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Cast Away by Francesca de Tores review
This fascinating novel about 18th-century privateer Alexander Selkirk, abandoned on a tiny island in the South Pacific, becomes a revelatory meditation on humanity
TL;DR
- The novel "Cast Away" by Francesca de Tores focuses on Alexander Selkirk, an 18th-century privateer abandoned on an island.
- Selkirk's initial reaction to being marooned is a drunken rage, followed by a struggle for survival and self-discovery.
- The story explores Selkirk's resourcefulness in scavenging, hunting, and crafting on the island.
- His spiritual journey begins with using scripture for carnal thoughts but evolves into deeper reflection prompted by the island's environment.
- The novel also gradually reveals the reasons for Selkirk's marooning, including his involvement in the New Darien venture and his difficult childhood.
- De Tores's portrayal presents Selkirk as a more complex and modern figure than historical records suggest, journeying towards self-revelation.