THE Isle of Wight's hidden cultural history has been revealed in a new book by a local author.

Bringing hundreds of sources together for the first time, The Isle of Wight’s Missing Chapter tells the story of the Island’s hidden international history.

It examines the Island’s many international visitors, including Mahatma Gandhi, King Cetshwayo of the Zulus and Queen Emma of Hawaii.

Author James Rayner, 26, of Seaview, was born on the Isle of Wight and studied language and literature at the University of Iceland and the University of Malmö in Sweden.

The Isle of Wight's Missing Chapter is James' first book, and the culmination of eight months of research.

“As the Isle of Wight is not particularly diverse today, many people presume minorities were pretty much non-existent in the Island’s past," said James.

"But, inspired by historians like David Olusoga, I knew the Isle of Wight must have its own hidden history too."

The book concludes with a look at some of the talented people with Island connections achieving great things today, including a Polish author and an Iranian poet.

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