Great well-researched tale of two shipwrecks on the same island at roughly the same time, with neither party aware of the others. One sticks together with camaraderie and leadership, one falls apart. Guess who survived better? Druett keeps the narrative going with no dry boring spots, expertly drawing out the personalities of the survivors based on their journals and other material published at the time. Great descriptions of the island and the ocean conditions, she also provides information in the book to explain the flora and fauna they encountered and what it's like today. The descriptions of what Raynal was able to accomplish, starting with practically nothing, are amazing.
If you like survival stories you should read this.

Share/Like this Review?