About the Author

Steven Roger Fischer is Director of the Institute of Polynesian Languages and Literatures in Auckland, New Zealand. He is the author of Glyph-breaker (1997), A History of Language (Reaktion, 1999), A History of Writing (Reaktion, 2001) and A History of Reading (Reaktion, 2003).

Reviews

"Fischer's fluent narrative reveals how smallness, isolation, and a fragile environment have shaped the history of this tiny community. . . . Its strength lies equally in the author's sensitive micro-study approach and its subject matter. Above all, it deserves a wide readership because Easter Island still presents a global warning about the imperative of environmental sustainability."--Philippa Mein Smith "American Historical Review" (4/1/2006 12:00:00 AM)