A Truly Great Man. a Mid-Pacific Sketch
The story revolves around the life of a sailor who becomes embroiled in a series of adventures and misadventures on the high seas. He is a complex character with a troubled past, driven by a desire for wealth and status. As he navigates the dangers of the ocean, he encounters various individuals who shape his journey, including a beautiful woman and a ruthless pirate. Through his experiences, he grapples with themes of morality, loyalty, and redemption. The narrative is set against the backdrop of the mid-Pacific, where the sailor's exploits take him to remote islands and hidden coves. The author's vivid descriptions of the ocean and its inhabitants create a sense of atmosphere and tension that propels the story forward. Ultimately, the sailor's fate is sealed by his own actions, which lead to a tragic confrontation with his past. The novel raises questions about the nature of greatness and whether it can be achieved through wealth or personal sacrifice.
By Louis Becke · First published 1888 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure · 1,790 words
First lines
Then the flag of "Bobby" Towns, of Sydney, was still mighty in the South Seas. The days had not come in which steamers with brass-bound supercargoes, carrying tin boxes and taking orders like merchants' bagmen, for goods "to arrive," exploited the Ellice, Kingsmill, and Gilbert Groups. Bluff-bowed old wave-punchers like the SPEC, the LADY ALICIA and the E. K. BATESON plunged their clumsy hulls into the rolling swell of the mid-Pacific, carrying their "trade" of knives, axes, guns, bad rum, and good tobacco, instead of, as now, white umbrellas, paper boots and shoes, German sewing-machines and fancy prints -- "zephyrs," the smartly-dressed paper-collared supercargo of to-day calls them, as he submits a card of patterns to Emilia, the native teacher's wife, who, as the greatest Lady in the Land, must have first choice.
What this Textopian page supports
A Truly Great Man. a Mid-Pacific Sketch 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: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Cultural Fiction, Colonial Literature
- Length: 1,790 words
- Structure: 1 section, 35 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for A Truly Great Man. a Mid-Pacific Sketch by Louis Becke
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Truly Great Man. a Mid-Pacific Sketch?
- How does this short story by Louis Becke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex characters and themes, focusing on human experiences and societal interactions.
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical context, it reflects the cultural and social dynamics of the Pacific Islands during a particular era.
- Adventure — The narrative involves exploration and the challenges faced by the protagonist in a foreign land.
- Cultural Fiction — It delves into the customs, traditions, and social structures of the native populations in the Pacific.
Tags
Adventure · Literary Fiction · Pacific Islands · Colonialism · Sociology · Ethnography · Travelogue · Autobiographical · Memoir · Historical Fiction · 19th Century Literature · Male Protagonist