The Book of Puka-Puka: A Lone Trader On a South Seas Atoll [Mass Market Paperback]

Robert Dean Frisbie (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: Mutual Pub Co (February 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0935180273
• ISBN-13: 978-0935180275
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,673,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A snapshot of my people., November 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Puka-Puka: A Lone Trader On a South Seas Atoll (Mass Market Paperback)

I am the President of the Pukapuka people in New Zealand. I was born [1960] and raised on the island atoll of Pukapuka in the northern group of the Cook Islands.

Pukapuka lies 10.53 degrees due South by 165.49 degrees due West. Readers should not be confused with another island of the same name in the Tuamotu archipelago, French Polynesia. Please also note the correct spelling of the name, Pukapuka.

Commodore John Byron of the British ship "HMS Dolphin" sighted Pukapuka in 1765 but could not land due to rough waves breaking across the coral reef, named Pukapuka "Isles of Danger" or Danger Island as it is sometimes shown on nautical maps.

Ropati[Robert], has captured for me a panoramic glimpse of my 'tupuna' [ancestors]. Several of the charaters in his book are in my geneology. In fact William the heathen is actually my great great grand father who passed away at the age of 116. Through the genes in my body I proud to be their link into the future.

Ropati, through his marrige to Nga has contributed to the survival of our people which is estimated to be around 5000 worldwide.

Our people will always be greatful to Ropati for the part he played in the recording of our culture through his writings, much of which I would love to get my hands on particularly the articles he wrote for The Atlantic Monthly 1928 - 1936. Would appreciate any help and please look us up.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars correction and additions to existing review, July 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Puka-Puka: A Lone Trader On a South Seas Atoll (Mass Market Paperback)

One small correction: Puka-Puka is *not* in French Polynesia, but in the northern group of Cook Islands (NZ).And an expansion: The author's daughter, Florence Frisbie, a.k.a. Whiskey Johnnie, a.k.a. Tiani, herself wrote two books of enduring interest on this and allied subjects: *Miss Ulysses of Puka-Puka* and *The Frisbies of the South Seas.* The former was described by her father, accurately enough for its time, as the first book ever published by a native Polynesian.Whether she is still alive I do not know. (She would be about 67.) If so, she still owes us a third book, on the historical and navigational chants of the old-timers.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The author is more interesting than his work, July 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Puka-Puka: A Lone Trader On a South Seas Atoll (Mass Market Paperback)

If you want to learn more about Frisbie, stuff that will break your heart, read the final chapter in "The Forgotten One and other true tales of the South Seas" by James Normal Hall. Hall was the first person to meet Frisbie when the latter stepped off the boat in Tahiti, and remained Frisbie's mentor and friend for almost 40 years. Frisbie sacrificed his life for a book he never wrote, and left his four kids orphans. Hall also mentions that Frisbie actually wrote the two books credited to his daughter.