Columbus and The Crisis of The West by Robert Royal

We know who Columbus is but what is the crisis of the west?  Or The West?  This book examines the vilification of Columbus and the “woke” notion that Western Civilization is racist, evil, exploitative and garbage.  It’s a notion that’s been around since the 60s of course but is enjoying a rebirth of freedom now.  

Robert Royal, academician and Catholic writer extraordinaire has tackled the attacks on Columbus and the contributions of Western Civilization to the development of the modern world.  There’s a lot of information in this book plus good arguments in the defense of Columbus and Western Civilization.  Mr. Royal’s information on Columbus and the Spanish empire in the New World is accurate and unbiased.  He certainly does not whitewash either.  

The book is difficult. It reads like a compilation of speeches or articles with added text to attempt a coherent whole.  Royal’s writing is, not surprisingly, academic in style.  It’s a bit abstruse.  The analysis is nuanced and detailed with long sentences and the occasional choice of word that clogs up the understanding. Any number of times I found myself thinking, Why doesn’t he just say what he means and let’s get on with it. I had thought I might go back and unravel the chapters a bit.  If I ever do that I will also undertake better note-taking in the margins.  

There is valuable information in this book if you feel called upon to defend Columbus as a bold explorer, an accomplished mariner and an essential historical figure who was central in ushering in the modern age.  

Also read Samuel Eliot Morrison’s Admiral of the Ocean Sea:  A Life of Christopher Columbus. I really liked that book.