Op Samoa

Barfus, E. von (Eginhard), 1825-1909Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.5

Word count: 285K words
Chapters: 29

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Op Samoa by E. von BarfusAuthor: Barfus, E. von (Eginhard), 1825-1909,Language: Dutch, Class: DU: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: History of Oceania (South Seas), Release Date: Jan 11, 2005

Editor's review

Op Samoa is a Dutch-language work on Samoa by E. von Barfus, released as a public-domain electronic text by Project Gutenberg and classified under Oceanian history. Its value lies in offering a textual sample of a nineteenth-century European author's observations of a South Pacific island: readers can see how Europeans of the time narrated Samoa's geography, society, and experiences, and it can serve as supporting material for studying colonial travel writing and cross-cultural observation. Because the book is entirely in Dutch and dates from an early period, both the language barrier and the era's perspective must be confronted: readers need Dutch reading ability and should remain critical of a possibly Eurocentric tone. It is not suited as a modern academic general history or travel guide, but rather for readers interested in Oceanian history, Dutch-language sources, or early ethnographic-style writing, to be read alongside modern research.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with Dutch reading ability interested in Oceanian history
Scholars and students studying nineteenth-century European travel and ethnographic writing
Collectors and resource enthusiasts seeking early Western-language materials on Samoa
Advanced readers interested in cross-cultural observational texts about South Pacific islands

Not a good fit for

Readers unfamiliar with Dutch who want English or Chinese materials only
Travelers needing a modern general history of Samoa or a reliable guidebook
Beginner readers expecting a contemporary critique of colonial narratives

Reading tips

Look up basic Samoan geography and a historical timeline before starting to reduce background obstacles.
Mark the author's observational stance and tone of judgment as you read, distinguishing observation from bias.
Compare with a modern work on Oceanian history to test the book's descriptions and claims.
If Dutch is difficult, read the opening and closing paragraphs of chapters first to grasp structure before choosing sections for close reading.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What language is this book in, and is it hard to read?

The entire book is in Dutch and dates from the nineteenth century, with period features in syntax and diction, making it fairly demanding for non-Dutch readers. Those with Dutch reading ability and familiarity with the South Pacific will find it smoother; others can use dictionaries and modern research for support.

Can it serve as a reference on Samoan history?

It can serve as a reference for an early Western-language source, but should not be treated as a modern academic general history. It reflects a nineteenth-century European author's observations and narrative style; use it alongside modern historical research and note its period perspective and possible biases.

Why is it classified under Oceanian history?

According to Project Gutenberg's classification, the book falls under DU, the Oceanian history section of general and Eastern Hemisphere history. This indicates South Pacific relevance, though readers should check the text itself to confirm the specific scope.

Does the public-domain electronic edition include notes or maps?

As a Project Gutenberg public-domain text, it typically presents the original body text and does not guarantee modern notes, introductions, or clear maps. Readers needing geographical and historical context should prepare maps and references to read alongside it.

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About the author

Barfus, E. von (Eginhard), 1825-1909 Author

E. von Barfus (full name Eginhard, 1825–1909) was a German-language author active in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; details of his life and nationality are sparsely recorded in publicly available sources. The only work currently confirmed is Op Samoa ("In Samoa"), whose title suggests a subject connected with the Samoan Islands and likely recounts observations or narratives from the South Pacific. This book is the main basis for understanding his writing, which appears to lean toward reportage and regional description. With so little biographical information, it is not possible to describe his education, career, or social activities in detail; readers seeking further study should consult the book itself and German-language bibliographies. This introduction relies solely on the available material and makes no inferences about his life.