Overview

Stretching from Fiji in the east to New Guinea in the west, Melanesia is astonishingly diverse. Its islands are home to some 1200 language groups, many of them still isolated from the outside world. In Australia, this complex region tends to make the news only in times of crisis: military coups in Fiji, Kanak unrest in New Caledonia, rioting in Solomon Islands. Melanesia offers a deeper insight into the people and places behind these headlines, combining travelogue, history and astute political analysis. 

By land and sea, Hamish McDonald travels from one end of Melanesia to the other. Speaking with locals from all walks of life, he uncovers the histories, values, aspirations and tensions that have shaped their communities. And he considers the big changes unfolding today, as shifting demographics produce a new balance of power across the region. 

Vividly written, Melanesia is essential reading for anyone looking to understand this fascinating part of the world and its growing international significance. 

Hamish McDonald is an award-winning Australian journalist. He has been correspondent and foreign editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and the Far Eastern Economic Review, reporting from the Pacific Islands, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, New Delhi and Beijing as well as around Australia.  

Whether you’re passionate about travel, fascinated by politics, or simply love hearing fresh perspectives that challenge the way you see the world, this is an evening not to be missed. 

Light refreshments provided.  

Books will be available for purchase and signing.