An Account of the Natives of the Tonga Islands in the South Pacific Ocean

John Martin wrote a comprehensive account of Tongan Society, inspired by his encounter with William Mariner, a mature and perceptive youth who became thoroughly imbued with Tongan language and culture. This book is a pioneering work of anthropology and has been a primary and authoritative source for research into Tongan history and culture for 200 years.

Format: Hardback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

John Martin, a physician with roots in London and education in Edinburgh, possessed a deep fascination with anthropological subjects. Among his notable works is this comprehensive exploration of Tongan Society, which stands as his sole publication. The impetus for writing this remarkable book came about through a chance encounter with William Mariner, a young man hailing from London who spent four years (1806-1810) in Tonga, a South Pacific island nation, during a period preceding significant European influence that would disturb or alter its society. Mariner, an extraordinarily mature and perceptive individual, seamlessly integrated himself into Tongan language and culture, assuming the role of an adopted son to the most influential chief in Tonga. Martin's intellectual engagement with Mariner yielded a captivating narrative that provides a comprehensive account of Tongan society. In conjunction with the accompanying grammar and vocabulary, this work has established itself as a classic, celebrated for its extraordinary qualities as a real-life adventure story. Moreover, it holds a pioneering status in the field of anthropology, serving as a primary and authoritative source of research into Tongan history and culture for over two centuries.

Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032352145