Around 200 A.D., intrepid Polynesians arrived at an undisturbed archipelago. For centuries, their descendants lived with little contact from the... read full description
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Feb 18, 2012
Carl R.
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First visited by foreigners in when Captain James Cook arrived in 1778, Hawaii was already an established society with a thriving culture and economy. The arrival of Christian missionaries thirty years later and the subsequent conversion of the Royal Family to Christianity was only the first link in a chain of events that eventually led to the American military annexation of this sovereign nation in America's first act of international imperialism beyond its own borders.
Award-winning More...
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Feb 17, 2012
Popular history, but a good survey of the development of the monarchy in Hawaii, from contact with the British to the overthrow of the last Queen, with attention paid to the actions taken by the monarchs to adapt to 19th century expectations of royalty (designing a coronation, tours of the world, royal orders and decorations, the 'Iolani palace) and operate within the orbit of the great powers. Siler highlights events, like the Hawaiian alliance with Samoa during the Great Power squabble over t
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Jan 03, 2012
Tammy
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As America expanded beyond its original 13 colonies, almost all new states and territories were added through treaties, purchases or by claiming land the U.S. government felt no one owned. Texans will tell you their state was an independent country before annexation although Mexico refused to acknowledge its independence.
Then there’s Hawaii. The chain of islands, annexed in 1898, was originally a series of island kingdoms before being unified in 1810 under Kamehameha I after a series o More...
Then there’s Hawaii. The chain of islands, annexed in 1898, was originally a series of island kingdoms before being unified in 1810 under Kamehameha I after a series o More...
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Jan 25, 2012
Skjam!
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Disclaimer: I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway in the expectation that I would write a review of it.
This is not the happy story of how altruistic Americans freed the Hawaiian people from tyranny. (I'm sure there is such a book, somewhere.) It is, however, a well-researched look at the life and times of Lili'u, the last queen of Hawai'i.
Hawai'i's time as an independent kingdom was relatively short, with no one thinking to unite the islands before the coming of More...
This is not the happy story of how altruistic Americans freed the Hawaiian people from tyranny. (I'm sure there is such a book, somewhere.) It is, however, a well-researched look at the life and times of Lili'u, the last queen of Hawai'i.
Hawai'i's time as an independent kingdom was relatively short, with no one thinking to unite the islands before the coming of More...
Jan 28, 2012
Isabella
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I received this book through a Goodreads First-Reads giveaway. Thank you!
In studying American History in school, I don't recall hearing much about the annexation of Hawaii. This account of Hawaiian history is a compelling tale of Hawaii's overthrow. I loved the writing, and found the book to be well-paced and entertaining to a point where sometimes I found myself gasping aloud or exclaiming "Nooo!"
Throughout the book I found myself sympathizing greatly with Hawaiia More...
In studying American History in school, I don't recall hearing much about the annexation of Hawaii. This account of Hawaiian history is a compelling tale of Hawaii's overthrow. I loved the writing, and found the book to be well-paced and entertaining to a point where sometimes I found myself gasping aloud or exclaiming "Nooo!"
Throughout the book I found myself sympathizing greatly with Hawaiia More...
Feb 17, 2012
Blue
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I got this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway. Thanks!
I am going to agree with those who found the book written in a disorganized fashion and in a way that makes a fascinating part of Pacific history utterly boring.
My first main problem was not the language that Siler uses, but more her idea structure (or lack there of). On page 49, she tells us about a ball where the future queen dances. Reading this paragraph, I didn't think much about this dancing. The fo More...
I am going to agree with those who found the book written in a disorganized fashion and in a way that makes a fascinating part of Pacific history utterly boring.
My first main problem was not the language that Siler uses, but more her idea structure (or lack there of). On page 49, she tells us about a ball where the future queen dances. Reading this paragraph, I didn't think much about this dancing. The fo More...
