Plumes from Paradise

Name: Plumes from Paradise
Brand: Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand
SKU: 9781743325445
Price: 47.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

Trade Cycles in Outer Southeast Asia and their Impact on New Guinea and Nearby Islands Until 1920

By Pamela Swadling

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Summary

Plumes from Paradise by Pamela Swadling delves into the rich history of New Guinea, examining its cultural and economic transformation over time. The book explores how the region's fascinating trade in bird of paradise plumes played a pivotal role in connecting New Guinea with distant civilisations. By blending anthropological insights with historical research, it offers a compelling look into the dynamic interactions between indigenous societies and external influences.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$47⁹⁹

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Plumes from Paradise

$47⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the historical impact of trade and cultural exchanges in the Pacific islands. It weaves together anthropology, archaeology and history to explore how feathered adornments greatly influenced society and economy in New Guinea and neighbouring regions. This intriguing exploration offers a detailed picture of the rich cultural heritage and trade networks in this unique part of the world.

Plumes from Paradise

The natural resources of New Guinea and nearby islands have attracted hunters, traders and collectors for generations. Among the most sought-after items of the twentieth century was the bird of paradise: their magnificent plumes bedecked women's hats and provided regalia for kings and military men.

Plumes from Paradise describes New Guinea's trading boom in the early 20th century and the consequences it had for the island’s inhabitants.

Description

The natural resources of New Guinea and nearby islands have attracted outsiders for at least 5000 years. Spices, aromatic woods and barks, resins, plumes, sea slugs, shells, and pearls all brought traders from distant markets. Among the most sought-after was the bird of paradise. Their magnificent plumes bedecked the hats of fashion-conscious women in Europe and America, provided regalia for the Kings of Nepal, and decorated the headdresses of Janissaries of the Ottoman Empire.

Plumes from Paradise by Pamela Swadling explores these fascinating aspects of trade and natural history, unveiling the rich interplay between these resources and the cultural histories of various civilizations that prized them so dearly.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Plumes from Paradise by Pamela Swadling is praised for its meticulous research and engaging narrative, offering an insightful exploration of New Guinea's role in the ancient world, particularly through the trade of plumes. Critics commend the book's ability to weave anthropology, history, and the natural sciences into a coherent account that brings the region's rich cultural heritage to life. Overall, readers appreciate its contribution to understanding the long history of trade in New Guinea and its impact on broader historical dynamics.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781743325445

Publisher: Sydney University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 November 2018

Country: Australia

Imprint: Sydney University Press

Illustration: 129 b&w ill., 9 col. ill., 21 tables

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 210.0mm

Height: 297.0mm

Weight: 681g

Pages: 352

Collections

Australian & Pacific History History & Military Non-Fiction Pamela Swadling

About the Author

Pamela Swadling is visiting research fellow at the Australian National University College of Asia and the Pacific. She carried out archaeological fieldwork in the Solomon Islands before coming to Papua New Guinea in late 1972. Her study of the former plume trade on the Sepik coast and subsequently along the Ok Tedi led to the writing of this book.

Billai Laba is from Waidoro village in the Daru district of Western Province. He graduated from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1978 and currently works as an environmental planner in the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Roy Wagneris professor of anthropology at the University of Virginia, USA. He has done anthropological field research among the Daribi people of Karimui and the Usen Barok of central New Ireland, and has also collected texts and origin-accounts among Polopa speakers at Lake Tebera and on the lower Erave River.