Before the 18th century, every single nutmeg in the world originated around a group of small volcanic islands east of Java, known as the Banda Islands. As the nutmeg made its way across the known world, they became immensely valuable - in 16th century Europe, just a handful could buy a house. It was not long before European traders became conquerors, and the indigenous Bandanese communities - and the islands themselves - would pay a high price for access to this precious commodity. Yet the bloody fate of the Banda Islands forewarns of a threat to our present day.Amitav Ghosh argues that the nutmeg's violent trajectory from its native islands is revealing of a wider colonial mindset which justifies the exploitation of human life and the natural environment, and which dominates geopolitics to this day.Written against the backdrop of the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, and interweaving discussions on everything from climate change, the migrant crisis, and the animist spirituality of indigenous communities around the world, The Nutmeg's Curse offers a sharp critique of Western society, and reveals the profoundly remarkable ways in which human history is shaped by non-human forces.
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"collection of essays and lectures that explore the complex relationship between human society and the natural world. Ghosh argues that the current ecological crisis is not just a technical problem, but a cultural one, and that we need to fundamentally rethink our relationship with the planet if we are to address the challenges we face. Throughout the book, Ghosh draws on a wide range of examples from different cultures and historical periods to illustrate his arguments. He shows how human beings have long been aware of the fragility and interconnectedness of the natural world, but how this awareness has been gradually eroded by the rise of industrial capitalism and consumer culture. Ghosh also explores the role of language and storytelling in shaping our understanding of the natural world. He argues that the stories we tell about nature have a profound impact on how we relate to it, and that we need to develop new stories that reflect a deeper sense of interconnectedness and interdependence."
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David Mannix (5 out of 5 stars)