Book Description

A "children's adventure story" written in days gone by, sophisticated in a way modern "juvenile fiction" is lacking. The Coral Island by R M Ballantyne is an example of classic fiction first published in 1857 in the United Kingdom. A true book of worth, a classic that lives on in an era of timeless distinction. Early books exude an excellence unlike any from modern times. You will not be dissatisfied with this work. An adventure novel at its finest. A Glimpse Inside It was a bright, beautiful, warm day when our ship spread her canvas to the breeze and sailed for the regions of the south. Oh, how my heart bounded with delight as I listened to the merry chorus of the sailors while they hauled at the ropes and got in the anchor! The captain shouted; the men ran to obey; the noble ship bent over to the breeze, and the shore gradually faded from my view; while I stood looking on, with a kind of feeling that the whole was a delightful dream. The first thing that struck me as being different from anything I had yet seen during my short career on the sea, was the hoisting of the anchor on deck and lashing it firmly down with ropes, as if we had now bid adieu to the land for ever and would require its services no more. Synopsis The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean (1857) is a novel written by Scottish author R. M. Ballantyne. One of the first works of juvenile fiction to feature exclusively juvenile heroes, the story relates the adventures of three boys marooned on a South Pacific island, the only survivors of a shipwreck. A typical Robinsonade - a genre of fiction inspired by Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe - and one of the most popular of its type, the book first went on sale in late 1857 and has never been out of print. Among the novel's major themes are the civilising effect of Christianity, 19th-century imperialism in the South Pacific, and the importance of hierarchy and leadership. It was the inspiration for William Golding's dystopian novel Lord of the Flies (1954), which inverted the morality of The Coral Island; in Ballantyne's story the children encounter evil, but in Lord of the Flies evil is within them. In the early 20th century, the novel was considered a classic for primary school children in the UK, and in the United States it was a staple of high-school suggested reading lists. Modern critics consider the book's worldview to be dated and imperialist, but although less popular today, The Coral Island was adapted into a four-part children's television drama broadcast by ITV in 2000. "A stunning reprint" from Wombrook Publishing. We have made every attempt possible to ensure the original integrity of this book has been upheld to the highest standard. This means that the text in this edition is unedited and unchanged from the original author's publication, preserving its earliest form for your indulgence. This title is one of the best classic children's novels of all time. Its words are strung together with such literary precision, in a way that you just do not see in juvenile fiction from the modern age. This title will make an excellent gift for the classic literature buff in your life, or a fantastic addition to your current collection. We are ready to ship this book off to you today at lightning speed, so that you can indulge in this title without delay. The Coral Island ◆ Original 1857 text ◆ A marooned on a South Pacific island story ◆ 5 x 8 Inches ◆ Matte Cover ◆ White Paper