Pâkia by Louis Becke (1901)
Pâkia is a novel by Louis Becke, first published in 1895. It tells the story of a young man named Pâkia, who is born and raised on a small island in the South Pacific. He is a native of the island, but his father is a white trader from Australia. Pâkia is a bright and ambitious young man, and he dreams of one day leaving the island and making a life for himself in the wider world. He is determined to make something of himself, and he sets out to learn the ways of the white man. He eventually leaves the island and travels to Australia, where he finds work as a sailor. He quickly rises through the ranks and eventually becomes the captain of his own ship. He is successful and respected, but he never forgets his roots and his loyalty to his people. Pâkia is a story of ambition, loyalty, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. It is a classic tale of a man who is determined to make something of himself, no matter the odds.
By Louis Becke · First published 1901 · Genre: Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance · 3,957 words
First lines
Late one evening, when the native village was wrapped in slumber, Temana and I brought our sleeping-mats down to the boat-shed, and spread them upon the white, clinking sand. For here, out upon the open beach, we could feel a breath of the cooling sea-breeze, denied to the village houses by reason of the thick belt of palms which encompassed them on three sides. And then we were away from Malepa's baby, which was a good thing in itself.
Temana, tall, smooth-limbed, and brown-skinned, was an excellent savage, and mine own good friend. He and his wife Malepa lived with me as a sort of foster-father and mother, though their united ages did not reach mine by a year or two.
What this Textopian page supports
Pâkia is listed on Textopian as a novel 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: Novel
- Author: Louis Becke
- Date: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Travel Writing
- Length: 3,957 words
- Structure: 1 section, 131 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Pâkia 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 Pâkia?
- How does this novel 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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- The River Of Dreams by Louis Becke
- Susani by Louis Becke
- The Snake And The Bell by Louis Becke
- The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton by Louis Becke
Genres
- Adventure Fiction — The book follows the adventures of a young man, Pâkia, as he navigates the South Pacific islands and the people he meets along the way.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the late 19th century and is based on the author's own experiences in the South Pacific.
- Romance — The book follows Pâkia's romantic relationships with the women he meets on his journey.
- Travel Writing — The book is written in the style of a travelogue, with Pâkia's experiences in the South Pacific providing the narrative.
Tags
adventure · island · exploration · romance · ocean · culture · survival · mystery · travel · friendship · conflict · nature