O. A. Bushnell (1913–2002)

An extremely well written historical of a very different sort- set in 18th-century Hawaii (the Big Island, to be specific), it is about the second visit of Captain James Cook's third exploratory expedition to Hawaii after a summer sojourn in Alaska. Spoiler alert here, but the natives end up killing Cook, most likely after a series of cultural misunderstandings between the two cultures. The written prose is excellent, and Bushnell, a native of Hawaii of European descent, is both sensitive in show more exploring his characters' motivations and emotions (on both the British and Hawaiian sides). He is also a scholar, and his descriptions were accurate and multi-dimensional. Before reading this, I read up on Cook and his last voyage, which I found very useful in understanding everything that happened (helped me to focus on the writing rather than trying to figure out what was going on at each turn). Highly recommended for those interested in Hawaiian and Pacific history and the age of exploration. show less

This well-crafted historical novel held me captive until I finished it. Descriptions of Oahu, native Hawaiians, haoles (foreigners), and the events of Hawaii in the 1850s seemed entirely authentic. I enjoyed the technique of two complementary stories, each told by the two primary characters (one Hawaiian, one Haole). I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Hawaii's people and history.

919.6