The Blue Lagoon: A Romance

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

393

Title

The Blue Lagoon: A Romance

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In a tale of innocence and nature, two children are shipwrecked on a remote tropical island. Stranded with a dying sailor, they flee to a secluded lagoon where they grow up in isolation, discovering love, birth, and the raw realities of survival while maintaining a childlike wonder against the backdrop of a pristine paradise.

Summary up to 500 words

In H. de Vere Stacpoole's *The Blue Lagoon: A Romance*, the narrative begins aboard the ship *Northumberland*, bound for San Francisco. The vessel carries Arthur Lestrange, a dying man suffering from consumption, along with his young niece, Emmeline, and his son, Dick. During a violent storm, the ship is wrecked on a coral reef, resulting in the death of the entire crew. Stranded and terrified by the gruesome discovery of a dead sailor, the three survivors flee to a secluded section of the island, guided by the dying sailor Paddy Button until his own death. Isolated from civilization, the children establish a simple hut and must learn to survive in the harsh jungle environment. Over several years, they grow from children into young adults, mastering the skills of hunting, fishing, and self-sufficiency. The story meticulously details their physical and emotional development, exploring the mysteries of sex and birth in a world devoid of societal norms or religious dogma. Their relationship evolves into a deep, instinctual love, culminating in a romantic union that mirrors the biblical story of Adam and Eve. The narrative is a romanticized exploration of the 'noble savage' concept, contrasting the innocence of their isolated existence with the corruption of the outside world. Themes of death, nature's brutality, and the loss of innocence permeate the text. Eventually, the couple is discovered and rescued by a passing ship, ending their idyllic but perilous existence. The novel serves as a poignant meditation on the transition from childhood to adulthood and the enduring power of love in the face of mortality.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Adventure
• Romance
• Fiction