Cast Away: or, the Surprising Adventures of Alexander Selkirk
Francesca de Tores’ follow up to Saltblood, which retold the story of pirate Mary Read, continues to retell tales of real people during the Golden Age of Sail, as Cast Away explores the story of Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. Selkirk narrates his abandonment by his crew and his efforts to survive on a remote island hundreds of miles off the coast of Chile, and unlike Defoe’s creation he is no hero.
Stranded on the island by his captain and crewmates after disobeying orders, he is alone, plagued by rats with only cats and goats for company. While he strives to make shelter, find food and survive, Selkirk contemplates the steps that have brought him to where he is. Reading and reinterpreting the Bible, Selkirk imagines one cat and one goat in particular begin to speak, and creates in them companions, minister, and judge. As he creates a kind of blackout poem with the Bible and a piece of charcoal, Selkirk recounts his childhood and what led him to run away to sea. He imagines himself at a trial of his behaviour and begs forgiveness.
De Tores has created a deft character study and an intriguing glimpse into a fascinating period; the early 1700s making a story we think we know anew. Perfect for fans of Defoe’s classic novel and the adventure stories of Wilbur Smith and Colin Falconer, but also of the vivid and beautiful writing of Sally Magnusson.
