Addie Ransom: a Memory of the Tokelaus
The novel revolves around Addie Ransom, an Australian woman who travels to the Pacific Islands with her husband. She becomes embroiled in a complex web of relationships and cultural clashes on the island of Tokelau. The story explores themes of colonialism, identity, and the clash between Western values and traditional Pacific Islander culture.
By Louis Becke · First published 1887 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Drama · 3,253 words
First lines
A hot, steamy mist rose from the gleaming, oily sea, and the little island lay sweltering and gasping under a sky of brass and a savagely blazing sun. Along the edges of the curving lines of yellow beach the drought-smitten plumes of the fast-withering coco-palms drooped straight, brown and motionless; and Wallis, the trader at Avamua village, as he paced to and fro upon the heated boards of his verandah, cursed the island and the people, and the deadly calm, and the brassy sky, and the firm of Tom de Wolf & Sons (whom he blamed for the weather), and the drought, and the sickness, and the overdue ship, and himself, and everything else; and he wished that Lita would go away for a month -- her patience and calmness worried and irritated him. Then he might perhaps try getting drunk on Sundays like Ransom; to-day was Sunday, and another Sunday meant another hell of twelve hours' heat, and misery, and hope deferred.
What this Textopian page supports
Addie Ransom: a Memory of the Tokelaus is listed on Textopian as a short story by Louis Becke, dated 1887 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: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Drama, Tragedy, Adventure
- Length: 3,253 words
- Structure: 1 section, 48 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Addie Ransom: a Memory of the Tokelaus by Louis Becke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Addie Ransom: a Memory of the Tokelaus?
- 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 deep emotional and existential themes through character development and intricate prose.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and cultural context reflect a specific historical period and location, providing insight into the lives of the characters.
- Drama — The narrative focuses on intense personal and interpersonal conflicts, highlighting human suffering and moral dilemmas.
- Tragedy — The story involves themes of loss, despair, and the inevitability of death, culminating in a poignant emotional impact.
Tags
Pacific Islands Fiction · Colonialism · Island Life · Adventure · Romance · Historical Fiction · 19th Century Literature · British Colonization · Tahitian Culture · Maori Culture · Polynesian Culture · Maritime Adventure