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Rascals in Paradise: Turbulent Adventures and Bold Courage on the South Seas
In a thrilling collection of nonfiction adventure stories, James A. Michener returns to the most dazzling place on the islands that inspired Tales of the South Pacific . Co-written with A. Grove Day, Rascals in Paradise offers portraits of ten scandalous men and women, some infamous and some overlooked, including Sam Comstock, a mutinous sailor whose delusions of grandeur became a nightmare; Will Mariner, a golden-haired youth who used his charm to win over his captors; and William Bligh, the notorious HMS Bounty captain who may not have been the monster history remembers him as. From lifelong buccaneers to lapsed noblemen, in Michener and Day’s capable hands these rogues become the stuff of legend.
Praise for Rascals in Paradise
“The best book about those far-scattered islands that has appeared in a long time . . . a portfolio of rare and ruthless personalities that is calculated to make the curliest hair stand straight on end.” — The New York Times
“[Combines] research and scholarship (A. Grove Day was a professor at the University of Hawaii) with a gift for spinning a yarn and depicting character (Michener, journalist and novelist, needs no introduction).” — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Rascals in Paradise
“The best book about those far-scattered islands that has appeared in a long time . . . a portfolio of rare and ruthless personalities that is calculated to make the curliest hair stand straight on end.” — The New York Times
“[Combines] research and scholarship (A. Grove Day was a professor at the University of Hawaii) with a gift for spinning a yarn and depicting character (Michener, journalist and novelist, needs no introduction).” — Kirkus Reviews
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
About the author
James A. Michener
447 books3,062 followersJames Albert Michener is best known for his sweeping multi-generation historical fiction sagas, usually focusing on and titled after a particular geographical region. His first novel,
Tales of the South Pacific
, which inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Toward the end of his life, he created the Journey Prize, awarded annually for the year's best short story published by an emerging Canadian writer; founded an MFA program now, named the Michener Center for Writers, at the University of Texas at Austin; and made substantial contributions to the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, best known for its permanent collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings and a room containing Michener's own typewriter, books, and various memorabilia.
Michener's entry in Who's Who in America says he was born on Feb. 3, 1907. But he said in his 1992 memoirs that the circumstances of his birth remained cloudy and he did not know just when he was born or who his parents were.
Toward the end of his life, he created the Journey Prize, awarded annually for the year's best short story published by an emerging Canadian writer; founded an MFA program now, named the Michener Center for Writers, at the University of Texas at Austin; and made substantial contributions to the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, best known for its permanent collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings and a room containing Michener's own typewriter, books, and various memorabilia.
Michener's entry in Who's Who in America says he was born on Feb. 3, 1907. But he said in his 1992 memoirs that the circumstances of his birth remained cloudy and he did not know just when he was born or who his parents were.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 8, 2021
"Palms,coral reefs,exotic landscapes,music,dancing and beautiful women ...these made the South Seas the paradise that lured countless explorers,adventurers and rogues...an unfallen world made beautiful and brutal by their presence."
These stories include real life characters from 1595 to 1953.There are ten stories here,some very interesting and some pretty tedious.
The best story is about the mutiny on the ship "The Globe." Samuel Comstock led the mutiny and killed all the officers.He then went to an island to live there.
But there was a mutiny against him too,by his former co-plotters.Eventually,he was killed too.The islanders then killed the other mutineers.Two boys survived to tell the tale.
Another story is about Captain Bligh,who was the villain in the movie,Mutiny on the Bounty.I enjoyed the movie.But Michener's take on the Captain Bligh story is different.He presents Captain Bligh positively,as a capable seaman.
Instead,it is Fletcher Christian (played by Clark Gable,as a heroic figure in the movie),who is presented as the villain by Michener.Bligh survived four mutinees plus an attack in Australia.He rose to the rank of Admiral and died of natural causes.
The white men who sailed to the South Seas,did not treat the islanders gently.Their women were taken into sexual slavery and the men were shot just for fun.The book gives horrifying accounts of such shootings.
Another chapter deals with Bully Hayes,an American who indulged in all kinds of excesses.
But his worst act was to start an organized slave trade,capturing islanders and then selling them for back breaking work.The poor captives didn't even know when they were being taken and would never see their homes again.
The book has whetted my appetite for Michener's "Tales of the South Pacific."
These stories include real life characters from 1595 to 1953.There are ten stories here,some very interesting and some pretty tedious.
The best story is about the mutiny on the ship "The Globe." Samuel Comstock led the mutiny and killed all the officers.He then went to an island to live there.
But there was a mutiny against him too,by his former co-plotters.Eventually,he was killed too.The islanders then killed the other mutineers.Two boys survived to tell the tale.
