In Search of Eden is a fascinating and up to date (2002) history of Dominica; the book portrays a small Caribbean state's passage from colonial rule to sovereign nation. The 667 page book by two Dominican lawyers, Irving W. Andre and Gabriel J. Christian, who were themselves involved in the island's independence movement explores the history and progress of the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica. An English speaking social democracy in the Eastern Caribbean, Dominica is peopled mostly by the descendants of the Carib people who Columbus met in his 1493 visit to the island, Africans who had fought enslavement and gained their freedom, along with others descended from French and English settlers. In recent times there have been an influx of Chinese, along with Haitians and Dominicans seeking a better life for themselves. The island is the most thickly forested and well watered island in the Caribbean and is a leader in environmental conservation and eco-tourism. Due to a well maintained system of national parks, the island has preserved a pristine environment which makes it very attractive to those who seek peace and quiet amidst nature's splendor. Dominica, considered the Nature Island of the Caribbean, due to its pristine rain forest, has had a fascinating history. From Columbus' 1493 encounter with the island, the early resistance of its indigenous Carib peoples, and the liberation struggles of enslaved Africans, the island continues to face challenges as it navigates towards some sense of nationhood. In recent times, the island has had to fend off South African subversion and an invasion attempt by Ku Klux Klan members. Often confused with its bigger Caribbean neighbour, the Dominican Republic, Dominica's people are quietly engaged in addressing the problem of development peculiar to mini states. The essays in this work focus on the issues of political independence, national identity, environmental protection and local literature, alongside the core theoretical issues which confront all small developing countries today. Dominica's History Revealed by Caribbean authors Dominican authors Irving Andre and Gabriel Christian have released In Search of Eden 2 - Essays on Dominican History. The book is the most definitive work on Dominica's more current history. In Search of Eden 2 follows up on the hugely successful "In Search of Eden - The Travails of a Caribbean Mini State", which was published in 1992. In the current issue, the authors carefully detail the unfolding events in Dominica during arguably its most tumultuous years. The collection of essays focus on political upheaval, social unrest, constitutional change, attempted coups, and on key historical figures in Dominica. The relating of Dominica's history is breath-taking in its level of intrigue and interest. That a small country like Dominica could have gone through such a devastating period and emerged relatively unscathed is testament to the resilience of its people. Irving W. Andre was recently named a Judge in Ontario, Canada and Gabriel Christian is a successful trial lawyer in Maryland in the suburbs of Washington DC. This is their second Collaborative effort and between them they have written eight books relating to Dominica. --Extracted from TheDominican.Net by Thomson Fontaine Irving W. André attended the Dominica Grammar School and Sixth Form College. He attended the University of the West-Indies in Jamaica where he was a Gold Medalist after graduating with a First Class Honours Degree (B.A.) in History, English and Philosophy. The recipient of a Graduate Award to pursue the PhD. in History from John Hopkins in Baltimore, Mr. André studied there for two years prior to studying law at Osgoode Hall School in Canada. In 1990, Mr. André was called to the Bar of Ontario, and has served as a Ministry of Labour prosecutor, an Assistant Crown Attorney and later, as a Criminal Defence lawyer. He was appointed a Justice in the Ontario Court of Justice in 2002. He holds a Master of Laws degree and has published several works on Dominican history and society. Gabriel J. Christian attended the Dominica Grammar School and Sixth Form College. He taught History at the Dominica Grammar School before attending the University of the District of Columbia College of Business and Public Management in Washington, D.C. where he graduated with a BBA in Procurement and Public Contracting. Mr. Christian studied law at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. graduating with the degree of Juris Doctor in 1991. Mr. Christian was admitted to the Bar in 1991 and now practices law in Maryland. André & Christian co-authored In Search of Eden: Dominica, The Travails of a Caribbean Mini-State (1992) and In Search of Eden: Essays on Dominican History (2002). Mr. Christian also authored Rain on a Tin Roof in 1999. In 2007 Mr. Christian was appointed Judicial Commissioner to the Maryland Court of Appeals by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley.