What Happen: A Folk-History of Costa Rica's Talamanca Coast

by Paula Palmer

In "What Happen" the people of Costa Rica's Talamanca Coast talk about everything important to them - how they came from the islands of the Caribbean to the unpopulated shores where they founded the communities of Cahuita and Old Harbour (Puerto Viejo); the survival skills, values and customs that sustained them; shipwrecks, snake doctors, cricket, and cocoa farming; and the uncertain future of their communities as tourism develops on the lovely coast that is their home.

Genres: History

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

Reviews

[Steve D · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 starts may be biased, but understandable based on my love for this area and its people. Talamanca is the area on the east coast of Costa Rica. It enjoys a diverse mix of people and cultures and their history and legends are as saturating as the Caribbean humidity.

Mostly I appreciate the time and effort that the author took to compile and document the oral history and traditions of this area.

[Elizabeth Thornley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re thinking of travelling to the Talamancan Coast and can get your hands on a copy of this (it’s tough) - read it. I was hesitant at first as this was published over four decades ago but I decided that what I was looking for was historical perspective anyway. The oral histories documented in this book have provided me with so much insight into the development of this area and why it is so unique from the rest of Costa Rica (railroad development, former slave migration, United Fruit Company, etc.). I read this in tandem with a Lonely Planet guide on CR while prepping for a trip to Puerto Viejo and found it to nicely supplement the usual high-level, broad scope that Lonely Planet guides provide with some deep dives into the history, cultures, and ecology of the region.

[Katie Axelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I asked my host for the month if she had any literature on the Afro-Caribbean region we’re working in of Costa Rica. She gave me a history textbook-like piece complete with interviews from locals and changes to the region over time. It was fascinating to read, especially hearing the accents of the people in my head, but not a book I’d recommend unless you’ve got a passion for this part of the world.

[Clivemichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating chronicle in the peoples' own words. Love to have an update.

[Sherry Lidstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any one who spends alot of time on Costa Rica's caribbean coast this is a must read. Fascinating history.

[Suzette Audam]

MY PEOPLE!!!!!!!