BY
CAPTAIN MARRYAT
THIS IS FAIRY GOLD, BOY; AND 'T WILL PROVE SO.
SHAKESPEARE
There is a reference, in The Life and Letters of Captain Marryat byhis daughter Florence Marryat, to "The Little Savage, only twochapters of the second volume of which were written by himself."
This sentence may be variously interpreted, but most probably impliesthat Marryat wrote all Part I (of the first edition) and two chaptersof Part II, that is—as far as the end of Chapter xxiv. The remainingpages may be the work of his son Frank S. Marryat, who edited thefirst edition, supplying a brief preface to Part II:—
"I cannot publish this last work of my late father without someprefatory remarks, as, in justice to the public, as well as to himself,I should state, that his lamented decease prevented his concluding thesecond volume."
"The present volume has been for some time at press, but thelong-protracted illness of the author delayed its publication."
The Little Savage opens well. The picture of a lad, who was born on adesert island—though of English parents—and really deserves to becalled a savage, growing up with no other companionship than that ofhis father's murderer, is boldly conceived and executed with somepower. The man Jackson is a thoroughly human ruffian, who naturallydetests the boy he has so terribly injured, and bullies him brutally.Under this treatment Frank's animal passions are inevitably aroused,and when the lightning had struck his tyrant blind, he turns upon himwith a quiet savagery that is narrated with admirable detachment.
This original situation arrests the reader's attention and secures hisinterest in Frank Henniker's development towards civilisation andvirtue. His experience of absolute solitude after Jackson's deathserves to bring out his sympathies with animals and flowers; while, onthe arrival of Mrs Reichardt, he proves himself a loyal comrade underkind treatment.
It is much to be regretted that Marryat did not live to finish his work.
R. B. J.
The Little Savage originally appeared in 1848-49. Marryat, who wasborn in 1792, died at Langham, Norfolk, August 9, 1848.
The following is the list of his published works:—
Suggestions for the Abolition of the Present System of Impressment inthe Naval Service, 1822; The Naval Officer, or Scenes and Adventures inthe Life of Frank Mildmay, 1829; The King's Own, 1830; Newton Forster(from the Metropolitan Magazine), 1832; Jacob Faithful (from theMetropolitan Magazine), 1834; Peter Simple, 1834; The Pacha of ManyTales, 1835; Midshipman Easy (from the Metropolitan Magazine), 1836;Japhet in Search of a Father (from the Metropolitan Magazine), 1836;The Pirate and The Three Cutters, 1836; A Code of Signals for the Useof Vessels employed in the Merchant Service, 1837; Snarleyyow, or TheDog Fiend, 1837; A Diary in America, with Remarks on its Institutions,1839; The Phantom Ship, 1839; Poor Jack, 1840; Olla Podrida (articlesfrom the Metropolitan Magazine), 1840; Joseph Rushbrook, or ThePoacher, 1841; Masterman Ready, or The Wreck of the Pacific, 1841;Percival Keene, 1842; Narrative of the Travels and Adventures ofMonsieur Violet in California, Sonora, and Western Texas, 1843; TheSettlers in Canada, 1844; The Mission, or Scenes in Africa, 1845; ThePrivateer's Man, 1846; The Children of the New Forest, 1847; The LittleSavage (posthumous), 1848-49; Valerie (posthumous), 1849; Life andLetters, Florence Marryat, 1872.
THE LITTLE SAVAGE