An Adventure in the New Hebrides
The novel is a tale of adventure and romance set in the Pacific Islands. It follows the story of a young man who becomes embroiled in a plot to overthrow the ruler of a small island kingdom. Along the way, he falls in love with a local woman and must navigate the complexities of colonial politics and cultural differences. The novel explores themes of identity, loyalty, and power, as the protagonist grapples with his own sense of self and purpose in a foreign land. Through its vivid descriptions of island life and culture, the novel provides a rich and immersive portrait of the Pacific Islands during this period. Ultimately, the story builds towards a dramatic confrontation between the protagonist and the forces of colonialism, raising questions about the nature of power and the impact of Western influence on indigenous cultures.
By Louis Becke · First published 1887 · Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Travel Literature · 5,687 words
First lines
More than twenty years ago a fine young Polynesian half-caste, named Alan, and the writer, were running a small trading cutter out of Samoa, among the low-lying atolls of the Ellice and Tokelau groups, in the South Pacific. We had hauled her up on the beach to clean and put a few sheets of copper on her, when, one day, a big, bronze-faced man came to us, and asked us if we were open to a charter to Santo in the New Hebrides. After a few minutes' conversation we struck a bargain, the terms of which were to take him, his native wife, three servants, and twenty tons of trade goods to his trading station on Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides, for six hundred dollars. He was an ex-trading skipper, but had given up the sea, married a Hervey Island half-caste, and, after trading some years in the Caroline and Marshall groups, had made a trip to the New Hebrides, where he had gone into partnership with a Frenchman, who, like himself, was a sailor man, and had settled down on Santo. Hannah -- for that was his name -- had then returned to the Carolines for his family, and brought them to Samoa, from whence he thought he could get a passage down to the New Hebrides in one of the two German brigs then engaged in the Kanaka labour trade -- 'black-birding,' as it was called. But one, the _Iserbrook_ had been burnt in Sydney Harbour, and the other was away at Valparaiso.
What this Textopian page supports
An Adventure in the New Hebrides 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: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Travel Literature, Action, Drama
- Length: 5,687 words
- Structure: 1 section, 66 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Adventure in the New Hebrides 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 An Adventure in the New Hebrides?
- How does this short story by Louis Becke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Adventure — The narrative centers around a sea voyage filled with challenges, encounters with strangers, and survival in a remote setting.
- Historical Fiction — The story is set in a specific historical context involving colonial trade and interactions in the South Pacific.
- Travel Literature — The work describes the journey through the New Hebrides, providing insights into the geography and culture of the region.
- Action — The plot includes physical confrontations and moments of tension, particularly during encounters with hostile characters.
Tags
Adventure · Travelogue · Island Life · Colonialism · Pacific Islands · 19th Century · Exploration · Maritime · Sailing · Shipwreck · Survival · Cultural Encounter