The Pirate Island: A Story of the South Pacific

by Harry Collingwood, Charles Joseph Staniland (Illustrator), Joseph Robert Wells (Illustrator)

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Adventure

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2012

About the author

William Joseph Cosens Lancaster

1851-1922

Reviews

[John Cosgrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one of the most popular stories by Harry Collingwood. The story opens with a shipwreck on the Gunfleet Sands off Clacton-on-Sea in the Thames Estuary. Rewarded for his heroic action in saving lives from a wreck on the coast, fisher-lad Robert Legerton is given an apprenticeship aboard a clipper. Homeward bound from Australia, the ship is dismasted in a cyclone and later catches fire. Passengers and crew flee in open boats and after much hardship, are taken aboard by a pirate. They are put to work on the pirate island, building a fort to defend the harbour and a new ship for the pirates. During their walks on the island the women in the party discover gold and they begin to collect this for their escape. Eventually, led by Robert, they escape.

Reviewers at the time said: The best of these books. . . . The events are described with minuteness and care. The result is a very amusing book. — ''Saturday Review''; One of the very best books for boys that we have seen for a long time: its author stands far in advance of any other writer for boys as a teller of stories of the sea — ''The Standard''; Told in the most vivid and graphic language. It would be difficult to find a more thoroughly delightful gift-book." — ''The Guardian''; One of the best boys' books we have seen for a considerable time; there is thrown in just a dash of the modern novel, which will doubtless go far to make the book a favourite. — ''Glasgow Herald''; A capital story of the sea; indeed in our opinion the author is superior in some respects as a marine novelist to the better-known Mr. Clark Russell — ''The Times''; A stirring story of the South Pacific in which the chief character is made the hero of many hairbreadth escapes. The writing is most attractive, and to sum up the qualities of this book it is only necessary to say the merits are thoroughly sterling ones. — ''Public Opinion''; There is enough to make any boy dream of all that is strange and wild. But bravery and gentleness and helpfulness are shown in all the beauty; and so we should like as many boys as possible to read the story and admire the daring deeds. — ''Christian Leader''<

[Charles O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collingwood and Staniland spin an action adventure with hurricanes and a disaster at sea that find the survivors forced into work servitude on Albatross Island. Greek pirate Rally threatens the island prisoner inhabitants existence. Meanwhile, the prisoners find gold and plot their escape. Overall, a good pirate tale.

[Jeff Sovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engagingly written and full of action, this is adventure takes place during the late 19th century when wooden sailing ships still plied the seas but were steadily being replace by iron hulled vessels, and steam power was the state of the art. A fun and fascinating journey through the South Pacific at the end of an era, written to appeal to a modern audience.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Think of an adventure plot and it's in here. All crammed in! Very exciting