A seminal work … rigorous and thorough
With Between the Kola Forest and the Salty Sea Dr. Burrowes has filled a significant void in the known history of the West African nation of Liberia. Ironically, because of the rigorous and thorough nature of this work which combs various sources from archaeology, linguistics, and anthropology, Burrowes makes the case that indeed most nations are undoubtedly formed by the migration patterns of diverse peoples with various social, religious and economic motivations. This seminal work suggests that in forging a national identity people should understand their ancient past and acknowledge the choices that their ancestors made in becoming a part of a community within their eventual homeland. For a country still recovering from violent civil conflict this may be the greatest contribution a historian can offer. This is a must read not only for academics and scholars worldwide; it is a story that the Liberian people need to hear.