Martin of Nitendi by Louis Becke
Martin of Nitendi is a novel by Louis Becke, first published in 1895. It tells the story of Martin, a young man from the island of Nitendi in the South Pacific. Martin is a native of the island, and is deeply devoted to his people and their customs. He is also a talented musician, and is determined to make a name for himself in the world of music. When a visiting Englishman, Mr. Blythe, hears Martin playing, he is so impressed that he offers to take him to England to study music. Martin accepts, and soon finds himself in a strange new world, far from his home and his people. Martin quickly adapts to his new life, and soon becomes a successful musician. But he is also homesick, and longs to return to Nitendi. When he finally does, he finds that his people have been taken over by a cruel and oppressive regime. Martin must now decide whether to stay in England and pursue his musical career, or to return to Nitendi and fight for his people's freedom. Martin of Nitendi is a classic adventure story, full of excitement and romance. It is also a powerful exploration of the clash between two cultures, and the struggle of one man to find his place in the world.
By Louis Becke · First published 1901 · Genre: Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance · 2,874 words
First lines
Half-way up the side of the mountain which overlooked the waters of the little land-locked harbour there was a space clear of timber. Huge, jagged rocks, whose surfaces were covered with creepers and grey moss, protruded from the soil, and on the highest of these a man was lying at full length, looking at the gunboat anchored half a mile away. He was clothed in a girdle of _ti_ leaves only; his feet were bare, cut, and bleeding; round his waist was strapped a leather belt with an empty cartridge pouch; his brawny right hand grasped a Snider rifle; his head-covering was a roughly made cap of coconut-nut leaf, with a projecting peak, designed to shield his blood-shot, savage eyes from the sun. Yet he had been a White Man. For nearly an hour he had been watching, ever since the dawn had broken. Far below him, thin, wavering curls of pale blue smoke were arising from the site of the native village, fired by the bluejackets on the previous evening. The ruins of his own house he could discern by the low stone wall surrounding it; as for the native huts which, the day before, had clustered so thickly around his own dwelling, there was now no trace save heaps of grey ashes.
What this Textopian page supports
Martin of Nitendi is listed on Textopian as a short story by Louis Becke, dated 1901 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: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Action/Adventure
- Length: 2,874 words
- Structure: 1 section, 86 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Martin of Nitendi 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 Martin of Nitendi?
- How does this short story by Louis Becke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Adventure Fiction — The book follows the titular character, Martin, as he embarks on a journey of exploration and discovery in the South Pacific.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the late 19th century and is based on the real-life experiences of Louis Becke, who was a trader and explorer in the South Pacific during this time period.
- Romance — The book features a romantic subplot between Martin and a native girl, which adds an element of romance to the story.
- Action/Adventure — The book features a number of thrilling action sequences, as Martin and his companions face danger and adventure in their travels.
Tags
adventure · island · exploration · romance · survival · colonialism · cultural clash · seafaring · friendship · mystery · nature · identity