Castaway in Paradise [Paperback]

James C. Simmons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 1998

Castaway in Paradise explores the reality in the myth through the exciting stories of castaways who, because of shipwrecks, perfidious sea captains, or their own choice, found themselves true-life Robinson Crusoes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Alexander Selkirk, a difficult and unpleasant British sailor, was put ashore at his own request on Mas a Tierra Island off the coast of Chile in 1704 and remained alone there until 1709. His story came to the attention of Daniel Defoe, and thereby hangs a tradition. Although isolated, Selkirk, upon whom Defoe modeled his fictional hero Robinson Crusoe, did not have a terribly trying situation, for he had fresh water, fruit, wild goats, shellfish and certain amenities. Others in comparable situations were not so fortunate, as Simmons ( The Big Book of Adventure Travel ) makes clear in these accounts of eight castaways--some by coercion, some by their own choice--ranging from the 18th century to (believe it or not) 1977. Just as the adventures of Selkirk/Crusoe enthralled readers in 1719, the chronicles here will surely prove exciting to readers today.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-True-life descriptions of shipwrecks, survival, ingenuity, and (usually) rescue, all of which make Robinson Crusoe's exploits look like a picnic on the beach. Alexander Selkirk, upon whose adventures Crusoe was based, was washed ashore on an island west of Chile, where he lived quite handily until his rescue four years later. Part of this book's fascination is that readers are told how the various survivors spent the remainder of their lives after they returned home. There is also a good bit of information about early voyages to the South Atlantic and the Pacific, the sealing and whaling trades, and life among the natives and early settlers in the South Seas. One of the accounts is of a woman who, along with her baby and Chinese servant, died of starvation on an island on the Great Barrier Reef. She left a journal detailing the bizarre circumstances of their demise. The incredible obstacles overcome by these resouceful, persevering souls will leave modern readers slack-jawed. No two stories are alike, and all are compelling.
Judy McAloon, Potomac Library, Prince William County, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Sheridan House; 1ST edition (October 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574090666
• ISBN-13: 978-1574090666
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,552,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating! Intriguing! Very Exciting!, March 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Castaway in Paradise (Paperback)

One of the best books I have ever read!!! Many of us wonder: if I were stranded on a deserted island, what three items would I want to have with me? Or-- wouldn't life be easier if I lived on a deserted island! James Simmons clears up any fantisies we might have regarding deserted islands, and it is not a pretty picture. I loved this book so much, I wrote to the author--something I have never done before or since!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars hard to put down such compelling and entertaining stories, January 4, 2000

By 

secret squirrel (hoy miami; manana buenos aires) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Castaway in Paradise (Paperback)

any failings in literary grace are more than compensated with simmon's ability to ferret out tale after fascinating tale. a great book for vacation reading, to redefine the meaning of a bad day, to put the mind in some unusual places. absolutely gauranteed to liven up the dinner conversation, this one goes straight to my 'favorite-book shelf for guests'in the dacha. if you like it, also take a look at Lansing's 'Endurance.'

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars castaways encapsulated, December 29, 1999

By 

George P. Kraemer (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Castaway in Paradise (Paperback)

Simmons gives us brief vignetttes of what real castaways endured - not always a pretty, tropical island picture. This is at the same time the book's strength and weakness. The shortish accounts allow him to cover a lot of ground (geographically and temporally), but they often left me hungry for more detail. Still, all in all, I would recommend it to anyone else out there who enjoyed "Robinson Crusoe," or simply reading about the ocean.