On Fiji Islands

1986

As Ronald Wright observes, societies that do not eat people are fascinated by those that do—or did. Known for years as the “Cannibal Islands”, the Fiji Islands are now an archipelago of cultures that flourish despite the invasion of colonizers and the modern world. A gifted writer—acutely observant, witty, and eclectic—Wright explores the exotic islands and the reasons for Fiji’s success.

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Reviews

“Ronald Wright’s skills as an ethnologist, political historian, and travel writer have found an ideal outlet… an excellent book.”
The Independent

“Mr. Wright combines the expert travel writer’s techniques… with a skeptical curiosity… Persuasive and evocative prose.”
The New York Times Book Review

“An instant success, [Cut Stones and Crossroads: A Journey in the Two Worlds of Peru) took its place among-side older classics in the Penguin Travel Library. His new book in not only a worthy successor, but probably better.”
The Guardian

“Part travel memoir, part history and anthropology, this is a compelling story.”
Publishers Weekly

“This is a fine travel book, personal without being pretentious, open-eyed without being naive, and I’ll gladly travel with Wright wherever he goes next.”
Washington Post Book World

“Within the last 150 years, Fiji, the original “Cannibal Islands,” has been colonized and Christianized and has seen a huge importation of Indian laborers. Despite all these dramatic changes, the Fijians have retained their own land and culture. Intrigued by this unique history, anthropologist Wright traveled extensively throughout the Islands, visiting both cities bustling with Indian merchants and quiet Fijian villages in the remote interior. He vividly describes his experiences. However, this is not just a travel book but a weaving of contemporary impressions with underlying history. Wright feels that it is impossible to understand current Fijian culture and problems without a grasp of the past. The result is a compelling combination of travelogue and history book. An excellent bibliography is appended.”
Library Journal

Format: Paperback, 272 pages
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN 10: 0-140-09551-9
ISBN 13: 978-0-140-09551-7