Another story is about Captain Bligh,who was the villain in the movie,Mutiny on the Bounty.I enjoyed the movie.But Michener's take on the Captain Bligh story is different.He presents Captain Bligh positively,as a capable seaman.
Instead,it is Fletcher Christian (played by Clark Gable,as a heroic figure in the movie),who is presented as the villain by Michener.Bligh survived four mutinees plus an attack in Australia.He rose to the rank of Admiral and died of natural causes.
The white men who sailed to the South Seas,did not treat the islanders gently.Their women were taken into sexual slavery and the men were shot just for fun.The book gives horrifying accounts of such shootings.
Another chapter deals with Bully Hayes,an American who indulged in all kinds of excesses.
But his worst act was to start an organized slave trade,capturing islanders and then selling them for back breaking work.The poor captives didn't even know when they were being taken and would never see their homes again.
The book has whetted my appetite for Michener's "Tales of the South Pacific."
April 11, 2018
These portraits of pirates, con men, adventurers, and ne'er-do-wells operating in the Pacific from the China coast to Hawaii offer a look at just what often made the South Seas genre appealing to its readership in the 19th and 20th centuries. Yes, these are histories but with just the right emphases, mythologizing, and superb storytelling to engage a general audience. James A. Michener needs no introduction as a creator of strong narratives mixed with history and adventure. But his co-author, A. Grove Day, is not as well known. Day was a figure of enormous importance in the genre. A professor at the University of Hawaii, he edited a large number of volumes on the literature and history of the Pacific. His efforts in the 1980s, in fact, may have preserved the readership for authors such as James Norman Hall, whose books remain available as used paperbacks largely because of Day.
Rascals in Paradise, then, blends the talents of two prolific writers. And it doesn't disappoint. These are the sort of historical sketches that will lead those with even a glancing interest in their subjects to find out more. And there is much more to be told. Written in 1957, not only does the collection omit and bend history to its authors' particular points of interest, but I'm sure much more is now known about the people described in the book's ten chapters. I'm certainly not an expert in the area, but just briefly looking up a few of the people about whom Michener and Day claim "nothing else is known," I discovered that indeed there is a great deal more known.
But as I say, Michener and Day had a bit of a different agenda at work, here. Foremost, they were interested in producing a work of literature more than a work of history. And they were feeding into a mystique of the Pacific and the South Seas just then, in the late 1950s, becoming intensely popular. Veterans of World War II in the Pacific had become financially and career successful enough in the postwar years to begin making pilgrimages to the South Seas, especially Hawaii. And Hawaii itself was about to become America's 50th state. Tiki culture was booming in popular film and, now, in the late 1950s and 1960s, television. Rascals in Paradise was largely reflective of that. As, of course, was Michener's subsequent magnum opus, Hawaii, which was to be published two years later before itself being made into two different feature films in 1966 and 1970.
The best story in this bunch? Hard to say, because they are all good, even the last chapter and the sketch of Edgar Leetag, the so-called "father of American velvet painting," God curse him.
Rascals in Paradise, then, blends the talents of two prolific writers. And it doesn't disappoint. These are the sort of historical sketches that will lead those with even a glancing interest in their subjects to find out more. And there is much more to be told. Written in 1957, not only does the collection omit and bend history to its authors' particular points of interest, but I'm sure much more is now known about the people described in the book's ten chapters. I'm certainly not an expert in the area, but just briefly looking up a few of the people about whom Michener and Day claim "nothing else is known," I discovered that indeed there is a great deal more known.
But as I say, Michener and Day had a bit of a different agenda at work, here. Foremost, they were interested in producing a work of literature more than a work of history. And they were feeding into a mystique of the Pacific and the South Seas just then, in the late 1950s, becoming intensely popular. Veterans of World War II in the Pacific had become financially and career successful enough in the postwar years to begin making pilgrimages to the South Seas, especially Hawaii. And Hawaii itself was about to become America's 50th state. Tiki culture was booming in popular film and, now, in the late 1950s and 1960s, television. Rascals in Paradise was largely reflective of that. As, of course, was Michener's subsequent magnum opus, Hawaii, which was to be published two years later before itself being made into two different feature films in 1966 and 1970.
The best story in this bunch? Hard to say, because they are all good, even the last chapter and the sketch of Edgar Leetag, the so-called "father of American velvet painting," God curse him.
May 11, 2020
I stumbled on an old paperback version of this book and it intrigued me enough to pick it up. I've always loved a pirate story so I thought why not have a read. I loved the stories!
I find it fascinating reading works from different time periods and seeing how the language was used in days gone by. If you want a modern read, this is not for you. I live the proper use of the English language so I enjoyed the style of writing.
