In the Eye of All Trade: Bermuda, Bermudians, and the Maritime Atlantic World, 1680-1783 (Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American ... and the University of North Carolina Press)

The author burrowed through a spectacular amount of research in multiple libraries and archives in both England and North America, plus the rich holdings in the Bermuda Archives. Having myself been bitten by the Bermuda-bug in the mid-1990s, I both applaud and envy him. I remember reading a piece of his dissertation (the origins of this book) back in the early 2000s. I immediately realized I had stumbled across a jewel -- I still have that paper.I recommend this book to any and all with an interest in Bermuda history especially those who came by that interest through genealogy as I did. The Eye of All Trade gives a marvelous look at where so many of us came from (I still have distant relatives there). So many American families do not realize that a generation or two of their ancestors spent time on Bermuda before immigrating on mainland America. My ancestors arrived in Bermuda in the early days and stayed until about 1730. Since I’m merely an “armchair” researcher, Michael Jarvis’s work means the world to me.A small warning -- the book is BIG and the print is necessarily rather small. I started it last summer and more or less read it between other books. I continued to pick this book up over and over again, and each time I would be instantly re-engrossed. I’m finding it very difficult to be patient waiting for his next book which is said to cover the earliest settlement up to 1680. I think the working title is Atlantic Crucible. Come on, Michael -- we’re waiting!

This excellent book provides comprehensive details of the changing political, social and economic conditions prevalent in Bermuda (1680-1783) which dramatically affected the lives of my ancestors who were shipbuilders, salt-rakers, privateers, merchant-mariners and administrators during the centuries covered. I was particularly pleased with information on the lives of Bermudian women. They were a resilient lot! Notes, sources consulted and Index (about one third of the book) are proving exceptionally helpful. I recommend this book to anyone doing serious family research on Bermudian ancestors.

I purchased the ebook. It has many illustrations and maps about Bermuda at various points in it's history. The first chapter was great, but after that, every time there was a map or illustration, it said the illustration had been removed, go look at the physical book. Of course, I don't have a physical book. I am extremely disappointed that this was not mentioned up front. I stopped reading the book and of course missed the cutoff for returns by one day. Don't make the same mistake I did.

My complaint is with the digital copy of this book. 90% of all the illustrations and maps have been redacted. As Jarvis's thesis relies on a number of visual aids, this renders the Kindle version practically useless if you are a serious reader. Unless you are a curious layperson (not a historian), buy the paper copy instead.

Excellent, scholarly but readable. I learned about connections between Bermuda and my home, James Island, SC, and to my church, James Island Presbyterian.

Very easy to understand and interesting, the whole read.

This is a very good book. Lots of great information.

Gift for my Bermudian husband. Huge book, unique information