John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides: An Autobiography (1907) Hbk Good

John G. Paton (1824-1907) was a Scottish Presbyterian missionary to the New Hebrides Islands in the South Pacific. His fascinating autobiography details his early life in Scotland, his decision to become a missionary, and provides a long detailed account of his work among the indigenous people he encountered. Some of his experiences were heartbreaking (death of wife and infant son), some inspiring, some hard for modern readers to understand and appreciate. But the entire text is an important historical source, throwing a bright light upon the Victorian missionary movement, the customs and beliefs of the islanders, and the complex encounter between traditional and modern Western cultures. Best of all, Paton was an effective writer who knew how to spin a tale. This is an engrossing window upon a lost world that's almost impossible to imagine today.
A revised and expanded 1907 hardback edition in very good condition with tight binding and clean unmarked pages . Smoke free home.