The ten tales told are interesting, shocking, thrilling and fascinating all in their own ways. While the Pacific Islands and the life of a pirate is highly romanticised these days, the stories remind the reader how tough life was a couple of hundred years ago. It was a tough, brutal life for those who took it on. But that was the price of adventure. I'm not sure too many from today's world would take the chances the personalities took in those days! Times are different.
I knew very little of these stories despite growing up in Australia and New Zealand. You tend to hear more of the Carribbean but I think the Pacific has equally colourful characters and dramatic tales.
Give this a read if you like history and a pirate story. I'm very glad I took the chance and read this!
I find it fascinating reading works from different time periods and seeing how the language was used in days gone by. If you want a modern read, this is not for you. I live the proper use of the English language so I enjoyed the style of writing.
The ten tales told are interesting, shocking, thrilling and fascinating all in their own ways. While the Pacific Islands and the life of a pirate is highly romanticised these days, the stories remind the reader how tough life was a couple of hundred years ago. It was a tough, brutal life for those who took it on. But that was the price of adventure. I'm not sure too many from today's world would take the chances the personalities took in those days! Times are different.
I knew very little of these stories despite growing up in Australia and New Zealand. You tend to hear more of the Carribbean but I think the Pacific has equally colourful characters and dramatic tales.
Give this a read if you like history and a pirate story. I'm very glad I took the chance and read this!
October 19, 2018
This book is a series of short biographies of infamous folk in the South Seas. If you've ever wanted to live on a tropical island and drink from coconuts brought to you by scantily clad young ladies, you probably should read this before buying your ticket. in a way, you admire these rogues, but rogues they are. Here is obscure history presented with in a lively manner. Would all history books be this intertaining.
July 21, 2021
Recounts ten true tales swashbuckling, bizarre, and frightening of interlopers who cruised through the South Pacific and often paid a price for it. An interesting mix of characters are covered from a wide time range, though the exoticizing of the people native to the area was sometimes frustrating.
December 6, 2019
It only took me a little over 3 years and 2 months to finally get through this. The information was good, the delivery leaves a bit to be desired. Probably not my best decision to have this as the first foray into Michener's work.
December 31, 2017
Some of the stories were better than others, but the collection was good overall.
August 25, 2018
Working one's way chronologically through Michener's works, the only safe bet among his early writing is his nonfiction. The prose is always merely serviceable: it gets the job done and doesn't get in the way (the fiction up to now, aside from his partial success with _Sayonara_ is unspeakably awful). This volume about Europeans and Americans behaving badly in the South Pacific islands is, unsurprisingly, spot on. I've seen some reviews of this book that complain about how bad the text is compared to his later successes (e.g. _Hawaii_, _Centennial_ and so on), but to me this is a relatively interesting read along the lines of similar contemporaneous reportage anthologies byan author like Frank Edwards (_Strange World_ or _Flying Saucers--Serious Business_). The prose serves its purpose, and the content is very interesting stories with a subtext of European colonial tendencies. The only bad thing I can really point to is the outdated (even, surely, by 1950s standards) focus on differential treatment of people by race. Michener and Day ALWAYS mention a person's race: "White men in the tropics are always enchanted by the allures of brown women" (not a direct quote, but it could be). That sort of discourse, today at any rate, is embarrassing: why is it always necessary to refer to people's skin color? Why do Michener and Day say that Bully Hayes wasn't so bad because it can't be proven that he killed any "white" people, and he only "accidentally" killed "brown" people whom he was shipping into lives of slavery? Shouldn't we simply say that a) slavery was always wrong; and b) murder is murder whether the victim is white or brown?
April 1, 2021
I picked up this book thinking it was an early Michener, before he began writing giant tomes with sketchy plots supported by research done by a squadron of research underlings. I was wrong. "Rascals in Paradise" is written by Michener in partnership with A. Grove Day, a professor at the University of Hawaii.
It's too much academic research and not enough creative writer. The "rascals" never come to life beyond the recitation of their deeds and misdeeds. I got half-way through the first tale, about the sociopath who led the infamous Globe mutiny, and found I simply was not interested in finding out the gloomy and bloody details. I left the book in a State Park free library bookcase, where it at least can leaven the extensive collection of Danielle Steele romances.
It's too much academic research and not enough creative writer. The "rascals" never come to life beyond the recitation of their deeds and misdeeds. I got half-way through the first tale, about the sociopath who led the infamous Globe mutiny, and found I simply was not interested in finding out the gloomy and bloody details. I left the book in a State Park free library bookcase, where it at least can leaven the extensive collection of Danielle Steele romances.
