The First Taint of Civilization: A History of the Caroline and Marshall Islands in Pre-Colonial Days, 1521-1885

by Francis X. Hezel and Francis X. Hezel S.J.

Book Overview

"Hezel writes clearly and with erudition and commands an impressive body of information. His book is a tour de force.... Not only will it be read eagerly by Pacific scholars, but it should find a wide... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824808401
• ISBN13: 9780824808402
• Release Date: January 1983
• Publisher: Pacific Islands Studies Program
• Length: 371 Pages
• Weight: 2.00 lbs.

Customer Reviews

MICRONESIAN HISTORY

A fine piece of work and research. The book came from the University of Hawaii Press and is well-documented and the presentation of the book is excellent. Father Hezel, the author, is highly recognized as a religious leader in the area, and respected for his knowledge and working with the various island cultures. This is the book that you need to study to understand what happened, during the pre-colonial days, before Germany, Spain, Japan and America added their influences. As an example, families living side-by-side in villages will have names like Smith, Salas, Weilbacher,and Mori, and most will be able to trace their ancestry back to a distant relative, who intermarried into the family. Enjoyed the many maps. A good book for research but also for general interest about the islands and the early developments.