
A vivid travelogue opens with two friends recalling a Parisian conversation that sparked their longing for the South Pacific. Their recollections drift from the bustling boulevics of the French capital to the promise of untouched lagoons, where strange marine life glitters beneath crystal waters. The authors set the stage with a gentle, reflective tone, emphasizing the allure of simple, untouched cultures and the breathtaking beauty of islands that feel almost mythic.
From the first landing, the narrative invites listeners into a world where European sensibilities meet Polynesian rhythm. The writers blend personal anecdotes with thoughtful observations of the islands’ unique customs, geography, and the quiet charm of daily life. Their aim is not scientific precision but a heartfelt attempt to capture the atmosphere of places that remain largely unknown to most travelers. This opening promises an intimate, leisurely exploration of the South Seas, inviting you to share in the wonder of each sunrise and the subtle mysteries of the islands’ hidden corners.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (555K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Sharon Joiner, Melissa McDaniel, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2018-01-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1887–1951
Best known for the seafaring novels that became The Bounty Trilogy, this Iowa-born writer also lived an unusually adventurous life, serving with Allied forces in World War I before settling in Tahiti.
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1830–1901
A globe-trotting journalist and storyteller, he wrote vivid books about travel, life at sea, and the American West. His work mixed firsthand observation with an easy, readable style that helped bring distant places and big social questions to a broad audience.
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