The Loss of El Dorado
 First edition | |
| Author | V. S. Naipaul |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | History |
| Publisher | André Deutsch (UK), Alfred A. Knopf (US) |
Publication date | 1969 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 334 |
| ISBN | 0233961429 |
The Loss of El Dorado is a 1969 history book by V. S. Naipaul about Venezuela and Trinidad. The title refers to the legend of El Dorado.
Naipaul looks at the Spanish-British colonial rivalry in the Orinoco Basin, drawing on contemporary sources written in Spanish and English.[1] The book examines the obsessive quest for gold which was typical of the first Europeans to explore the region. In particular, Sir Walter Raleigh's voyages are examined with a psychological depth more typical of novels than historical works.
In the second half of the book, the focus shifts to Trinidad under British colonial rule. Naipaul gives a lot of attention to the trial of Sir Thomas Picton, the Governor of Trinidad. He also looks at Venezuela's struggle for independence from Spain in the early 19th century.
Like most of Naipaul's work, "The Loss of El Dorado" has received considerable critical recognition. On publication, its admirers included the University of Cambridge historian John H. Plumb. However, Naipaul confessed to not being completely happy with his book. He reworked some of its material in a later book, A Way in the World, where historical narrative is treated in a different way, and is in part rendered as fiction.[2]
Translation
[edit]- La pérdida de El Dorado (Spanish translation by Flora Casas, Madrid 2001).[3]
References
[edit]- ^ According to Paul Theroux´s book "Sir Vidia's Shadow", Naipaul was assisted in his research by his first wife, Patricia Hale
- ^ Gussow, Mel (April 24, 1994) V. S. Naipaul in Search of Himself: A Conversation, New York Times
- ^ José María Lassalle Ruiz (12 May 2001), La Trinidad caribeña de V. S. Naipaul, ojosdepapel.com (review of Spanish translation)
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