Author Oonya Kempadoo in “Tide Running” incorporates the culture, gender struggles and economy of the country where the novel is set, Tobago. The main characters, Bella and Cliff, play a minor to a much larger role in the novel. Additionally, the island's colonial history serves as the foundation for the current lives of Tobago's citizens. The two island republics of Trinidad and Tobago have been one of the most influential English-speaking Caribbean nations, having attracted a succession of Spanish, English. , French, African and Indian peoples and having also developed a Creole culture which, notably through its calypso music, has influenced the world. Its population is fairly evenly split between those of African and Indian descent, speaking English, as well as Hindi, French patois, and many island dialects. The capital, Port-of-Spain, nominally bears witness to the first European encounter, that of Christopher Columbus in 1498. He named it the colony Trinidad after the three peaks at its southern tip and the name Tobago probably derives from tobacco. Spain initially had little interest in Trinidad due to its apparent lack of gold or other precious metals. It was not until 1532 that the Spanish first settled and brought the first African slaves to the island. Trinidad remained firmly under Spanish control until 1783. Trinidad became a tug of war between many colonial powers. Spain colonized Trinidad in 1532 while Dutch settlers planted sugar on plantations in Tobago in the 1630s. In 1781, France colonized Tobago and further developed its plantation economy. The British captured Trinidad from Spain in 1797, and in 1802 Spain officially ceded the island to Great Britain. By 1784, the French were the dominant force...... middle of article ......d Economic Studies, Vol. 52, no. 2 (June 2003), pp. 167-170Published by: Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, University of the West IndiesArticle Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27865332Sharpe, Jenny, and Samantha Pinto. “The Sweetest Taboo: Studies in Caribbean Sexualities; Review Essay.” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 32.1 (2006): 247-274. International Humanities completed. Internet. December 15, 2011. “Trinidad and Tobago.” Britain and the Americas: culture, politics and history. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2005. Reference Credo. Internet. December 12, 2011. “Trinidad and Tobago.” Philip's Encyclopedia 2008. London: Philip's, 2008. Credo Reference. Internet. December 14, 2011. “TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.” Africa and the Americas: culture, politics and history. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2008. Reference Credo. Internet. December 15 2011.