Long Charley's Good Little Wife
The story revolves around a young woman who marries a sailor and moves to the Pacific Islands. She struggles with her new life, feeling isolated and lonely in the midst of a foreign culture. Her husband's infidelity further exacerbates her emotional distress. The narrative explores themes of love, loyalty, and survival in a harsh environment.
By Louis Becke · First published 1888 · Genre: Adventure, Romance, Historical Fiction · 1,926 words
First lines
There was the island, only ten miles away, and there it had been for a whole week. Sometimes we had got near enough to see Long Charley's house and the figures of natives walking on the yellow beach; and then the westerly current would set us away to leeward again. But that night a squall came up, and in half an hour we were running down to the land. When the lights on the beach showed up we hove-to until daylight, and then found the surf too heavy to let us land.
What this Textopian page supports
Long Charley's Good Little Wife 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: Adventure, Romance, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Comedy
- Length: 1,926 words
- Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Long Charley's Good Little Wife 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 Long Charley's Good Little Wife?
- How does this short story by Louis Becke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Stove by Marjorie Pickthall
- The Umbrella Man by Mary E. Wilkins
- The Transformation Of Philip Jettan by Georgette Heyer
- Mrs Clinton by Louis Becke
- The Shanty Keepers Wife by Henry Lawson
- The Maid Of Saint Phillippe by Kate Chopin
Genres
- Adventure — The plot involves a journey to an island and interactions with local traders and natives, highlighting exploration and adventure.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around Charley's quest for a wife, showcasing romantic negotiations and relationships.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and cultural elements reflect a specific historical context of trade and life in the South Seas.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style emphasizes character development and social commentary, typical of literary fiction.
Tags
Literary Fiction · Short Story Collection · Maritime Fiction · Pacifica Literature · 19th Century Literature · Australian Literature · New Zealand Literature · Colonialism · Imperialism · Social Class · Domesticity · Wifehood