Hudson Bay
Mar 2020 · Otbebookpublishing
Ebook
250
Pages
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Eligible
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About this ebook
Excerpt: "Reader,—I take for granted that you are tolerably well acquainted with the different modes of life and travelling peculiar to European nations. I also presume that you know something of the inhabitants of the East; and, it may be, a good deal of the Americans in general. But I suspect—at least I would fain hope—that you have only a vague and indefinite knowledge of life in those wild, uncivilised regions of the northern continent of America that surround the shores of Hudson Bay. I would fain hope this, I say, that I may have the satisfaction of giving you information on the subject, and of showing you that there is a body of civilised men who move, and breathe (pretty cool air, by the way!), and spend their lives in a quarter of the globe as totally different, in most respects, from the part you inhabit, as a beaver, roaming among the ponds and marshes of his native home, is from that sagacious animal when converted into a fashionable hat. About the middle of May eighteen hundred and forty-one, I was thrown into a state of ecstatic joy by the arrival of a letter appointing me to the enviable situation of apprentice clerk in the service of the Honourable Hudson Bay Company. To describe the immense extent to which I expanded, both mentally and bodily, upon the receipt of this letter, is impossible; it is sufficient to know that from that moment I fancied myself a complete man of business, and treated my old companions with the condescending suavity of one who knows that he is talking to his inferiors."
About the author
R. M. Ballantyne, born Robert Michael Ballantyne on April 24, 1825, in Edinburgh, Scotland, was a prolific 19th-century author whose adventure novels captivated young readers and left an indelible mark on the genre. The son of a printer, Ballantyne was thrust into the world of literature from an early age. His adventurous spirit was kindled by his own experiences working for the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada, where he spent five formative years amidst the rugged wilderness.Ballantyne's firsthand encounters with the untamed landscapes and diverse cultures of North America infused his writing with authenticity and excitement. His vivid descriptions and dynamic storytelling set a new standard for adventure literature, inspiring future giants like Robert Louis Stevenson and Arthur Ransome. His works often featured young protagonists who embodied courage, resourcefulness, and moral integrity, themes that resonated deeply with Victorian values and continue to appeal to modern sensibilities.Controversy occasionally shadowed Ballantyne's career, particularly regarding his portrayal of indigenous peoples and colonial settings. While his depictions reflected the prevailing attitudes of his time, they have since sparked critical discussions on representation and cultural sensitivity.Beyond his literary contributions, Ballantyne was a pioneer in advocating for realistic and educational children's literature. He believed that young readers deserved stories that were both entertaining and instructive, a revolutionary idea that helped shape the future of juvenile fiction.R. M. Ballantyne passed away on February 8, 1894, but his legacy endures, his tales of adventure continuing to ignite the imaginations of readers around the world.
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