Post #24122 by tikibars on Sun, Feb 23, 2003 10:55 PM

I find that Thor Heyerdahl's Aku Aku is my favorite "historical book related to Tiki" by a longshot. His "Fatu Hiva" and of course "Kon Tiki" are good too, but Aku Aku takes the prize in my book (sure, what the heck, I admit it: the pun was intentional).

Latey, in fact, reading Heyerdahl has inspired me to seek out many other "south seas adventure traveloges" published between the 1840s and 1950s.

All but the Melville book contain photos, and many of the photos contain Tikis.

All are rare, but probably not expensive if you do find them.

Here are some faves:

The Last Cannibals by Jens Bjerre, 1957
(mostly about New Guinea)
"A Stone Age in the Atom Age".

Hidden Worlds of Polynesia by Robert C. Sugggs, 1962
(mostly about Marquesas)

Bride in the Solomons, Osa Johnson, 1944
(mostly about Solomons)

Typee, During a Four Months Residence in the Valley of The Marquesas, Herman Mellville, 1846
(mostly about Marquesas)

Tonga - A Tale of the Friendly Islands< Patricia Ledyard, 1956
(mostly about Tonga)

Adventures In Paradise: Tahiti and Beyond, Willard Price, 1955
(mostly about Tahiti)

Sorcerer's Village, Hassoldt Davis, 1955
(mostly about French Guiana - Okay, this is Africa, not Polynesia, but still a great read).

Also, the Heyerdahl bio "Senor Kon Tiki" is a great read, and if you can find it, Heyerdahl's encyclopedic 1000+ page "Art of Easter Isalnd".

Also, anything by Routledge on Easter Is.

and... (cough)... (ahem)... there IS one other book that I hope you will all have in your libraries about 6 weeks from now... (cough cough)... certainly (or hopefully) the most comprehensive book on Tiki since Sven's holy tome... (clears throat).. if I my say so myself...