Ultimate Americans - Point Hope, Alaska: 1826-1909 by Tom Lowenstein PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED, DATED AND SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR ON THE FRONT FREE END PAPER THUS: "For Mary with much love and thanks for encouragement over the (many!) years. from Tom March 09."; 1st ed published in 2008 by University of Alaska Press, 351pp., text generally in decent order albeit with small creases to the top corners of the first 20 pages or so (not affecting text), slight creasing to half-title page & old erased pencil price/date visible to the top right hand corner of the Contents page, slight rubbing & staining to the page extremities at the very top, side & bottom, slight bumping & rubbing to board corners & to the top, bottom & sides of boards - much heavier to the top & bottom of the spine, bumping to spine edges on front & rear, bumping & rubbing to the front top & bottom left hand/rear top & bottom right hand corners, elsewhere both boards a bit marked, the dust jacket is a bit rubbed & creased at top & bottom with scuffing to the corners (+ tiny loss to the front top right hand one & minute loss to the rear top left hand corner), rubbing & creasing to the top & bottom of the spine (the bottom has two tiny tears), both front & rear have many marks, scratches & indentations. "Ultimate Americans" examines the first encounters between the native Tikigaq people and Anglo-Americans during the 19th Century. Tom Lowenstein investigates the interactions between Alaska Native, commercial whale men, and missionaries in Point Hope, charting the destabilizing elements of alcohol and disease among Native populations, as well as cultural collisions and the eventual mutual assimilation of the groups. An in-depth historical chronicle, "Ultimate Americans" is invaluable reading for historians, ethnographers, and anthropologists alike. Tom Lowenstein (born 1941) is an English poet, ethnographer, teacher, cultural historian and translator. Beginning his working life as a school teacher, he visited Alaska in 1973 and went on to become particularly noted for his work on Inupiaq (north Alaskan Eskimo) ethnography, conducting research in Point Hope, Alaska, between 1973 and 1988. His writing also encompasses several collections of poetry, as well as books related to Buddhism. Will ship by Royal Mail 1st Class Signed for, well packaged. (£5.99/b/room/un)