lacywolfe's review against another edition
2.0
This was the first work by Stevenson that I've ever read. It was a dark tale of British colonization. I think I'd like to try Treasure Island next.
readtoramble's review against another edition
4.0
I don't usually read classics, and I haven't ever read a Robert Louis Stevenson book I don't think, I was really expecting it to be boring and to drag on, but I really did enjoy it. I had no problems understanding what was happening, the language wasn't ancient or too posh to know what was going on, I was really engrossed in it and read it super fast.
The story follows a man who goes to an island near Polynesia as a trader and the first night he married one of the island women and soon learns that he is tabooed. This is his quest to find out why and to reverse the curse.
I found it funny and although it is a colonialist book with a somewhat colonialist and imperialist stance, it was really enjoyable and it made me want to read a lot more of his books!
The story follows a man who goes to an island near Polynesia as a trader and the first night he married one of the island women and soon learns that he is tabooed. This is his quest to find out why and to reverse the curse.
I found it funny and although it is a colonialist book with a somewhat colonialist and imperialist stance, it was really enjoyable and it made me want to read a lot more of his books!
isiahreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
jfaroy's review against another edition
3.0
Since I’m apathetic to adventure, nature — sylvan, fertile, abundant — was the only pleasurable player in this novella, contrasting and balancing an abrasive narrator. Running from romanticism, Uma and the colonialist love story are cringingly romanticized into authenticity. In his shift to realism, RLS shows the devil, created in the image of man.
A loyal companion (and predecessor!) to Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.
A loyal companion (and predecessor!) to Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.
whats_margaret_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Adventure story purveyor turns to colonialism, miscegenation, and madness? Kind of awesome. The people in charge of the Art of the Novella series, as has been more throughly and insightfully criticized elsewhere, tend towards the obvious authors (Stevenson, H.G. Wells, basically authors who are famous and the public domain which limits the diversity somewhat) but some of the lesser known works of those same authors are absolutely fascinating. Instead of just some Treasure Island adventure writer, Stevenson demonstrates a darker and more sinister streak in this novella.
oldpondnewfrog's review against another edition
2.0
I don't think I found the narrator a very sympathetic character. Just too much better than the natives. And he solved his problems too tidily. I did finish it though, so it was okay. I suppose that's why I almost never have a one-star review here: those are the books I don't finish.
lnatal's review against another edition
3.0
From BBC Radio 4 - Drama:
The first of two dramatisations of Robert Louis Stevenson's gripping novellas set in Samoa and written while he lived there.
David Tennant stars as Wiltshire, a trader freshly arrived on a Samoan Island. He marries a native girl, only to find himself tabooed by the rest of the inhabitants.
At the height of his powers, Stevenson tackled the most pressing theme on the islands - the vicious effects of colonialism including slavery, racism, sexual exploitation and the conflict between traditional and modern values. The subjects are as vivid today as in 1894 and these compelling and violent stories feature some of the most driven, dangerous and obsessive characters in fiction. Joseph Conrad drew on these novellas for Heart of Darkness.
Dramatised for radio by Jane Rogers
Produced and Directed by Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0848rl2
The first of two dramatisations of Robert Louis Stevenson's gripping novellas set in Samoa and written while he lived there.
David Tennant stars as Wiltshire, a trader freshly arrived on a Samoan Island. He marries a native girl, only to find himself tabooed by the rest of the inhabitants.
At the height of his powers, Stevenson tackled the most pressing theme on the islands - the vicious effects of colonialism including slavery, racism, sexual exploitation and the conflict between traditional and modern values. The subjects are as vivid today as in 1894 and these compelling and violent stories feature some of the most driven, dangerous and obsessive characters in fiction. Joseph Conrad drew on these novellas for Heart of Darkness.
Dramatised for radio by Jane Rogers
Produced and Directed by Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0848rl2
kwananntan's review against another edition
3.0
the narrator irritated me so damn much... but a pretty accurate look at colonialism, even if it is told from a white person's perspective
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