1 1

Airship Books

Anatomy Of Paradise By J C Furnas Hawaii And The Islands Of The South Seas

Anatomy Of Paradise By J C Furnas Hawaii And The Islands Of The South Seas

$14.00 USD
$14.00 USD
Sale Sold out

1948 Hardcover

William Sloane associates

Good condition

History

 

 

Anatomy of Paradise: Hawaii and the Islands of the South Seas is a seminal non-fiction historical and cultural study written by J.C. Furnas (Joseph Chamberlain Furnas). First published in 1947–1948 by William Sloane Associates, the book was issued in cooperation with the American Institute of Pacific Relations. It won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in 1949 for its profound exploration of race relations and cultural intersection in the Pacific

 

 

  • Historical Progression: The text comprehensively documents the South Pacific from early Polynesian migration to European contact, Christian missionary influence, and the eventual 1898 U.S. annexation of Hawaii. 
  • Cultural Analysis: Furnas provides ethnographic insights into the indigenous traditions, social customs, art forms, and religious beliefs of Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and Fiji. 
  • Dismantling Myths: A major objective of the book is to deconstruct Western romanticized stereotypes—the "South Seas paradise" myth—by exposing the harsh realities of colonialism, economic exploitation, and the introduction of foreign diseases. 
  • Ecological Overview: The narrative blends cultural history with details on the region's geography, volcanic origins, flora, fauna, and marine ecosystems. [

    •  

    View full details