Feb 20, 2012
Amy
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This book was a wonderful and sad book of what happened to Hawaii's last Queen and her nation.For me being an american I am ashamed of what happened to the peaceful people.The book starts out with Captian Cooks landing and ends with Hawaii becoming a state.There are so many things that happened in between. This author did a great job researching every thing she could get hands on.This book sheds light on a part of the history of america that I was never taught in school and I can see why I wasn'
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Sep 29, 2011
Naomi
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Siler strikes again! I fell in love with this author's writing in her book The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty and her writing is just as thorough, intense and gripping in this book on the history of Hawaii. This book gives an excellent depiction on why our 50th state is, hands down, our best state in regards to history and culture. I just cannot wait for her next book!! Her writing always entertains me!
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Jan 20, 2012
Sarah
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Lost Kingdom by Julia Flynn is a look at the Hawaiian monarchy through the life of Lydia K. Dominis, also known as Queen Lili'uokalani.
Siler outlines how Western influences both in terms of the British navy, Christian missionaries, the sugar barons and later the United States shaped Hawaiian culture. The loosely knit chiefdoms were consolidated into a monarchy but it never really got a chance to take hold. By the time Lydia was Queen Lili'uokalani, the monarchy was mostly a figurehea More...
Siler outlines how Western influences both in terms of the British navy, Christian missionaries, the sugar barons and later the United States shaped Hawaiian culture. The loosely knit chiefdoms were consolidated into a monarchy but it never really got a chance to take hold. By the time Lydia was Queen Lili'uokalani, the monarchy was mostly a figurehea More...
Jan 28, 2012
Jaylia3
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This fascinating book about the history of Hawaii leading up to its annexation by the United States covers some of the same material as Sarah Vowell’s recent and also wonderful book, Unfamiliar Fishes, but Lost Kingdom goes into greater detail, especially about the life of Lili’uokalani, Hawaii’s last queen. Lili’uokalani was educated by missionaries and devoutly Christian, but that didn’t cause her to demean her native arts and customs which she supported, celebrated and led. She wrote the lov
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Jan 08, 2012
Brian
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Lost Kingdom tells the story of Hawaii's annexation broken into three parts. The first part focuses on the Hawaiian Islands development and welcome of foreigners to cultivate sugar. The focus is on the royal family, starting with King Kamehameha the Great in 1810 and their relations leading up to the final moments when the queen loses her power in 1898. Part 2 looks at the Sugar Barons and their growing influence on the royal family and usurpation of Hawaiian power under a constitution tha More...
Dec 02, 2011
Heather
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I read Siler’s book because I like history, but I realized I know very little about Hawai’i. Her book seems very well researched, and you can tell that she’s passionate about Liliu’s life and legacy.
I’m having trouble putting my finger on it, but for some reason I had a lot of trouble getting into the book, though. I haven’t read a lot of history books, but I don’t think it was just that – I devoured Miriam Weinstein’s Yiddish: A Nation of Words, but reading Lost Kingdom was, well, More...
I’m having trouble putting my finger on it, but for some reason I had a lot of trouble getting into the book, though. I haven’t read a lot of history books, but I don’t think it was just that – I devoured Miriam Weinstein’s Yiddish: A Nation of Words, but reading Lost Kingdom was, well, More...
Feb 08, 2012
Just got my GoodReads First Reads copy in the mail! Can't wait to find out more about this. I've had some questions from students about how Hawaii is part of the US, yet has their own language. I've been able to give some vague answers, hoping for more detail!
UPDATE: Really interesting read! Repetitive in some places. Probably don't need to define the wedge-shaped section of land (ahupua'a) multiple times in the first 50 pages. I would like to see the pictures integrated into t More...
UPDATE: Really interesting read! Repetitive in some places. Probably don't need to define the wedge-shaped section of land (ahupua'a) multiple times in the first 50 pages. I would like to see the pictures integrated into t More...
