Concerning "Bully" Hayes From "The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton and Other Stories" - 1902 By: Louis Becke (1855-1913)
Louis Becke's collection of stories, "The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton and Other Stories" from 1902, offers readers a captivating insight into the enigmatic character of "Bully" Hayes. This notorious figure, known for his seafaring exploits and dubious moral compass, takes center stage in one of the book's most compelling tales. Becke's meticulous attention to detail presents readers with a vivid portrayal of the Pacific Islands during the 19th century. Through his prose, he masterfully transports us to a time when the allure of adventure and untamed landscapes beckoned many young souls. The mystique surrounding Hayes, a captivating anti-hero whose charm and ruthlessness are equally balanced, adds an extra layer of fascination to the narrative. "Bully" Hayes' complex and contradictory nature is meticulously explored in each twist and turn of the plot. Becke paints a multifaceted picture of a man driven by his insatiable hunger for power and wealth, while navigating the treacherous waters of love and loyalty. Hayes may be a bully, a pirate, and a manipulator, but he also possesses a magnetic charisma that draws both admiration and contempt from those who cross his path. While the author masterfully delves into the depths of Hayes' character, the story also serves as a fascinating exploration of the intricate dynamics between colonizers and indigenous peoples. Becke doesn't shy away from depicting the harsh realities of imperialism, skillfully addressing themes of cultural clashes, exploitation, and displacement. This nuanced portrayal adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative, capturing the unsettling realities of the era. Moreover, Becke's stylistic choices exhibit a deep understanding of the maritime world. The author's firsthand experiences as a sailor imbue the tale with a sense of authenticity, effectively transporting readers aboard the ships, feeling the ocean breeze and facing the perils lurking both beneath and beyond the surface. The only minor drawback lies in the brevity of the tales within the collection. While each story is engrossing in its own right, readers may yearn for a deeper exploration of the characters and their journeys, including that of "Bully" Hayes. Nevertheless, this is a testament to Becke's ability to capture readers' imaginations and elicit a thirst for more of his intricate storytelling. In "The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton and Other Stories," Louis Becke cements his status as a masterful storyteller. Skillfully intertwining history, adventure, and the captivating allure of an infamous character, Becke invites readers on a voyage through time and the tumultuous Pacific Islands. Whether exploring the depths of Hayes' psyche or dissecting the complexities of colonialism, this collection is a literary treasure that offers an unforgettable glimpse into the fabric of a fascinating era. First Page: CONCERNING "BULLY" HAYES From "The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton and Other Stories" By Louis Becke T. FISHER UNWIN, 1902 LONDON I "BULLY" HAYES! Oh, halcyon days of the sixties and seventies, when the Pacific was not, as now, patrolled by men of war from lonely Pylstaart, in the Friendlies, to the low lying far away Marshalls and the coral lagoons of the north west; when the Queensland schooners ran full "nigger" cargoes to Bundaberg, Maryborough, and Port Mackay; when the Government agents, drunk nine days out of ten, did as much recruiting as the recruiters themselves, and drew even as they may draw to day thumping bonuses from the planters sub rosa! In those days the nigger catching fleet from the Hawaiian Islands cruised right away south to palm clad Arorai, in the Line Islands, and ran the Queensland ships close in the business. They came down from Honolulu in ballast trim, save for the liquor and firearms, and went back full of a sweating mass of black haired, copper coloured Line Islanders, driven below at dark to take their chance of being smothered if it came on to blow. Better for them had it so happened, as befel the Tahiti a few years ago when four hundred of these poor people went to the bottom on their way to slavery in San José de Guatemala. Merry times, indeed, had those who ran the labour vessels then in the trade, when Queensland rivalled the Hawaiian Islands in the exciting business of "black birding," and when Captain William Henry Hayes, of Cleveland, Ohio, U... Continue reading book >>

Concerning "Bully" Hayes From "The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton and Other Stories" - 1902 By: Louis Becke (1855-1913)

Louis Becke's collection of stories, "The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton and Other Stories" from 1902, offers readers a captivating insight into the enigmatic character of "Bully" Hayes. This notorious figure, known for his seafaring exploits and dubious moral compass, takes center stage in one of the book's most compelling tales.

Becke's meticulous attention to detail presents readers with a vivid portrayal of the Pacific Islands during the 19th century. Through his prose, he masterfully transports us to a time when the allure of adventure and untamed landscapes beckoned many young souls. The mystique surrounding Hayes, a captivating anti-hero whose charm and ruthlessness are equally balanced, adds an extra layer of fascination to the narrative.

"Bully" Hayes' complex and contradictory nature is meticulously explored in each twist and turn of the plot. Becke paints a multifaceted picture of a man driven by his insatiable hunger for power and wealth, while navigating the treacherous waters of love and loyalty. Hayes may be a bully, a pirate, and a manipulator, but he also possesses a magnetic charisma that draws both admiration and contempt from those who cross his path.

While the author masterfully delves into the depths of Hayes' character, the story also serves as a fascinating exploration of the intricate dynamics between colonizers and indigenous peoples. Becke doesn't shy away from depicting the harsh realities of imperialism, skillfully addressing themes of cultural clashes, exploitation, and displacement. This nuanced portrayal adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative, capturing the unsettling realities of the era.

Moreover, Becke's stylistic choices exhibit a deep understanding of the maritime world. The author's firsthand experiences as a sailor imbue the tale with a sense of authenticity, effectively transporting readers aboard the ships, feeling the ocean breeze and facing the perils lurking both beneath and beyond the surface.

The only minor drawback lies in the brevity of the tales within the collection. While each story is engrossing in its own right, readers may yearn for a deeper exploration of the characters and their journeys, including that of "Bully" Hayes. Nevertheless, this is a testament to Becke's ability to capture readers' imaginations and elicit a thirst for more of his intricate storytelling.

In "The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton and Other Stories," Louis Becke cements his status as a masterful storyteller. Skillfully intertwining history, adventure, and the captivating allure of an infamous character, Becke invites readers on a voyage through time and the tumultuous Pacific Islands. Whether exploring the depths of Hayes' psyche or dissecting the complexities of colonialism, this collection is a literary treasure that offers an unforgettable glimpse into the fabric of a fascinating era.

First Page:

CONCERNING "BULLY" HAYES

From "The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton and Other Stories"

By Louis Becke

T. FISHER UNWIN, 1902

LONDON

"BULLY" HAYES! Oh, halcyon days of the sixties and seventies, when the Pacific was not, as now, patrolled by men of war from lonely Pylstaart, in the Friendlies, to the low lying far away Marshalls and the coral lagoons of the north west; when the Queensland schooners ran full "nigger" cargoes to Bundaberg, Maryborough, and Port Mackay; when the Government agents, drunk nine days out of ten, did as much recruiting as the recruiters themselves, and drew even as they may draw to day thumping bonuses from the planters sub rosa! In those days the nigger catching fleet from the Hawaiian Islands cruised right away south to palm clad Arorai, in the Line Islands, and ran the Queensland ships close in the business. They came down from Honolulu in ballast trim, save for the liquor and firearms, and went back full of a sweating mass of black haired, copper coloured Line Islanders, driven below at dark to take their chance of being smothered if it came on to blow. Better for them had it so happened, as befel the Tahiti a few years ago when four hundred of these poor people went to the bottom on their way to slavery in San José de Guatemala.

Merry times, indeed, had those who ran the labour vessels then in the trade, when Queensland rivalled the Hawaiian Islands in the exciting business of "black birding," and when Captain William Henry Hayes, of Cleveland, Ohio, U... Continue reading book >>

Genres for this book
Adventure
Fiction
Literature
Sea stories

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