Islands are contradictory places: they can be remote, mysterious spots, or lively centres of holiday revelry; they are associated alternately with escape, imprisonment, holiday and exile. For people seeking beautiful landscapes, solitude, or exciting adventure, islands are arguably the most popular tourism spots in the world. They entice the rich and famous, and provided both refuge and inspiration for artists, from Paul Gauguin in Tahiti to George Orwell on the Scottish island of Jura. Filled with illustrations, Islands guides readers through the cultural and scientific history of these diverse environments.