Author(s): Chris Maclean

Rotorua Books

"Wellington: Telling Tales", whether read as a whole or simply dipped into, vividly brings to life the colourful past of this chameleon city. Chris Maclean presents the city's history in a series of fascinating historical vignettes, each marking a year of the 20th century. These are illustrated with historical images or with maps, paintings, posters and photographs. The storeis for each quarter-century are prefaced by a brief essay placing them within an overall historical context. These vignettes are a revealing selection which, taken together, not only cast light into shadowy corners, but also help to explain New Zealand's coming of age as an independent Pacific nation.