A review by tedgraham
Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art by Carl Hoffman

4.0

A brilliant reconstruction of Michael Rockefeller's last months and an investigation into his fate. The writing is compelling and Hoffman's descriptions of the Asmat religious cosmology want me to read more about it. The book is divided into two halves; the first part is mostly narrative history, a discussion of the Asmat people during the twentieth century and how the situation between them and the Dutch colonial overlords contributed to how Hoffman believes Rockefeller died. His argument, I should add, seems entirely convincing given the new documents that have only recently come to light and how the explanation ties together disparate details of the case. The second half, however, is a description of Hoffman's own time among the Asmat people and his dogged efforts to find some shred of physical proof. He writes vividly, captivatingly, and the reader can't help but groan as he comes so close to his goal time and again.
The final chapter of the book, however, gave me goosebumps. If it is as Hoffman describes it, well----case closed?
It's a great, informative read.