The History of Melanesian Society: Volume 1
Volume I

This two-volume work from 1914 presents William Halse Rivers' theory of the diffusion of culture in the south-west Pacific.

William Halse Rivers Rivers (Author)

9781107419315, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 14 August 2014

464 pages
24.4 x 17 x 2.4 cm, 0.73 kg

William Halse Rivers (1864–1922) was a groundbreaking physician, psychologist and anthropologist in the early twentieth century, chiefly remembered for his work on the psychological disorders produced by the First World War. In this two-volume work from 1914, he presents his theory of the diffusion of culture in the south-west Pacific. Volume One details aspects of the customs and practises of the islands in Melanesia and beyond, including the Hawaiian islands. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of anthropology or the Pacific islands.

1. Introduction
2. Banks islands
3. Banks islands
4. Banks islands
5. Banks islands
6. Banks islands
7. The Torres islands
8. The New Hebrides
9. The Santa Cruz islands
10. The Solomon islands
11. Fiji
12. Tikopia
13. Tonga, Samoa and Niue
14. The Hawaian islands
Comparative tables of terms of relationship.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC]