jdscott50's review
4.0
Montague Kobbe attempts to re-imagine the world’s smallest revolution in the 1960s Caribbean, with comedic and endearing results. In 1824, the island of Anguilla was placed under British rule by way of neighboring St. Kitts. Placed in a subordinate role, those in St. Kitts viewed most Anguillans as "Bobo Johnnys" a bunch of day laborers with little intelligence. When Great Britain established an independent state of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla the simmering resentment of Anguillans exploded, leading to a rebellion. Kobbe documents this factual part of the story in the beginning of his book. What happens next is a fantasy of sorts that explores the nature of revolution and the desire to be recognized as a people with dignity, no matter how small.
On a June night in 1967, 13 men embark on a tiny ship, the Rambler, to capture Robert Bradshaw and force St. Kitts to declare an independent state. It's a rag tag group with leaders of the Anguillan state, revolutionary activists, and American mercenaries fresh from Vietnam. Kobbe leaves us in suspense as this group lands in St. Kitts about to execute their plan. He takes us back in time to explain how we got here. What is given a mere sentence in a Wikipedia article, Kobbe lends 250 pages; while fictional, he provides relevant facts and perspective of the Anguillan people. The back story of the Anguillan rebellion takes center stage throughout the novel. He further takes into the back story of the 13 revolutionaries providing further trajectory to this tale.
Kobbe tells both the story of Anguilla as well as explaining the need for revolution, the need to be recognized and the lengths which we go to get that. Half of the story provides an in-depth background on the Anguillan people, with the other half discussing the nature of revolutions. The author makes comparisons to the Venezuelan rebellion to oust their dictator and it inspires one of the main characters to execute his plan for their own rebellion. The plan has a serious edge, but there's a scene early on that examine the two perils of a rebellion. It's a need for legitimacy that is only given by governor, and one of violence when diplomacy fails. How does a nation gain legitimacy through violent acts? Kobbe’s revolution ends not with a bang but with a whimper. The ultimate rebellion from St. Kitts takes a more Canadian route (through diplomacy and persistence) rather than an American one (violently kicking out the dictator.) Combined with a fun but cheesy denouement it ends on a comedic note to lighten the tale. Altogether an engaging story that takes an unorthodox view on 1960s revolutions and rebellions.
Favorite part:
A people cannot live without hope for long without erupting socially. P105
On a June night in 1967, 13 men embark on a tiny ship, the Rambler, to capture Robert Bradshaw and force St. Kitts to declare an independent state. It's a rag tag group with leaders of the Anguillan state, revolutionary activists, and American mercenaries fresh from Vietnam. Kobbe leaves us in suspense as this group lands in St. Kitts about to execute their plan. He takes us back in time to explain how we got here. What is given a mere sentence in a Wikipedia article, Kobbe lends 250 pages; while fictional, he provides relevant facts and perspective of the Anguillan people. The back story of the Anguillan rebellion takes center stage throughout the novel. He further takes into the back story of the 13 revolutionaries providing further trajectory to this tale.
Kobbe tells both the story of Anguilla as well as explaining the need for revolution, the need to be recognized and the lengths which we go to get that. Half of the story provides an in-depth background on the Anguillan people, with the other half discussing the nature of revolutions. The author makes comparisons to the Venezuelan rebellion to oust their dictator and it inspires one of the main characters to execute his plan for their own rebellion. The plan has a serious edge, but there's a scene early on that examine the two perils of a rebellion. It's a need for legitimacy that is only given by governor, and one of violence when diplomacy fails. How does a nation gain legitimacy through violent acts? Kobbe’s revolution ends not with a bang but with a whimper. The ultimate rebellion from St. Kitts takes a more Canadian route (through diplomacy and persistence) rather than an American one (violently kicking out the dictator.) Combined with a fun but cheesy denouement it ends on a comedic note to lighten the tale. Altogether an engaging story that takes an unorthodox view on 1960s revolutions and rebellions.
Favorite part:
A people cannot live without hope for long without erupting socially. P105
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