Star and Key

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.