The Coral Island (Wordsworth Children's Classics)

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One of the writers influenced by him was Robert Louis Stevenson, who was so influenced by The Coral Island, that he based portions of Treasure Island on it. Also, The Coral Island can be considered one forerunner of the genera of 'deserted on a desert island' that is a hugely influential literary theme.

This book is in fact a prototype of several story genera, Ballantyne was a prolific writer of stories for young people, publishing over 100 between 1847 and his death in 1894. The Coral Island is considered his most successful in that it has never been out of print since it was published in 1858. Surely that is some kind of record in print for almost 160 years! There is some bad news, though. 'The Coral Island' hasn't aged well, especially the second part of the book. There is a distinct religious tone which seeps into the second part and the caricaturish depictions of the South Sea islanders, mostly as people who are cannibals who eat each other, is laughable and jars our 21st century sensibilities. I think these were probably glossed over in the abridged version that I read as a kid. Hanlon, David; Edmond, Rod (1999), "Rev. of Rod Edmond, Representing the South Pacific: Colonial Discourse from Cook to Gauguin", American Historical Review, 104 (4): 1261–1262, doi: 10.2307/2649581, JSTOR 2649581, S2CID 162306632, archived from the original on 20 July 2021 , retrieved 14 January 2020 Ballantyne, R. M. (1911) [1858], The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean, Thomas Nelson and Sons, OCLC 540728645

CHAPTER XXVIII.

For some years I was happy in visiting the seaports, and in coasting along the shores, of my native land. My Christian name was Ralph; and my comrades added to this the name of Rover, in consequence of the passion which I always evinced for travelling. Rover was not my real name; but as I never received any other, I came at last to answer to it as naturally as to my proper name. And as it is not a bad one, I see no good reason why I should not introduce myself to the reader as Ralph Rover. My shipmates were kind, good-natured fellows, and they and I got on very well together. They did, indeed, very frequently make game of and banter me, but not unkindly; and I overheard them sometimes saying that Ralph Rover was a “queer, old-fashioned fellow.” This, I must confess, surprised me much; and I pondered the saying long, but could come at no satisfactory conclusion as to that wherein my old-fashionedness lay. It is true I was a quiet lad, and seldom spoke except when spoken to. Moreover, I never could understand the jokes of my companions even when they were explained to me, which dulness in apprehension occasioned me much grief. However, I tried to make up for it by smiling and looking pleased when I observed that they were laughing at some witticism which I had failed to detect. I was also very fond of inquiring into the nature of things and their causes, and often fell into fits of abstraction while thus engaged in my mind. But in all this I saw nothing that did not seem to be exceedingly natural, and could by no means understand why my comrades should call me “an old-fashioned fellow.”

We listened for a long time for the sound again; but as it did not come, we returned to the bower and resumed our work. Chapter One. Beginning—My early life and character—I thirst for adventure in foreign lands, and go to sea. Kitalong, Karla Saari; Emond, Rod (1999–2000), "Rev. of Rod Emond, Representing the South Pacific: Colonial Discourse from Cook to Gauguin", Pacific Affairs, 72 (4): 623–625, doi: 10.2307/2672435, JSTOR 2672435

Poor thing said Peterkin, gently extending his hand and endeavouring to pat the cat’s head. “Poor pussy! chee, chee, chee! puss, puss, puss! cheetie pussy!”