'Return to the Islands' by Sir Arthur Grimble serves as the sequel to his bestseller, A Pattern of Islands. It recounts his return to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (modern-day Kiribati and Tuvalu) during the early 20th century to continue his work as a British colonial administrator. Unlike his first book, Grimble returns to the islands alone, without his family. He details his increased responsibilities as a Resident Commissioner and Magistrate, including handling riots between Gilbertese and Chinese labourers on Banaba (Ocean Island) and performing single-handed arrests. Having learned the Gilbertese language, Grimble provides deep insights into the myths, oral traditions, and "e;pagan ways"e; of the islanders. He specifically describes the composition of oral poems as a "e;divine spark of inspiration"e;. The narrative highlights his enduring friendship with the local people, including his "e;adopted daughter,"e; Movement of Clouds, who instructs him in traditional etiquette. Reviewers describe the work as "e;magical"e; and "e;beautifully written,"e; capturing a "e;vanished world"e; with humor and self-deprecation. It explores the "e;guest mat"e; stories of the locals, touching on their beliefs, social tragedies like the outlawing of polygamy, and legends like the "e;curse of Nakaa"e;. The book was published posthumously and remains a classic of South Seas literature for its empathetic portrayal of Pacific islanders.