Nathaniel's Nutmeg
How One Man's Courage Changed the Course of History
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4.1 • 17 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
'To write a book that makes the reader sit in a trance, lost in his passionate desire to pack a suitcase and go to the fabulous place - that, in the end, is something one would give a sack of nutmeg for' Philip Hensher, The Spectator
In 1616, an English adventurer, Nathaniel Courthope, stepped ashore on a remote island in the East Indies on a secret mission - to persuade the islanders of Run to grant a monopoly to England over their nutmeg, a fabulously valuable spice in Europe. This infuriated the Dutch, who were determined to control the world's nutmeg supply. For five years Courthope and his band of thirty men were besieged by a force one hundred times greater - and his heroism set in motion the events that led to the founding of the greatest city on earth.
A beautifully told adventure story and a fascinating depiction of exploration in the seventeenth century, NATHANIEL'S NUTMEG sheds a remarkable light on history
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Exotic spices such as nutmeg, mace and cloves were treasured in the kitchens and pharmacopoeias of 16th- and 17th-century Europe. Nutmeg was even believed to be an effective remedy against plague. Small wonder, then, that traders of the time ventured to the ends of the earth to secure it. With high drama and gracefully integrated research, Milton (The Riddle and the Knight) chronicles this "Spice Race," profiling the leading participants and recording the ruthless violence with which this very real trade war was conducted. The maritime powers of Europe sent companies of adventurers to the Spice Islands (now part of Indonesia), each nation intent on establishing a monopoly and reaping the stupefying profits that the spice trade could produce. The book concentrates on the competition between the Dutch and English East India Companies to control the spice trade nearly 400 years ago. In 1616, Nathaniel Courthope led an English expedition to occupy the Spice Island of Run, a few square miles of land thickly forested with nutmeg trees. As Milton explains, Courthope's assertion of English ownership of Run Island was rejected by the Dutch, who besieged the island for four years before ousting the English (and killing Courthope). However, Courthope's apparent failure led to an unexpected benefit for his country when, in 1667, a treaty confirmed Holland's seizure of Run but, in exchange, validated England's seizure of another piece of land on the opposite side of the world--the island of Manhattan. Sprinkled with useful maps and illustrations, Milton's book tells an absorbing story of perilous voyages, greed and political machinations in the Age of Exploration.
Customer Reviews
Brilliant book
Another brilliant book by Milton. Thoroughly researched and a pleasure to read. I have a library full of history books but Milton is the first that I have ventured to read in ebook format - and I love it. You just can't beat the iPad for taking a library of books with you while traveling. Milton is easy to read and yet he is thorough and precise in his detail. I have found all his books riveting reading and am looking forward to reading more of his work. This one hooked me on the first page and I found it difficult to put down. As with Samurai William this book is also about the British trade with the east and the conflict with the Dutch. One particular incident described in the book makes your blood boil with rage at what a Dutch governor did to some British traders caught up in the conflict between the two trading companies - but you will have to read the book to find out what happened. The amazing punch line of the book is how one small island in Asia resulted in the British raiding New Amsterdam now known as New York. If you love history then read this book.