If any historic figure could be considered the human equivalent of a Rorschach test, it would have to be Christopher Columbus. Just the mention of his name can generate a wealth of different and conflicting reactions, ranging from praise as an indefatigable hero to jeers as the symbol of colonialist genocide.
Part of the problem in comprehending Columbus has been the excessive mythmaking surrounding his achievements. Matthew Restall’s new book “The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus” offers some entertaining myth-busting of “Columbiana.” The book seeks to rescue the man from the legends, worship, and demonization that have framed his name and accomplishments.
