Norfolk Island is small, remote, insular. And yet its literature is expansive and its culture is rich, while its people continue to inspire with their brave and touching stories.

Beginning in 1856, Don Wright's first book, A Distinct and Separate Settlement, recounts the fraught and complicated history of the governance of Norfolk Island, and the influence this has had on the who, what and why of its governance.

Centred on the lived experience of Norfolk Islanders, Wright focuses on colonial hegemonies and legacies. His book is supported by thorough research, intense detail and personal experience from his nine years living on the Island. It explores a complex history from the 1856 arrival of Pitcairners on the Island, to the infanticide case of Annie Christian, to postwar reconstruction and modern day tourism.

This book adds to a long standing, extensive tradition of literature about and from Norfolk Island. It aims to benefit and hold true to the experiences and perspectives of Norfolk Islanders.