Columbus: His Enterprise: Exploding the Myth

by Hans Koning, Bill Bigalow (Afterword)

"The book is an idea that has finally found its time."
--Publisher's Weekly
"I think your book on Christopher Columbus is important. I'm more grateful for that book than any other book I have read in a couple of years."
--Kurt Vonnegut

Genres: History, Biography

141 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Biographical information written by the family of Hans Koning

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book making its point about Columbus and the genocide that he unleashed upon the Native Americans with his "discovery" of the New World. It's aimed at students and hopes to encourage discussion about the meaning of Columbus' so-called discovery for the indigenous peoples...The book was written in 1991 when it was still popular to celebrate Columbus. But now, in 2018, it's much less so. Konig certainly makes the case that Columbus, rather than being seen as a hero, should be compared to Hitler, if you look at his record (and that of the men under his command) of murdering, torturing, enslaving, and raping Native Americans, particularly the Arawak people of Hispaniola ( Haiti and the Dominican Rep.). They had their "Final Solution" within 50 years of Columbus' landing on their island. Not a single one of those people survived and it was only the beginning of the invasion and conquest of the "New World"...

[Maxx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it's quite obvious that most narratives of Christopher Columbus's travels is quite myth-like, it's hard for me to side with all of the viewpoints explored in this book. Quite often when the author compares the subject matter to relatively current events, such as he Vietnam war, these statements are at a liberal slant and make me feel like it is the author's opinions. Not to say that the text is "liberal propaganda"; I'm just not wholly convinced that it is indeed all facts. It holds no doubt that the Native Americans were treated unjustly, but I feel that the spaniards' culture was not entirely explained. There is a large cultural difference between 1500 and 1990.

In addition to this, I feel that the author skips over big amounts of time; summing up whole months and even seasons in a matter of a few sentences. Surely, something must have been logged in the accounts of history during these periods. This adds to the notion that this book is more opinion than anything else.

Still a good read if you like alternative views of history.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exposes the legend of Columbus as something you or your kids will probably never read about in school. He was the predecessor to the conquistador. He and his men nearly wiped out an entire race of people. Now I understand why Columbus Day is a day of mourning in many places. It definitely will never be celebrated by me.

[Reanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I thought I couldn't hate Columbus more...

[Aepe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I traced a series of claims with missing citations back to this book which originally conflates a massacre Bartolome De Las Casas witnessed and described with a tribute system Christopher Columbus implemented on hispaniola 45 years prior. The source he cites too also does not make this conflation, and this conflation does not appear previously in the academic record. It appears nonetheless to have been accepted as fact thereafter in popular discussion.
Before this it also alleges there Columbus merely imagined gold fields to exist in Cibao, today the home of the largest open gold mine in Latin & south America and where workers are still readily exploited and exposed to dangerous conditions to this day.
Very strange.

[Ines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief details

A simple quick read, briefing on Christopher Columbus journey and introducing the devastation and destruction of a culture and tribe, that is not extinct, even today.

[Katie Lynn]

Worth the read for this perspective.

[Nick Chase]

Pointedly written, timely. Hm

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

It tells you things about Columbus that you would never otherwise know.