The Little Savage

"The Little Savage" by Captain Frederick Marryat is a novel intended for children, written in the mid-19th century. It tells the story of a boy named Frank Henniker, who grows up isolated on a desolate island alongside a harsh and taciturn companion named Jackson. The narrative explores themes of survival, education, and the development of identity in the face of adversity, contrasting the innocence of childhood with the complexities of human relationships. The opening of the book introduces Frank's life on the island, beginning with his early memories of being raised by a man who treats him cruelly. Frank learns about his mother and the circumstances of his birth, while grappling with the silence and aggression of Jackson, who is unable to provide him with the nurturing or knowledge he craves. The narrative hints at Frank’s gradual awakening to the world around him, catalyzed by Jackson's injury, which forces a dynamic shift between them as Frank takes on a more assertive role. As the story unfolds, Frank begins to gain knowledge and understanding, highlighting the importance of companionship and the complexities of their shared existence on the island. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Captain Frederick Marryat was a Royal Navy officer and a novelist. He is noted today as an early pioneer of nautical fiction, particularly for his semi-autobiographical novel Mr Midshipman Easy (1836). He is remembered also for his children's novel The Children of the New Forest (1847). In addition, he developed a widely used system of maritime flag signalling, known as Marryat's Code.