Star and Key

The Historical Adventure of Mauritius

Olivier Hein

$57.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
01 July 2025

African history

A lively history of an extraordinary island and the people who call it home.

Many countries have an interesting tale to tell about their origins and evolution. But few are as exciting and adventurous as that of Mauritius

'Star and Key' of the Indian Ocean.

A tiny island of volcanos, dodos and lagoons, Mauritius remained untouched by humans until Arab sailors discovered it in the tenth century. Settled by the Portuguese, Dutch, French and then British, it was passed from one empire to another, each recognising its immense strategic importance, yet all struggling fully to control it.

From a highly prized colonial chess piece to an independent success story, Mauritius has always been a place with outsized influence. This cultural melting- pot is home to peoples of Indian, Chinese, African and European descent, shaping the country's vibrant literature, music, language and art

as well as its ethnic tensions, which have always bubbled near the surface. Olivier Hein's sweeping history uncovers Mauritius's fascinating yet little-known past, exploring the age of pirates; the horrors of indentured labour; the 1810 Franco-British war; the transformations in economy, landscape and climate during the twenty-first century; and much more. From its geological origins to the present day, this is the story of an island nation quite unlike any other.

By: Olivier Hein
Imprint: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 138mm,
ISBN: 9781805262923
ISBN 10: 1805262920
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 01 July 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Olivier Hein is a Mauritian-British author, whose books include Punch a Hole in the Wind and Immortals. A regular contributor to The Chap magazine, he is a former UN, UK and OSCE diplomat, with postings to New York, Paris, Kosovo and Turkmenistan. He lives with his family in the Cotswolds.

Reviews for Star and Key: The Historical Adventure of Mauritius

'This is a labour of love, the patriotic ode of a citizen rediscovering his lost paradise. The result is irresistible. Over the years many books have recounted the improbable story of this nation that almost refused to exist, but I know no other as detailed and researched. An absolute must-read for understanding the island called a ""miracle of peaceful coexistence.""' -- Jean-Claude de l'Estrac, Mauritian politician, historian and author 'A lively yet sound account of Mauritius, from its rise from the sea to its present condition as a prosperous, multiethnic democracy.' -- Edward and Bridget Dommen, authors of Mauritius: An Island of Success 'Sensitively written, with sophisticated analysis and meaningful insights into the history of the emergence of the Mauritian nation, with all its cultural complexities and tribulations. -- Vijaya Teelock, Mauritian historian and author