Paul Theroux was born in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1941, and published his first novel, Waldo, in 1967. His subsequent novels include Picture Palace, winner of the Whitbread Prize for Fiction, The Mosquito Coast, and the hugely acclaimed, Kowloon Tong. His travel books include The Great Railway Bazaar and The Pillars of Hercules.

Part 1 Meganesia: New Zealand - the land of the long white cloud; New Zealand - sloshing through the South Island; waffling in white Australia; walkabout in Woop Woop; north of the never-never. Part 2 Melanesia: buoyant in the peaceful Trobiands; aground in the troubled Trobriands; the Solomon - down and dirty in Guadalcanal; the Solomons - in the Egg Fields of Savo Island; Vanuatu - cannibals and missionaries; the oddest island in Vanuatu; Fiji - the dividied island of Viti Levu; Fiji - Vanua Levu and the islets of Bligh Water. Part 3 Polynesia: Tonga - the royal island of Tongatapu; Tonga - alone on the desert islands of Vava'u; in the backwaters of Western Samoa; American Samoa - the littered lagoon; Tahiti - the windward shore of the island of love; a voyage to the Marquesas; the Cook Islands - in the lagoon of Aitutaki; Easter Island - beyond the surf zone of Rapa Nui; Easter Island - the old canoe ramp at Tongariki. Part 4 Paradise: Oahu - open espionage in Honalulu; Kauai - following the dolphins on the Na Pali coast; Niihau and Lanai - some men are islands; the big island - paddling in the state of grace.