Dos Santos is a captivating story set in the earliest days of the Spanish conquest of the Caribbean island that would eventually be called Puerto Rico. Back in the days when the local Taíno people called their homeland Borikén, the newly arrived Spaniards named the island San Juan Bautista. There, two vastly different cultures met in a struggle that would help define a new people. In the midst of that struggle one man set out to find a place for himself and fulfill his dreams. Taking risks to change his destiny he found the life he sought, and the love he didn’t know he needed, in an unexpected place….among the Taínos. His new life exposed the differences between Taínos and Spaniards and challenged his beliefs and loyalties. Dos Santos is set within a carefully researched historical backdrop. This book will give the reader a rare glimpse into the life of the lost Taíno culture, while retracing a fascinating chapter in the early Spanish conquest of the new world.
About the Author: Fernando de Aragon
Fernando de Aragon: Born and raised in Puerto Rico, de Aragon now lives in Ithaca, NY. The author has had a life long interest in nature and history, particularly the early days of the Spanish conquest of Puerto Rico and the period of interaction with the indigenous Taíno population. This interest is reflected in Dos Santos, which incorporates much of what he has learned researching the history of that time period. One of the main purposes of Dos Santos is to present the readers with the events and conditions in the island of Borikén in the early 1500's in what is, hopefully, an entertaining and engaging format.
Reviews/Quotes
I read the novel and loved it: detailed descriptions that allow us to live and feel the essence of our Taínos, a beautiful love story interwoven among images and dialog full of emotion, moving realism that reflects the raw stuggle that formed us as a people. Congratulations! M.J.C., San Juan, Puerto Rico * My hat goes off to you. I'm glad that perseverance dominated the effort because the result is masterful. The conclusion is a marvel because it transforms a tragedy into a bridge of hope....What a success! E.J.S., San Juan, Puerto Rico * I wanted to be there with them. I felt like I was there with them. The end was so heartbreakingly perfect. What a stunning accomplishment, Fernando! And I feel I learned a lot as well. Thank you for your courage in making what I'm sure was a long dreamed-of plan, a reality. M.R., Ithaca, NY * I wanted to let you know I just finished reading your book! It is really, really excellent. Extremely well written, the human story is fascinating and well developed, and the historical context is so thought-provoking. It is such a sad story, both at the level of the characters in the story, as well as for all the native peoples historically. It was emotionally difficult and upsetting to enter into that tragedy, but it has been edifying for me to be more aware of the devastating injustice that occurred, and enriching for me to learn about the heritage of the Taíno people. And the story of the main characters was very real and very moving in a positive way. C.R.O., Albany, NY * I just finished your book and wanted to tell you what a wonderful read it was. I really liked your style of writing and at times felt I was right there with the characters. I had read some of the history of that era before and you really blended the historical with the story narrative well. I especially enjoyed learning more about the Taino culture. F.S.M., Ithaca, NY * I just finished it. Well done, Fernando! It's a really great story you have to tell and you tell it well. I couldn't stop reading. P.E.F., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY * The life journey of one man became the path for the story of the Taino people. In Dos Santos - A novel, Fernando de Aragón has succeeded in relating a believable story based on historical facts! It is a great accomplishment when the reader can personally identify with an individual in a story based 500 years ago. We are them... Thank you for helping us recall and learn once again our early origins and to see a glimpse of a beautiful people that still live in our dreams. Congratulations Fernando... and we patiently await the next adventure in Taino history!~ X.G., Charleston, SC * The Dos Santos novel is terrific...the best I've read this year...I just read this book and I found it well written... The best documented narrative regarding our history as a people, descendents of a mix of races as we are. I believe it should be compulsory reading for all Boricuas who love their land. C.Q., Puerto Rico
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