The Story of New Zealand Vol 1 and Vol 2 By: A. S. Thomson Book one 331 pages Book two 368 pages Dust covers in good condition One of the best written histories and fascinating were Hocken's comments on The Story of New Zealand, which remains the definitive book on New Zealand history of 1859

Thomson ‘could find no book containing a general history of the colony’, and this work, in a clear narrative style, attempts to ‘sketch the natural history of the country, to narrate the story of its people …. and to show how a few Anglo Saxons planted and managed a colony in the midst of cannibals. As background for his monumental task, Thomson spent 11 years in New Zealand, living with the Maori people and gaining original insights into their mythology, customs, language and history. He also made an intensive study of early settlement and the evolution of government, and the circumstances surrounding. Heke’s War. Thomson’s contribution to New Zealand literature was immense. His list of published works includes reference to almost 500 titles and was the first New Zealand bibliography (in Vol. 2). An indispensable ye readable basic reference work – the cornerstone of any New Zealand collection. ARTHUR SANDERS THOMSON (1816-1860) was educated in Scotland and studied medicine at Edinburgh University, graduating M.D. in 1837. In October 1838 he was appointed assistant surgeon on the army staff and served with the 17th Foot in Bombay and Aden until 1842 when he was appointed to the 14th Light Dragoons stationed in India. In 1847 while on leave in England, Thomson was appointed surgeon to the 58th Regiment and posted in Auckland. In 1858 , with the rank of Surgeon-Major he left New Zealand to join the expeditionary force to China. After the capture of Peking he was selected to remain as senior medical officer with the wintering over force, but died suddenly and was buried in the Russian cemetery.

Volumes one and two

Books are in excellent condition