Les Immémoriaux

Les Immémoriaux, published in 1922 by Victor Segalen, is a novel set in Tahiti that explores the rich cultural heritage and social customs of the indigenous people through the character Tērii, a storyteller. The narrative highlights the tension between traditional Maori practices and the encroaching influence of European colonizers, illustrating themes of cultural memory and identity. Segalen's work is notable for its lyrical prose and its poignant reflection on the loss of indigenous culture in the face of colonialism.