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jdintr 's review for:
The Exotic
by Hampton Sides
With The Exotic, Sides seems to be out of his typical focus on Americana.
Set in the south seas and in England, Sides follows the life of Mai, a Polynesian who talked his away aboard Captain James Cook's ship in Tahiti and engaged London society during his one-year stay in the country.
Mai, a war refugee whose island had been invaded by Bora-Borans, was impressed by British firearms and probably sought an alliance with the British to retake his home island, cut quite a different figure as an "exotic" in England, where he was lauded as a prince, dressed for portraits in regal outfits that had little to do with his native culture, and showered with gifts from benefactors and admirers.
Sides seems to have done a lot of first-hand research on Tahiti and surrounding islands. A few times he adds his own perspective into the rather short history he relates. Still, it didn't seem to be a whole, complete work. It seems like the story of Mai will instead be a part of a larger book on Captain Cook to be published at a future time.
Bottom line: an interesting story, and some fascinating insights (the painting, Sides's visit to the south seas) but not a complete work of its own.
Special thanks to NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the south seas and in England, Sides follows the life of Mai, a Polynesian who talked his away aboard Captain James Cook's ship in Tahiti and engaged London society during his one-year stay in the country.
Mai, a war refugee whose island had been invaded by Bora-Borans, was impressed by British firearms and probably sought an alliance with the British to retake his home island, cut quite a different figure as an "exotic" in England, where he was lauded as a prince, dressed for portraits in regal outfits that had little to do with his native culture, and showered with gifts from benefactors and admirers.
Sides seems to have done a lot of first-hand research on Tahiti and surrounding islands. A few times he adds his own perspective into the rather short history he relates. Still, it didn't seem to be a whole, complete work. It seems like the story of Mai will instead be a part of a larger book on Captain Cook to be published at a future time.
Bottom line: an interesting story, and some fascinating insights (the painting, Sides's visit to the south seas) but not a complete work of its own.
Special thanks to NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.