Mike Pitts has written the true and fascinating story of Easter Island and its amazing statues

Ken Follett

A thought-provoking mix of published past and current work, and rediscovered documents that together provides a usefully different perspective on Rapa Nui's iconic world heritage archaeology

Professor Sue Hamilton

Rapa Nui has a double history of early Polynesian life and later colonial devastation, both mythologised. Mike Pitts draws on deep research to provide a powerful corrective to such myths. Anyone looking for an intelligent, balanced and accessible account of Rapa Nui should read his book

Chris Gosden, author of THE HISTORY OF MAGIC

In this detailed, intelligent, humane work, Pitts has given us a salutary corrective to centuries of Western prejudice and fantasy

Literary Review

A gripping story which, in a small way, redeems the horror of the Victorian brutality ... [Pitts] is good at bringing alive human stories

Spectator

A bold and convincing revision of Rapa Nui's history ... A welcome contribution to Pacific Island history that holds relevance not just for Rapa Nui, but for other islands across this vast ocean

Kirkus