January 5, 2023
This is a re-read from my childhood. It was written in 1957 (!) and in parts, it shows. The love of the authors for the Pacific, its history, exploration, cultures, flora and fauna really comes across. I had remembered the larger-than-life figures and adventurers of the chapters; what made it less enjoyable this time is the terrible misogyny and dated casual racism. Against the current background of climate change, reading about the environmental depradations is often difficult to bear. However, I still feel that it gives an entertaining overview of the Pacific Islands and their history - albeit focused on the period of European "discovery".
January 30, 2021
I like the Pacific Ocean, the southern portion in particular. I like reading about interesting people, which many "rascals" are. Jame Michener is an excellent author. How could this not be good?
As so often happens when reading things that seem unbelievable, I had to keep reminding myself I was not reading fiction. These individuals lived their lives as described. And that brings me to another reason I enjoyed the book. Appreciation for the research required to produce it.
As so often happens when reading things that seem unbelievable, I had to keep reminding myself I was not reading fiction. These individuals lived their lives as described. And that brings me to another reason I enjoyed the book. Appreciation for the research required to produce it.
Want to read
September 5, 2022Die Geschichte der Eroberung der Südsee durch den Weißen Mann anhand von Beispielen.
Eigentlich ist das ganze schon interessant. Aber die Faktenhuberei ermüdet mich nach einer Weile und das obwohl es um Piraten und andere Drecksäcke geht.
Ich lese einfach lieber Belletristik als Sachbüchern.
Erst mal beiseite gelegt...
Eigentlich ist das ganze schon interessant. Aber die Faktenhuberei ermüdet mich nach einer Weile und das obwohl es um Piraten und andere Drecksäcke geht.
Ich lese einfach lieber Belletristik als Sachbüchern.
Erst mal beiseite gelegt...
September 3, 2021
Took me a while to get through this one. I love Michener's epics and his ability to combine fact and fiction, but this read sort of like an encyclopedia - all factual. While interesting, each chapter could be its own book and so I was I left unsatisfied with each story.
June 22, 2018
Better than I expected. It is not really a novel. It's anthology of Pirates each chapter telling the story of another person who lived. Very entertaining read.
November 4, 2019
So sad.
February 21, 2021
Chock full of historical facts and fascinating personages of real adventurers.
April 12, 2023
This title might be difficult to locate but is well worth seeking out. You will want to read on about these interesting and REAL LIFE characters.
July 27, 2023
Amazing true stories. Not all written by Michener. Interesting but difficult read.
August 17, 2023
Fun read. One of his first.
March 2, 2019
Well done
Interesting and obviously well researched. Michener can always be trusted to give us the real goods. He enhances our knowledge of history and geography.
Interesting and obviously well researched. Michener can always be trusted to give us the real goods. He enhances our knowledge of history and geography.
August 8, 2012
Rascals in Paradise contains about seven short biographies of South Sea adventurers. Each sketch is packed with history, geography and little known facts about the Pacific Islands. Each person written about is an exceedingly interesting character who led fascinating lives upon the waves. Almost none of them had I heard of before, Captain Bliegh, of Bounty fame, being the one exception. I learned about William Edgar Leeteg, the inventor of black velvet painting as we know it. Walter Murray Gibson was an adventurer of the highest order, all over the map, jailed, excommunicated by the Mormons, attempted to establish an oceanic empire. Bully Hayes, the biggest buccaneer and professional deadbeat of his era. Louis Becke, Australian writer of island literature whose book of short stories about island traders and their native wives I am reading now. Each chapter is just splendid. This seems to be an overlooked book by Michener but it is definitely worth a read and can be found very cheaply in many used book stores.
October 6, 2014
Much of Michener's work is among my favorite reading. He has always been famous for his historical fiction and I thought that that was what I was about to read when I filtered back to this early work of his. This book, however, written shortly after his publishing of his "Tales of the South Pacific" is not fiction. It is a historical account of the plunderers and explorers of the Pacific basin from the East Indies to Alaska to Cape Horn. For all of his wonderful work, Michener is not known for his sense of humor or romantic intersts and this book adds nothing to those qualities. If you require a history book regarding the personal tales of the individuals highlighted in this book, so be it, but do not start this adventure if you are desiring entertainment.
July 14, 2008
A marvelous read that not only offers a wonderful overview of the South Pacific through the lives of 10 disparate individuals, but also instills in you the desire to see some of those islands for yourself, which is really the best you can say for a book written about places.
June 21, 2013
A book about shady characters and their adventures in the south pacific.
April 14, 2022
Well done. Interesting look at the violence of the age of exploration, but hard to read because of the vivid descriptions of the violence.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews