THE ISLE OF VOICES

The Isle of Voices or a bad dream.
Keola is married with Lehua, daughter of Kalamake (a sorcerer) .
This short novel is set in some Pacific Ocean ’s island.
The bad dream starts with the first spell of Kalamake: leaves become shining dollars, so Keola plans to stop working and share Kalamake’s riches.
The sorcerer disagrees and with the second spell abandons Keola in the ocean. Keola is rescued by a ship and left in an island called the Isle of Voices.
In the Isle of Voices, invisible devils ‘day and night you heard them talking with one another in strange tongues.’ (p.670) ‘All tongues of the earth were spoken there … whatever land knew sorcery, there were some of its people whispering in Keola’s ear.’ (p.673)
Eventually Keola is rescued again, this time by his wife.
Sorcery or bad dream?


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The second volume of this publications contains Stevenson's later works. He is now an established and noted writer and his confidence has grown. The best known story in this volume is Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, which is now eponymous with pop understanding of split personality, but I doubt if the story, which is a little clunky, is very widely read. The stories are varied and well written, but I still find I have minor quibbles over structure, and puzzle over the lack of a consistent voice. It is almost as if Stevenson has developed his writing skills, but finds that he has little to say. On the other hand, his later "island" works include The Beach at Falesa which powerfully expresses his contempt for the impact of traders and missionaries on traditional life in the islands. Read October 2013. ( )

THE ISLE OF VOICES

The Isle of Voices or a bad dream.
Keola is married with Lehua, daughter of Kalamake (a sorcerer) .
This short novel is set in some Pacific Ocean ’s island.
The bad dream starts with the first spell of Kalamake: leaves become shining dollars, so Keola plans to stop working and share Kalamake’s riches.
The sorcerer disagrees and with the second spell abandons Keola in the ocean. Keola is rescued by a ship and left in an island called the Isle of Voices.
In the Isle of Voices, invisible devils ‘day and night you heard them talking with one another in strange tongues.’ (p.670) ‘All tongues of the earth were spoken there … whatever land knew sorcery, there were some of its people whispering in Keola’s ear.’ (p.673)
Eventually Keola is rescued again, this time by his wife.
Sorcery or bad dream? ( )