The hermit of Suvarov

To make it across the cabin they need a knockdown to set them flying, or be a book that is some scarce convergence of literary honesty, insight and good timing that sticks firmly in the vision of ourselves.

People, and sometimes nations, fasten themselves to this kind of book. An Island to Oneself is just such a book. Published in 1966, with scant advertising support and authored by a man who had no literary reputation, it has worked its way into the heart of South Pacific legend. The eccentric author was an obscure 51-year-old New Zealander, Tom Neale, former navy man, storeman – and world-famous hermit.

Although Tom was an avid reader he had never published anything until he wrote , nor after, for that matter. This was a singular work of a lifetime; a definitive statement. The voice of