About the Book : George Winius, an American historian teaching in the Netherlands, first examines the contemporary testimony in its historical context and then asks the questions: what really was corruption in that age Can it be compared to what we consider corruption in our own time Was it the consequence of Portugal's failure to build a system of civilian government Or was it the result of the European patronage system transported to a location where there was plenty of extra money to be obtained Dr. Winius examines all these questions and attends to another two raised by his colleagues a Leiden University: Were the exposes written by men who resented their exclusion from the system? And was this system itself European or Indian in nature. About Author : Born at St. Louis Missouri, U.S.A. in 1928, has a B.A. degree from Bowdoin College and the M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University. Has been Professor (1965-76) at the University of Florida, Gainesville and Netherland, where he edits with ltinerario, Robert Ross? His previous publications include The Fatel History of Portuguese Ceylon (1971) and Foundation of the Portuguese Empire 1415-1580 (written with the late Bailey W. Diffie). He is married and has three children.