A Christmas Eve in the Far South Seas
The story revolves around a young sailor who becomes embroiled in a conflict between two rival groups of islanders on a remote Pacific atoll. The narrative explores themes of colonialism, cultural clashes, and the complexities of human relationships in a tropical paradise.
By Louis Becke · First published 1888 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Adventure · 2,824 words
First lines
Donald MacBride and myself were the only Britishers living on one of the North Pacific island lagoons when Christmas of 1880 drew near, and we determined to celebrate it in a manner that would fill our German and American trading rivals throughout the group with envy. MacBride was a bony, red-headed Scotchman, with a large heart and a small, jealous, half-caste wife. The latter acquisition ruled him with a rod of iron, much to his financial and moral benefit, but nevertheless agreed with me that we -- Donald, she and myself -- ought to show the Americans and the 'Dutchmen' how an English Christmas should be celebrated. But as Sera was a half-caste native of the Pelews, and had never been to a civilised country, she also concurred with me that Donald and myself should run the show, which, although I was not a married man, was to take place in my house on account of the greater space available. Donald, she said, wanted to have a 'hakkise'; so we bought a nanny-goat from Ludwig Wolfen, the German trader at Molok, and one evening -- the 23rd of December -- I helped Sera to drive and drag the unsuspecting creature home to her husband's place to the slaughter. (I may as well say at once that MacBride's nanny-goat haggis was a hideous failure, and my boat's crew, to whom it was handed over, with many strong expressions about MacBride's beastly provincial taste, said that it _smelt_ good, like shark's liver, but was not at all so juicy.)
What this Textopian page supports
A Christmas Eve in the Far South Seas is listed on Textopian as a short story by Louis Becke, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Louis Becke
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Adventure, Cultural Fiction, Seasonal Fiction
- Length: 2,824 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Christmas Eve in the Far South Seas by Louis Becke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Christmas Eve in the Far South Seas?
- How does this short story by Louis Becke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- A Boating Adventure In The Carolines by Louis Becke
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a specific historical context, depicting life in the South Seas during the late 19th century.
- Literary Fiction — The work focuses on character development, themes of camaraderie, and reflections on life and loss.
- Adventure — The setting involves exploration and the interactions of diverse cultures in a remote location.
- Cultural Fiction — The story explores cultural interactions and the blending of traditions among different nationalities.
Tags
Adventure · Christmas · Island · Maritime · Nautical · Pacific · Romance · Sea · Shipwreck · South Seas · Tropical · Voyage