Encounters Unforeseen: 1492 Retold - Hardcover

Encounters Unforeseen: 1492 Retold - A Bicultural Historical Novel

Encounters Unforeseen: 1492 Retold presents Columbus's voyage and first encounters with Native Americans from a bicultural perspective, dramatizing events through the eyes of both Taíno chieftains and European explorers. After 525 years of Eurocentric historical accounts, this historical novel fictionalizes the beliefs, thoughts, and actions of the Native Americans who met Columbus alongside those of Columbus and other Europeans, based on Columbus's Journal, primary sources, and anthropological studies.

Multiple Perspectives on Historic Encounters

The narrative alternates among three historic Taíno chieftains—Caonabó, Guacanagarí, and Guarionex—a Taíno youth Columbus captures, Spain's Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, and Columbus himself. Each character brings their education, marriages, and life experiences to these unforeseen encounters, revealing their astonishment, fears, and objectives during 1492 and 1493.

The novel includes the Taíno "discovery" of Europe when Columbus transports captives back to Spain, and depicts the chieftains' reactions to the abusive garrison Columbus leaves in the Caribbean. The Taíno protagonists emerge as personalities and actors comparable to Europeans, not merely victims or statistics.

Historical Scenes Woven from Primary Sources

The novel weaves scenes and dialogues from the historical record, often incorporating text from primary sources. Isabella plots dynastic marriages, argues with Ferdinand over supremacy, and wages war to expand their kingdoms. The chieftains take multiple wives to consolidate their rules, vie to marry the beautiful Anacaona, and battle Caribe raiders. Columbus conceives his voyage, marries advantageously to promote it, and endures a decade of ridicule and rejection.

Guacanagarí rescues Columbus when the Santa María sinks, while Caonabó questions this generosity and Guarionex witnesses a religious prophecy of Taíno genocide by a "clothed people." Columbus teaches his captive Christianity, initiating centuries of collision between Christianity and Native American religion.

Known Events and Documented Practices

The Taíno stories depict documented events including the chieftains' ascensions to power, the prophecy of genocide, and the captive's baptism in Spain, alongside known practices such as inter-island canoe travel, hurricanes, Caribe wife raids, and batey games. The Isabella and Ferdinand narratives cover the establishment of the Inquisition, subjugation of the Canary Islands, completion of the Reconquista, and expulsion of Jews from Spain, illustrating European doctrines of conquest and enslavement before encountering Native Americans.

Columbus's stories portray his pre-1492 sailing experiences and the evolution of his worldview. Stark societal differences emerge, with Europeans practicing African slavery while Taínos share food as communal property.

A Sources section discusses interpretations of historians and anthropologists contrary to the author's presentation, addressing issues of academic disagreement. The result is a documented, bicultural portrayal of the voyage that reshaped world history, written at its 525th anniversary.