The Treasure of the San Jose: Death at Sea in the War of the Spanish Succession Paperback – Import, 27 October 2011

I thought the historic very good and it helped me a lot in my research about the matter. However, the author spent several pages reconstituting the lives and carrers of the major characters on the event. I think it would not be so detailed as it is and I missed more detailed description of the battle and the actual valuation in dollars of the lost treasure. Anyway, it was a hard work and I would like to give my congratulation to the author !

The title is maybe somewhat misleading, because someone may expect the book to be a kind of pirate treasure novel. Instead the case of San Jose is used as an example to explain how the Spain's system of West Indies fleets functioned. So it is not about the treasure but about administration. The book also contains detailed biographies of a number of high ranking persons related with the story of San Jose. All in all this is very thorough research.

This is the best treasure story of the Caribbean and it is told in a manner that is so well done that the book is finished in one day. A fast moving, well told, true story.

Interesting.

Don't be fooled by the title, this book has really very little to do with the Spanish naval operations against Britain, and even less about the loss of the treasure of the San Jose. Instead, it is more of an expose' on the convoluted corruptions of the Spanish government and its impact on naval operations in the New World. In fact, after reading about the interminable bribery, double-dealing and graft associated with squadron command, it is amazing the Spanish were able to get anything done in the New World, or elsewhere. If you are of a legalistic turn of mind, you will probably enjoy this book, but if you are looking for any sort of detailed discussion of Spanish ships, personalities, Caribbean operations, or tales of the treasures of the Spanish Main, you will be quite disappointed! Far better to read Arpestegui's book 'Pirates of the Caribbean' to get a detailed Spanish view of the intricacies of Caribbean operations in the days of Spanish hegemony.