The Adventure of Elizabeth Morey, of New York 1901

"The Adventure of Elizabeth Morey, of New York" by Louis Becke is a historical sea adventure written in the early 20th century. This book is a fictional narrative based on events in the South Pacific during the early 1800s, focusing specifically on the perils faced by a young woman navigating a treacherous world dominated by colonial ship captains and indigenous conflicts. It explores themes of survival, heroism, and the complexities of human relationships in a dramatic setting. The story follows Elizabeth Morey, an American woman who is rescued from captivity by the crew of the American ship Union after enduring a harrowing experience on the island of Tongatabu. Initially, she had embarked on a voyage to the South Pacific with the charming but reckless Captain Melton, who misjudges the dangers posed by the local natives. Following a brutal attack led by a treacherous beachcomber named Doyle, Elizabeth witnesses the massacre of the ship's crew but manages to escape her captors. Eventually, she is rescued again by the Union and its captain, Daniel Wright, leading to a final confrontation with the hostile natives. Through Elizabeth's ordeal, the narrative delves into the themes of courage and resourcefulness in the face of extreme adversity, ultimately suggesting a hopeful resolution for her future as she navigates her new reality. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

George Lewis Becke was at the turn of the nineteenth century, the most prolific, significant, and internationally renowned Australian-born writer of the South Pacific region. Having lived and worked among Pacific Islands and Islanders as a trader, ship's supercargo, and villager for some two decades, learning languages and observing natural and cultural life, Becke was prompted by J F Archibald of The Bulletin to write down his experiences, eventually becoming a popular and respected author of short stories, novellas, novels, as well as historic and ethnographic works.