This book examines the social and cultural history of the Bonin Islands and its inhabitants from the first settlements in the early nineteenth century to today. It provides a critical approach to understanding how communities create local narratives while located between powerful nations and national discourses.

Chapter 1: The Orphan, the Uninhabited, and the Archbishop: Narratives of Discovery and Possession
Chapter 2: An Unsettled Settlement: Narratives of Promise and Menace
Chapter 3: Encountering Japan: Narratives of Possession and Reclamation
Chapter 4: Naturalized Foreigners: Narratives of Nation and Modernity
Chapter 5: Christianity, Colonialism, and Community: Narratives of Spectacle and Religion
Chapter 6: Strangers at Home: Narratives of Suspicion and Conflict
Chapter 7: A World Apart: Narratives of Identity
Chapter 8: Conclusion

David Chapman is associate professor and reader in Japanese studies at the University of Queensland.