- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books (NZ) (4 Aug 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0143006711
- ISBN-13: 978-0143006718
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,903,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Synopsis
This Horrid Practice uncovers an unexplored taboo of New Zealand history - the widespread practice of cannibalism in pre-European Maori society. Until now, many historians have tried to avoid it and many Maori have considered it a subject best kept quiet about in public. Paul Moon brings together an impressive array of sources from a variety of disciplines to produce this frequently contentious but always stimulating exploration of how and why Maori ate other human beings, and why the practice shuddered to a halt just a few decades after the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand. The book includes a comprehensive survey of cannibalism practices among traditional Maori, carefully assessing the evidence and concluding it was widespread. Other chapters look at how explorers and missionaries saw the practice; the role of missionaries and Christianity in its end; and, in the final chapter, why there has been so much denial on the subject and why some academics still deny that it ever happened. This Horrid Practice promises to be one of the leading works of New Zealand history published in 2008. It is a highly original work that every New Zealand history enthusiast will want to own and read.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Heavy going and thorough but a good read
14 May 2010
Format:Paperback
I read this last year and can recommend it for those with an academic bent. It is very well researched, and is probably the most comprehensive treatment of this topic that is to be found. Not an easy read, however - if you struggle with the average newspaper or magazine article you are going to find this hard going. It is rewarding though, as it builds up an accurate and even handed portrayal of both Maori and European cultures at that time and how they both changed as they interacted with each other, the Maori culture more so.
In essence, cannabalism was rife in NZ upon the arrival of the first Europeans in the mid 1700's, but dwindled and died out until by the 1850's and 60's it was a comparative rarity. This is not dissimilar to what happened with other societies and cultures around the world, including European ones in antiquity. This happened for a number of reasons, including overt pressure exerted by missionaries and others, and a lot of intermarriage and interracial relationships amongst other things.
All the evidence is presented, both from stories and accounts of the time and from what little archeological evidence remains. The author also bravely confronts those who would try and bury this unpleasant part of our history and discusses their reasons for doing so.
In essence, cannabalism was rife in NZ upon the arrival of the first Europeans in the mid 1700's, but dwindled and died out until by the 1850's and 60's it was a comparative rarity. This is not dissimilar to what happened with other societies and cultures around the world, including European ones in antiquity. This happened for a number of reasons, including overt pressure exerted by missionaries and others, and a lot of intermarriage and interracial relationships amongst other things.
All the evidence is presented, both from stories and accounts of the time and from what little archeological evidence remains. The author also bravely confronts those who would try and bury this unpleasant part of our history and discusses their reasons for doing so.
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