Pain forms the Character
A book about life on Marion Island
This book documents anecdotes, photographs and artwork from researchers, field biologists, cat hunters and associates who worked at Marion Island between the 1970s and 2010s.
This book documents anecdotes, photographs and artwork from researchers, field biologists, cat hunters and associates who worked at Marion Island between the 1970s and 2010s.
If you've been there, this book will reignite your memories and if you have not been there, this book will make you want to go to Marion Island!
What people say about
Pain forms the Character
"Jacha"
Marion Island cat hunter
Just a big WOW! So much work, so much memories, so much pain but the best of so much is a feast for your eyes. Just want to say it’s really really impressive.
Spectacular book, right up my alley. Started it the evening I received it and actually couldn’t put it down. It’s a beautiful piece of work, a serious piece of scholarship in the form of a coffee-table book.
Prof Alessandro Antonello
Book review (Transactions of the Royal Society of SA)
With numerous memoirs, profuse photographs, and diary excerpts, this book is a stunning document of the island's human history, its material structures, its memories, cultures and rituals. ..... Pain forms the Character is a beautifully and lovingly produced book that gives a thorough portrait of Marion Island and the people who went there under Doc Bester's guidance to understand seals and to eliminate cats.
Prof Dan Simberloff
University of Tennessee
"Jay"
goodreads.com
Brilliantly written stories and edited into a master piece with photos that compares to National Geographic’s best!
It is a compilation of stories about people and events on Marion Island over many years – some humorous, some philosophical, but all revealing intimate feelings and the strong camaraderie that one typically experiences whilst visiting one of the most beautiful places on earth: the Prince Edward Islands.
Dr Beverley Damonse
National Research Foundation Group Executive: Science Engagement and Corporate Relations
Pain forms the Character is indeed an interesting read about research and life on the Prince Edward Islands group. I think it is a good read for beyond the academic [community]. It is the kind of imaginative output that we [NRF] are trying to capture to get a sense of how the funded research is contributing to informing a more general public.
Prof Bettine Janse van Vuuren
Book review (South African Journal of Science)
This book makes a great gift. Support the Marion Island Marine Mammal Programme by ordering your copies here
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