impact of the US Civil War; dual colonialism in Cuba and Puerto Rico; and the United States' early economic interests in the region. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

344 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1994

About the author

Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez is a historian, nationally syndicated columnist, award-winning author, and acclaimed public speaker, whose fileds of expertise include Latin America, the Caribbean, Cuba, Puerto Rico, transcultural communications, education and Latinos in the U.S.

He is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate.

A Pegasus Professor of History at the University of Central Florida since 2004, Martinez-Fernandez is recognized as one of the most prolific and influential scholars in the field of Caribbean studies.

His books include Fighting Slavery in the Caribbean, Revolutionary Cuba: A History, and Key to the New World: A History of Early Colonial Cuba.

His forthcoming book, If History Is of Any Value: Politics, Culture and the Unimaginable Events of 2019-2022, will be published in December 2022 by Peter Lang Publishers.