Maru: A Dream of the Sea by H. De Vere Stacpoole

"Maru: A Dream of the Sea" by H. De Vere Stacpoole is a novel likely written during the early 20th century. Set against the backdrop of the Pacific Islands, the book explores themes of isolation, love, and the clash between traditional and external influences. The narrative follows the life of Maru, a young Polynesian man, navigating the trials of his community on the small island of Fukariva, which faces existential challenges after an epidemic reduces the population. The story begins with Maru inheriting the kingship after a devastating smallpox outbreak claims his tribe, leaving him isolated and disconnected from his people. He finds himself torn between grief and the brutal survival instincts of the remaining islanders. When he is taken away from his home aboard a blackbirding brig, a cyclone leaves him shipwrecked and drifting at sea until he is rescued by Talia, a girl from an uncharted island. As they build their new life together, Maru's feelings for Talia grow, transcending mere friendship to love. However, tragedy strikes when Talia drowns, leaving Maru to grapple with his cultural taboos surrounding death and the lingering ghost of his departed love. Ultimately, the story reflects Maru's inner turmoil as he seeks solace and resolution amidst the vastness of the ocean. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Stacpoole, H. De Vere (Henry De Vere), 1863-1951
Title Maru: A Dream of the Sea
Series Title Produced from Hutchinson's Story Magazine, July 1919.
Credits Roger Frank
Reading Level Reading ease score: 78.3 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Language English
LoC Class PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
Subject Short stories
Subject Islands -- Fiction
Subject Oceania -- Fiction
Category Text
eBook-No. 64643
Release Date
Last Update Dec 22, 2024
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
Downloads 282 downloads in the last 30 days.

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