The Empire of Necessity

In 1805, Captain Amasa Delano, a New England seal hunter, unknowingly boarded a Spanish ship off the coast of a remote South Pacific island. He encountered a group of West Africans, whom he initially believed to be slaves. However, he soon discovered that they were actually in control of the ship and had staged a clever act to deceive him. Despite his anti-slavery beliefs, Delano responded with violent force. Based on extensive research spanning four continents, The Empire of Necessity delves into the various factors that led to this notable event, which served as the basis for Herman Melville's renowned novel, Benito Cereno.