Islanders - The Pacific in the Age of Empire

This is an interesting book that presents the arrival of Europeans at the islands of the Pacific basin in a more balanced way than is usually recorded and demonstrates there were advantages and disadvantages on both sides.Europeans arrived in the 18 and 19 centuries as traders,missionaries and colonists each with their good and bad points.there are 2 main parts to the book a)the bible and the gun and b)the tribe and the army-both very well written and researched.There are some excellent illustrations but the map is hopeless.