A book that perfectly balances memoir and history, interweaving a cross-cultural love story with the larger history of the colonial encounter

A book that perfectly balances memoir and history, interweaving a cross-cultural love story with the larger history of the colonial encounter 'A highly unusual blend of personal memoir, travel writing and anthropology' Lynne Truss, Sunday Times 'This book stands out because of its sharp, fine writing ... strong and compulsive' New Statesman _______________________________ Come On Shore and We Will Kill And Eat You All is a sensitive and vibrant portrayal of the cultural collision between Westerners and Maoris, from Abel Tasman's discovery of New Zealand in 1642 to the author's unlikely romance with a Maori man. An intimate account of two centuries of friction and fascination, this intriguing and unpredictable book weaves a path through time and around the world in a rich exploration of the past and the future that it leads to.

'Christina Thompson triumphs by ensuring that her history informs the personal story and that the autobiographical material reflects the history back in microcosm. From flashing cutlasses and conch trumpets in 1642 to nappies and ailing parents in 2000, she alters the focus within a few pages from wide angle to zoom to remarkable effect; indeed this book would make a wonderful film'