Synopses & Reviews
BEVIS. Contents include: - CHAPTER PAOIE MAP OF THE NEW SEA AND THE BEVIS COUNTRY . xviii 1 . BEVIS AT WORK . . . . . . . I I1 . THB LAUNCH . . . . . . . 8 III. THEMISSISSIPPI . . . . . . . 14 IV . DISCOVERY O F THE NEW SEA . . . . . 23 V . BY THE NEW NILE . . 32 XIV . THE COUNCIL O F WAR . . . . . . 110 XV . THE WAR BEGINS . . 120 XVI . THE BATTLE OF PHARSALIA . 130 XVII . THE BATTLEC ONTINUED-SCIPIOCS HARGE . . 139 XVIII . THE BATTLEC ONTINUED-MARKA NTONY . . 148 XIX . BEVIS IN THE STORM . . . . . . I53 XX . MARK IS PUT IN PRISON . . . . 159 XXI . IN DISGRACE-VISIT TO JACKS . . . . 166 XXII . SAILING . . . . . . . . . 17 4 XXIII . SAIL NGCO NTINUED- THERE SHE LAY. ALL THE DAY . . . . . 182 XXIV . SAILING CONTINUED . VOYAGE TO THE UNKNOWN ISLAND . . . . . . . . 192 XXV . SAILING CONTINUED-THE PINTA-NEW FORMOSA . 201 XXVI . MAKING A GUN-TIZE CAVE . 209 XXVII . BUILDING T HE HUT . . . . . 218 XXVIII . PROVISIONIN T C H E CAVE . . . . 225 XXIX . MORE CARGOES-ALL READY . . 232 XXX . NEW FORMO . SA . 238 XXXI . NEW FORMOSA-FIRST-DAY . 850 1X 248 X BEVIS CHAPTER PAGE XXXII. NEW FORMOSA-MORNING IN THE TROPICS . . 257 XXXIII. NEW FORMOSA-PLANNING T HE RAPT . . . 265 XXXIV. NEW FORMOSA-KANGAROOS . . . . . 273 XXXV. NEW FORMOSA-BEVISS ZODIAC . . . . 281 XXXVI. NEW FORMOSA-THE RAFT . . . . . 290 XXXVII. NEW FORMOSA-NO HOPE OR RETCRNING . . 299 XXXVIII. NEW FORMOSA-SOMETHING H AS BEEN TO THE HUT . 306 XXXIX. NEW FORMOSA-THE STORY OF THE OTHER SIDE . 313 XL. NEW FORMOSA-THE MATCHLOCK . . . . 320 XLI. NEW FORMOSA-SWEET RIVER FALLS . . . 328 XLII. NEW FORMOSA-THMEA INLAND . . . . 335 XLIII. NEW FORMOSA-SOMETHINGC OMESA GAIN . . XLIV. NEW FORMOSA-THE TIGER FROM THE REEDS . . XLV. NEW FORMOSA-THEFORTIFICAT . I ON . . . XLVI. NEW FORMOSA-THE TRAIL . . . . . XLVII. NEW FORMOSA-VOYAGE IN THE CALYPSO . . XLVIII. NEW FORMOSA-THE CAPTIVE . . . . . XLIX. NEW FORMOSA-THE BLACK SAIL . . . . L. SHOOTING WITH DOUBLE-BARRELS . . . . LI. AMERICANS NAP-SHOOTING . . . . . LII. THE ANTARCTICE XPEDITION-CONCLUSION . . APPENDIX THE BALLAD OF KING ESTMERE . . . . 424 THE SECRET OF THE SEA 438. INTRODUCTION: - T r bso ok seems to me to be unique in literature. It cannot be classified, it is so unlike anything else. It is not a novel there is no plot, no mental conflict, no developmentapart from Beviss own development in self-reliance and restraint during the few weeks which the story covers. It is not strictly an autobiography, for though Bevis is undoubtedly the author, the story is limited in time and idealised in fact and outlook. It is not even a series of delightful stories of childhood united with consummate skiU to form a book-such as Kenneth Grahames Dream Days, and The Golden Age. But, for all that, it is fine literature, the work of a man of genius. Perhaps one might call it a prose Epic-the epic of boyhood. Looking at it in this way, one begins to feel that its greatness lies in this that it deals in masterly fashion with the things in life and experience that are unchanging though ever new. The supreme verse epics sweep us along on waves of glorious poetry that have come swinging down the centuries, on to a wonderful plane that altogether transcends experience. But where, to-day, are the gods of Homers Olympus What mind can accept the Hell of Dante Or who can consider Miltons idea of Creation without a smile The great epics remain unmatched in power and majestg but creeds have died, and mens outlook has changed beyond all recalling since even the latest of the epics was composed...
Synopsis
This volume presents Richard Jeffries' 1882 novel, "Bevis". It is comprised of three interlinked stories. The first of these witnesses Bevis and his friend discover and explore the 'New Sea' and its surroundings. The following story sees two gangs of boys re-enact the Battle of Pharsalia with Bevis and Caesar. The final part of the text concerns itself with the various adventures that Bevis and Mark have when they sail to a little island in the middle of a lake - that they name ''New Formosa''. These heart-warming stories are evocative of a well-spent childhood, and are full of exuberance, ingenuity, imagination and inventiveness. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive, and it is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now, in an affordable, high-quality, modern edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned biography of the author.