The Fearsome Island
Albert Kinross
Read by Ruth Golding
No ordinary sailor's tale, this. Based allegedly on the real experiences of Silas Fordred, Master Mariner of Hythe, this is a story of shipwreck on an uncharted island and his supernatural adventures there with a witch, a hairy man, and various devilish devices and traps. The author, Kinross, adds an appendix purporting to explain the marvels which Fordred encountered.
Kinross claims to have stolen the sailor's original account from Hythe Town Hall while helping the Town Clerk to sort newly discovered old papers. This is credible, as it is well-known that there were many such documents rescued from destruction in the late nineteenth century. The names of Fordred and his shipmate Snoad are also old-established Hythe families. However, even if Fordred's account is mentioned in the annals of Hythe Borough, it is impossible to know how much was invented by Kinross. "Believe or doubt!" the author says. Much as I would like to believe, I know which way I incline. (Introduction by Ruth Golding) (2 hr 54 min)
Chapters
| 0 - Preface and Introduction | 6:13 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 1 - Chapter I | 23:12 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 2 - Chapter II | 27:02 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 3 - Chapter III | 28:23 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 4 - Chapter IV | 37:41 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 5 - Chapter V | 18:03 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 6 - Chapter VI | 27:24 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 7 - Appendix | 7:01 | Read by Ruth Golding |
Reviews
The Fearsome Island
stbalbach
<br /><i>The Fearsome Island</i> is an obscure fantasy work by an obscure English author, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Kinross" rel="nofollow">Albert Kinross</a>, published in 1896 when he was about 25 years old, his second published work. It probably would remain unknown today except it was recently brought to light by LibriVox narrator <a href="http://librivox.org/the-fearsome-island-by-albert-kinross/" rel="nofollow">Ruth Golding</a>, who is always enjoyable to listen to. The book is novella length and frames itself as a true story about a shipwrecked mariner from the 16th century who discovers an island inhabited by fantastical things. There are overtones of Robinson Crusoe, The Odyssey, Arabian Nights - but really it felt closer to a Dungeons & Dragons adventure from the fertile mind of a teenager with traps, treasure, monsters, etc.. standard genre fantasy escapism. There's really not much to say other than it's imaginative for what it is. I did some deep searching of databases and was unable to find any professional reviews or commentary, then or now. I can only recommend to read the classics it derives from, but if you want obscure late 19th century genre fantasy that is still readable, this will give you a taste beyond Bram Stoker or Jules Verne. [STB|072012|5597]
Excellently read, and well written if you are willing to put up with a few ecce…
Timothy Ferguson
The author is a bit wordy, and a bit melodramatic, so the lead character stands declaiming his to his cat on a regular basis. This sort of stiffness aside, the story is still enjoyable, and the reading is really first class.
Pretty good
lanternland
Interesting, more or less. My attention did wander a bit at times. More my fault than the book or the reader's I guess. The reader is very good. The other reviews here are also good and I don't have much to add.
The Fearsome Island
PCSmith
A great story and a wonderful reading! I strongly recommend this recording. A delight to the mind with richly painted images for the imagination.
good adventure story
sunnydays
Book has it all: a little bit of Indiana Jones, Robinson Crusoe, sorted fairy tales, and fantasy. Enjoyable listen. Fast moving. Short story.
good, fun, forgettable
he
Good adventure story, not amazing or anything. Well read.