Madman's Island
| Author | Ion Idriess |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | novel |
| Publisher | Cornstalk Publishing |
Publication date | 1927 |
Madman's Island is a 1927 novel by Ion Idriess set in northern Australia. It was Idriess' first novel and was semi-autobiographical, although he invented the love interest at the insistence of the publisher.[1]
Plot
Jack Burnett decides to go prospecting on an uninhabited island in the Barrier Reef with a friend. The friend goes mad and tries to kill Jack. Jack discovers some opium stashed away by Japanese smugglers. Jack is rescued and sells the opium to a Chinese merchant in Cooktown. In Cairns, Jack runs into the Japanese smugglers, but manages to escape with the help of a woman who he has fallen in love with. [2]
Background
The book was based on a true incident that happened to Idriess. In 1923 he was marooned on Howick Island in Queensland with a friend he had gone prospecting with. The friend had a war injury which sent him mad and he tried to kill Idriess.[3]
Idriess kept a diary of his time on the island and used it as the basis for the book. He sold it to a publisher in 1925.[4][5][1]
Idriess fictionalised the story, including a sub plot about opium smuggling.
Reception
The book was not received particularly well.[6][7]
1938 Edition
Idriess rewrote the book after he had achieved acclaim with his other writings. It was republished in 1938 and was a large success, selling 70,000 copies.[1][8][9][10][11]
References
- 1 2 3 Interview with Ion Idriess", ABC
- ↑ "NEW FICTION.". The Sydney Morning Herald (27,898) (New South Wales, Australia). 4 June 1927. p. 10. Retrieved 16 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Marooned". The Telegraph (15,675) (Queensland, Australia). 23 February 1923. p. 6. Retrieved 16 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "MADMAN'S ISLAND". Daily Examiner 17, (2549) (New South Wales, Australia). 4 September 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 16 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Marooned on Madman's Island". Sunday Mail (445) (Queensland, Australia). 30 October 1938. p. 1 (MAGAZINE SECTION). Retrieved 16 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "NEW FICTION.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 4 June 1927. p. 10. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ↑ "MADMANS ISLAND.". The Cairns Post (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 20 June 1927. p. 9. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ↑ "Author of Twenty-two Books And Still Going Strong". The Sydney Morning Herald (33,223) (New South Wales, Australia). 17 June 1944. p. 7. Retrieved 28 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "MADMAN'S ISLAND.". Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878–1951) (SA: National Library of Australia). 16 September 1938. p. 1. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ↑ "BOOK of the WEEK.". The Chronicle (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 29 September 1938. p. 55. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ↑ "AN AUSTRALIAN STORY.". Geraldton Guardian and Express (WA: National Library of Australia). 4 October 1938. p. 1. Retrieved 18 August 2013.