Jan 25, 2012
Sonia
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Fascinating history of America's shameful annexation (actually, takeover) of Hawaii from the native Hawaiians. The book is packed with facts which at first seemed to make it drag, but after a while I was hooked. I did not know the true story of how this all played out. I had heard of Lili'uokalani but did not realize that she had been ruthlessly dethroned and even imprisoned by what she called were "descendants of missionaries" who did not act in a Christian manner. In fact, Presid
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Jan 22, 2012
Bj
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I won this book on the goodreads First Reads giveaways! I found it interesting because I really didn't know much about how Hawai'i had become a state. I was a bit surprised that the US sat by so calmly and let a sovereign nation fall to a bunch of sugar barons.
I found this book a bit slow at the beginning, it seemed repetitive. Although I find that many historical novels sometimes are not the easiest to get into in the beginning. But as the story progressed I found the story ver More...
I found this book a bit slow at the beginning, it seemed repetitive. Although I find that many historical novels sometimes are not the easiest to get into in the beginning. But as the story progressed I found the story ver More...
Feb 17, 2012
Phyllis
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I received this book through the First Reads program.
Years ago, I read and loved the fiction book of "Hawaii" by James Michener. His stories of Hawaii from the creation to modern times started my interest in Hawaii and their history. The nonfiction, "Lost Kingdom: The Last Queen, the Sugar Kings and America's First Imperial Adventure" by Julia Flynn Siler was just as intriguing to me as the fiction version. To meet the rulers of Hawaii and see how an actual n More...
Years ago, I read and loved the fiction book of "Hawaii" by James Michener. His stories of Hawaii from the creation to modern times started my interest in Hawaii and their history. The nonfiction, "Lost Kingdom: The Last Queen, the Sugar Kings and America's First Imperial Adventure" by Julia Flynn Siler was just as intriguing to me as the fiction version. To meet the rulers of Hawaii and see how an actual n More...
Feb 13, 2012
Marissa
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This book managed to make the history of 19th century Hawaii boring. This could have been a wonderful book in the hands of a better writer. Got a third of the way through before I gave up. Life is simply too short to spend it slogging through books I don't enjoy. :/
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Jan 17, 2012
I forgot to mention that this book came in a couple of days ago, won it on the goodreads First Reads giveaways! I think this will be my next book. I hadn't planned on reading it yet but my oldest son is interested in it. I told him, "Not yet, let mom check it out first!"
Jan 03, 2012
I won this book from the first reads giveaways and I am so excited to read it. Thanks.
Jan 25, 2012
I won this as a first reads giveaway and it arrived in the mail today. I want to thank the publisher and author for adding this to the Goodreads giveaway contests. I'll be reading it after I finish a group read of Outlander.
Feb 21, 2012
Gary
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A decent read about the power struggle over the islands and the last true king of the people. I admire the author for the amount of research that went into the book,not a dry read at all,very entertaining.
Dec 02, 2011
Christina
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Fascinating and infuriating history of the events leading up to the U.S. Annexation of Hawaii. Remind me to kick missionaries out of sovereign nations before they can be fruitful and multiply. I would have appreciated maps, photos and a family tree, but since I was reading an e-galley I hope the finished book includes them. Didn't know there were no mosquitoes in Hawaii until 1820! It truly was paradise.
Feb 07, 2012
Nancy
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I seem to be a sucker for Hawaiian history. I could have used a few more pictures. What happened to those kids she adopted? The typos were annoying. If I was writing a book I would make sure it was perfect before it was printed. All in all, a very informative book.
Feb 08, 2012
Art
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I got this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Interesting easily readable history of the end of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Having grown p in San Diego CA it was interesting for me to read more about Spreckles. I thought it would be a interesting book and I was not disappointed.
Feb 08, 2012
I won a copy of Lost Kingdom in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I'm looking forward to reading it when it arrives, it sounds like an interesting part of history, and I generally enjoy the books I read that are pubbed by Grove/Atlantic.
Feb 21, 2012
Rebecca
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Absolutely fascinating book about the last queen of Hawaii.Imperialism is such a touchy subject we see the US being "democratic" in so many ways around the world. In Hawaii, the US wasn't so democratic
Feb 22, 2012
Feb 21, 2012
