Blown to Bits; or, The Lonely Man of Rakata: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Blown to Bits; or, The Lonely Man of Rakata: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Blown to Bits; or, The Lonely Man of Rakata is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael) (1825–1894).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Blown to Bits; or, The Lonely Man of Rakata" by R. M. Ballantyne is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds in the Malay Archipelago, primarily around the time of the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, and focuses on the adventures of the main character, Nigel Roy, a young and somewhat inexperienced sailor. Set against the backdrop of maritime exploration, the narrative delves into themes of nature, adventure, and the discovery of unique cultures. At the start of the tale, we meet Nigel and his father, Captain Roy, aboard their brig, the "Sunshine", as they sail through the dark waters of the Indian Ocean. The father-son duo engages in light-hearted banter, revealing their contrasting perspectives on life at sea. Shortly after, a violent storm hits, leading to the ship needing repairs and ultimately guiding them to the Cocos-Keeling Islands. Here, the vibrant natural beauty of the islands captures Nigel's imagination while he interacts with the local inhabitants, including a charming orphan girl named Kathy. The opening chapters set up Nigel's character development and introduce the enchanting yet perilous world of the Malay Archipelago, foreshadowing the significant events related to Krakatoa that will shape their unfolding adventure.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Blown to Bits; or, The Lonely Man of Rakata
- Author credits: Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael) (1825–1894)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Adventure and adventurers -- Juvenile fiction
- Canoes and canoeing -- Juvenile fiction
- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
- Friendship -- Juvenile fiction
- Hermits -- Juvenile fiction
- Hunting -- Juvenile fiction
- Islands -- Juvenile fiction
- Krakatoa (Indonesia) -- Juvenile fiction
- Malay Archipelago -- Juvenile fiction
- Murder -- Juvenile fiction
- Natural history -- Juvenile fiction
- Pirates -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Adventure
- Category: Historical Novels
- Category: Novels
- Children's Fiction
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


