Tonga is a Pacific Island nation located in the south of the Pacific Ocean, west of Fiji and north of New Zealand. It is made up of 169 islands, 36 of which are inhabited. The capital and largest island is Tongatapu, which is home to about two-thirds of the country's population. The Tongan culture is deeply rooted in tradition and is known for its hospitality, respect for elders, and the importance placed on family and community. Tonga is a constitutional monarchy with the King serving as the head of state. The country has a unicameral Parliament, which consists of 26 members: 17 elected by the people and 9 appointed by the King. The economy is largely based on agriculture and fishing, with tourism also playing an important role in recent years. The official language is Tongan, although English is widely spoken, especially in business settings. Despite its small size and limited resources, Tonga has a distinct place in the Pacific and is known for its unique culture, friendly people, and beautiful landscape.
Tonga is a Pacific Island nation located in the south of the Pacific Ocean, west of Fiji and north of New Zealand. It is made up of 169 islands, 36 of which are inhabited. The capital and largest island is Tongatapu, which is home to about two-thirds of the country's population. The Tongan culture is deeply rooted in tradition and is known for its hospitality, respect for elders, and the importance placed on family and community. Tonga is a constitutional monarchy with the King serving as the head of state. The country has a unicameral Parliament, which consists of 26 members: 17 elected by the people and 9 appointed by the King. The economy is largely based on agriculture and fishing, with tourism also playing an important role in recent years. The official language is Tongan, although English is widely spoken, especially in business settings. Despite its small size and limited resources, Tonga has a distinct place in the Pacific and is known for its unique culture, friendly people, and beautiful landscape.
Praise for the first edition: "Tonga is unique among bibliographies in its perception and understanding, and in its affection for Tonga and its people. . . . Daly’s work stands on exceptionally sound foundations. . . . His summaries are excellent, indeed, but Daly writes always with the authority of first-hand knowledge, with a keen eye for the essential, and the ability to interpret and clarify obscurities. . . . A trustworthy introduction to Tonga in all its diversity, a splendid point de départ for all, layman or scholar, needing a reliable guide to the essential literature about this remarkable Polynesian kingdom." —Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies "The book is so arranged that it is easy to locate any of the items listed. . . . I found myself spending pleasant hours perusing Daly’s comments on the different publications.. . . I hope the rumor of a second, revised edition of this bibliography is true." —Journal of the Polynesian Society Tonga is a fascinating and subtle combination of a traditional Polynesian kingdom—the only one to survive the impact of colonization in the nineteenth century and remain independent—and a thoroughly Christian country. This comprehensive bibliography is a selective guide to the most significant and accessible English-language books, papers, and articles on every aspect of the kingdom’s history, culture, arts, politics, environment, and economy. It is a much updated and expanded edition of the original version that was published in 1999 as part of the World Bibliographical Series, with the addition of more than 200 new entries. Each of the approximately 600 described and annotated items is organized under broad subject headings, and indexed by author, title, and subject. In addition—and new to this edition—all known Ph.D. theses, although not annotated, are shown within their appropriate subject categories and indexed. Also new is a section on the most important Tonga-related websites. A general introduction describes the Tongan kingdom, its history and society, and its current situation. Tonga: A New Bibliography will be an invaluable resource for anyone with a serious interest in Tonga and an indispensable volume for academic libraries, reference collections, and policy makers focused on the Pacific islands.
John Martin (1789-1869) was a London-based, Edinburgh-educated physician interested in anthropological matters. This is his only book. He was inspired to write it by a chance encounter with its subject, William Mariner (1791-1853) who spent four years (1806-1810) in Tonga, in the South Pacific, one of the earliest European residents at a time before European influence disturbance or modification society. Mariner, an extraordinarily mature and perceptive youth, became thoroughly imbued with Tongan language and culture as the adopted son of the most powerful chief in Tonga. Thanks to Martin’s intelligent engagement with Mariner resulted in a compelling narrative and a comprehensive account of Tongan society which became a classic. Often celebrated as an extraordinary real-life adventure story, it is a pioneering work of anthropology, and for 200 years it has been a primary and authoritative source for research into Tongan history and culture.
