A Song For Satawal (1817)

A Song for Satawal is a historical novel written by Kenneth Brower and published in 1983. The novel is set in the year 1817 and tells the story of a young sailor named William Maclure who is shipwrecked on the island of Satawal in the Pacific Ocean. The island is inhabited by a small community of people who live a traditional way of life and have little contact with the outside world.William is taken in by the islanders and gradually learns their language and customs. He becomes particularly fascinated by the island's unique system of navigation, which involves using the stars, currents, and winds to navigate the open ocean. William also falls in love with a young woman named Nali, who teaches him about the island's mythology and spiritual beliefs.As William becomes more integrated into island life, he begins to see the ways in which the islanders are threatened by outside forces. European traders and missionaries are beginning to encroach on the island, and the islanders are struggling to maintain their way of life in the face of these new influences. William becomes determined to help the islanders preserve their culture and traditions, even as he realizes that his own presence on the island may be contributing to its eventual demise.A Song for Satawal is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that explores themes of cultural identity, tradition, and the clash between different worldviews. It offers a fascinating glimpse into a little-known corner of Pacific history and provides a powerful meditation on the importance of preserving cultural diversity in a rapidly changing world.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.