 
                                                    ” Aphrodite`s Island” is a bold new account of the European discovery of Tahiti, the Pacific island of mythic status that has figured so powerfully in European imaginings about sexuality, the exotic, & the nobility or bestiality of `savages.` In this groundbreaking book, Anne Salmond takes readers to the center of the shared history to furnish rich insights into Tahitian perceptions of the visitors while illuminating the full extent of European fascination with Tahiti. As she discerns the impact & meaning of the European effect on the islands, she demonstrates how, during the early contact period, the mythologies of Europe & Tahiti intersected & became entwined. Drawing on Tahitian oral histories, European manuscripts & artworks, collections of Tahitian artifacts, & illustrated with contemporary sketches, paintings, & engravings from the voyages, ” Aphrodite`s Island” provides a vivid account of the Europeans` Tahitian adventures. At the same time, the book`s compelling insights into Tahitian life significantly change the way we view the history of this small island during a period when it became a crossroads for Europe.
