John Frewen, South Sea Whaler

Name: John Frewen, South Sea Whaler
Author: Louis Becke

The novel tells the story of John Frewen, a young man who joins a South Sea whaling ship and becomes embroiled in a series of adventures and misadventures. Frewen's journey begins on a small island where he has been living with his mother. He is drawn to the sea and decides to join a whaling ship that is anchored in the harbor. As Frewen navigates the dangers of life at sea, he becomes embroiled in a series of conflicts with the ship's captain and other crew members. He also falls in love with a young woman who lives on one of the islands they visit. Throughout his journey, Frewen faces numerous challenges, including fierce storms, treacherous waters, and encounters with hostile islanders. Despite these obstacles, he perseveres and eventually becomes a skilled whaler. The novel explores themes of identity, community, and the human relationship with nature. It also provides a vivid portrayal of life in the South Seas during the 19th century. Frewen's experiences serve as a coming-of-age story, as he learns to navigate the complexities of adulthood and find his place in the world.

By Louis Becke · First published 1888 · Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Sea Fiction · 19 chapters · 43,970 words

First lines

Captain Ethan Keller, of the _Casilda_ of Nantucket, was in a very bad temper, for in four days he had lost two of the five boats the barque carried -- one had been hopelessly stove by the dreaded "underclip" given her by a crafty old bull sperm-whale, and the other, which was in charge of the second mate, had not been seen for seventy hours. When last sighted she was fast to the same bull which had destroyed the first mate's boat; it was then nearly dark, and the whale, which was of an enormous size, although he had three irons in his body and was towing the whole length of line from the stove-in boat as well as that of the second mate, was racing through the water as fresh as when he had first been struck, three hours previously. Then the sun dipped below the sea-rim, and the blue Pacific was shrouded in darkness.

What this Textopian page supports

John Frewen, South Sea Whaler is listed on Textopian as a novel 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: Novel
Author: Louis Becke
Date: 1888 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Sea Fiction, Romance, Coming-of-Age
Length: 43,970 words
Structure: 19 chapters, 645 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Work identity for John Frewen, South Sea Whaler by Louis Becke
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Adventure — The narrative centers around the protagonist's experiences and challenges in the whaling industry, emphasizing exploration and peril.
Historical Fiction — The story is set in a specific historical context, reflecting the realities of whaling and maritime life in the South Seas.
Sea Fiction — The plot revolves around life at sea, focusing on whaling and the maritime environment.
Romance — Elements of romantic relationships are woven into the narrative, influencing character motivations and plot development.