Books like American Taboo by Philip Weiss
In 1975 a cohort of Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Tonga. One, Deb Gardner, was brutally stabbed twenty‑two times in her hut the following year. When another volunteer confessed, he was released with State Department support, leaving the case shrouded in secrecy in the United States while it loomed as a legend back home.
Journalist Philip Weiss examines the facts of this tragic incident, detailing the reactions of American volunteers, the local Tongan police, and the U.S. government. His reportage brings to light the political and ethical complexities surrounding the case, offering a detailed account that intertwines personal tragedy with broader cross‑cultural tensions.
First publish date: 2004
Genre: Biography & Autobiography/Biography
Authors: Philip Weiss
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