Pelletier - The Forgotten Castaway Of Cape York - Stephanie Anderson

This book recounts the incredible true story of Narcisse Pelletier, a 14-year-old French cabin boy who was abandoned on the shores of Cape York, Australia, in 1858 after his ship’s crew left him for dead. Rescued and adopted by an Aboriginal clan, the Uutaalnganu people, Pelletier lived with them for 17 years, fully assimilating into their culture, learning their language, and surviving in the harsh wilderness.

When he was eventually "discovered" by a passing ship and forcibly returned to European society, Pelletier struggled to readjust. Treated as a curiosity, he faced exploitation and misunderstanding, with his extraordinary story largely fading into obscurity.

Stephanie Anderson reconstructs Pelletier’s life using historical records, Indigenous oral histories, and anthropological research, shedding light on early cross-cultural encounters between Europeans and Aboriginal Australians. The book explores themes of identity, survival, colonialism, and the often-overlooked narratives of castaways who lived between two worlds.

Pelletier: The Forgotten Castaway of Cape York is a fascinating blend of history, biography, and anthropology, offering a poignant look at a man who lived an extraordinary life yet was forgotten by history.

Softcover

Illustrated

Printed - 2009

Pages -370

ISBN - 9781877096679

Overall condition -very good used book

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