Island of the Lost Audiobook By Joan Druett cover art

Island of the Lost

Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World

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Island of the Lost

By: Joan Druett
Narrated by: David Colacci
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Auckland Island is a godforsaken place in the middle of the Southern Ocean, 285 miles south of New Zealand. With year-round freezing rain and howling winds, it is one of the most forbidding places in the world. To be shipwrecked there means almost certain death.

In 1864, Captain Thomas Musgrave and his crew of four aboard the schooner Grafton wreck on the southern end of the island. Utterly alone in a dense coastal forest, plagued by stinging blowflies and relentless rain, Captain Musgrave inspires his men to take action. With barely more than their bare hands, they build a cabin and, remarkably, a forge where they manufacture their tools.

Incredibly, at the same time on the opposite end of the island, the Invercauld wrecks during a horrible storm. Nineteen men stagger ashore. Unlike Captain Musgrave, the captain of the Invercauld falls apart given the same dismal circumstances. His men fight and split up; some die of starvation, others turn to cannibalism. Only three survive. Musgrave and all of his men not only endure for nearly two years, but they also plan their own astonishing escape, setting off on one of the most courageous sea voyages in history.

©2007 Joan Druett (P)2016 Tantor 19th Century Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Australia, New Zealand & Oceania Modern Oceania World Scary

Critic reviews

"The amount of detail Druett has amassed is truly impressive, resulting in an invaluable account of survival." ( Booklist)
Fascinating Survival Story • Incredible Human Perseverance • Clear Narration • Detailed Historical Account • Pleasant Voice
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This book reminds me of The Miracle in The Andes. If you liked that book then this one is for you. The narrator is well spoken. This story follows the journal entries of survivors that are shipwrecked on the Auckland Islands. A harsh enviroment yet it provides them with everything. By hunting, foraging, and stripping the bare bones of thier shipwreck they make improvements to thier hut and to thier overall survival over the course of 19 months waiting for rescue. They survive mostly on Seal cubs, roots, birds, fish but during intense storms they are unable to much of anything. Working on tools that will keep them alive and starting a school among them, they learn from each other. Team work is the only way to escape. The strong Captain Musgrave and the brilliant Rienard, after losing so much strength and body weight, still push forward to go get rescue for thier two friends that they leave behind. Musgrave becomes obsessed with setting sail back to his place of misery just to prevent any other shipwreck survivors from dying the same terrible fate that could have been his own. This book is compiled of journal entries and news paper articles. It will make you weep for all men who were lost at sea.

What an amazing true story

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I actually purchased this only cause it was very cheat and I didn't want to waste a credit on this one. I glad I decided on that cause I didn't like it too much. I was okay but it was one of those books that I forced myself to finish. I was good but I was glad when it was over.

It was good

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I bought this book during a 2-for-1 sale, though I would highly recommend the book as a purchase with either credits or cash. The storyline itself is based on a real life situation, which I found to be appealing when choosing the book. The author mixes in historical and ecological facts along with the story, which I also found very interesting, and helpful in creating a mental image of the situation. The characters are strong and the author manages to do a great job of explaining their personalities. I did have a small bit of difficulty keeping track of the characters' names when switching between different scenes (just a personal mental block, not author error), but eventually chose to stop worrying about that because it wasn't enough of an issue to distract from the story overall. I would say more but don't want to give away the crux of the storyline. The book was so good that I am inspired to dig up some information online about the situations written about. Good read, a unique story done right.

Great Story

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The Humanity in this book is completely stark. A non-fiction survival, adventure and thriller that had me at the edge of my seat. Should be a New York best Times seller.

Realistic Robinson Crusoe

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I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and it left me with more understanding about how the connection of care for each other or lack thereof, combined with a higher purpose, determined life or death. Even if you do not listen to be “left with anything”, the story is great and paced well with a solid narrator that knew how to express the content.

captivating story of survival, well delivered

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Enjoyed this set of Auckland Island shipwreck tales immensely. It is a study in contrasts between two groups, one which pulled together to survive, and the other which disintegrated into a kind of madness. I was most intrigued by the sailor Raynal of the former, whose ingenuity extended to building a forge to create hardware needed for the building of a boat to make their escape, to the design of the boat itself, to the creation of a tannery and manufacture of shoes from the leather he tanned, to the making of sorely needed soap. The author works from his narrative as well as that of Captain Musgrave. The narrator has a pleasant voice. Highly recommended.

Clever Raynal; engrossing tales

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While taking a 400 level English course on Edgar Allen Poe as an elective, I learned I seriously dislike Poe. I like a few of his stories, but not even 1/8th of his canon.

We read 'The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket' (Poe's only novel). His novel also involves shipwrecks, 'abandoned' islands, dangerous animals, cannibalism, and whatnot. I nearly died from boredom.

This book is based on real events 26 years later, and I am riveted. I haven't stopped for the last 5 hours- carrying my phone and bluetooth speaker from room to room, refusing calls, ignoring texts, cleaning with my mind nowhere near my home.

What Poe's novel should have been!!

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Nice history.

Enjoyed the juxtaposition of the two shipwrecks and how they dealt with being stranded on this small Island.

Good short history.

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Show the difference between when people work together and they don't.
The courage man has when faced with survival.

Very fascinating story.

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A captivating story of courage in the face of severe trials contrasted with debasing fear.

The narrator did an excellent job. It was an enjoyable listen all around.

Engrossing

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