Rídan the Devil, and Other Stories: 1899: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Rídan the Devil, and Other Stories: 1899: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Rídan the Devil, and Other Stories: 1899 is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Becke, Louis (1855–1913).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Rídan the Devil, and Other Stories" by Louis Becke is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. The opening story introduces Rídan, a mysterious and feared character living on a German plantation in Upolu Island, who is regarded as a devil or wizard by his peers. The tales likely explore themes of colonialism, conflict, and the struggles of indigenous populations, particularly in relation to Rídan’s tragic experiences and the oppressive conditions he faces. At the start of the collection, readers meet Rídan, a man bound in iron and living in isolation due to the animosity and fear he evokes in his fellow workers on the plantation. After a violent altercation with the overseer, Burton, Rídan is sent back to the plantation, despite attempts to escape his harsh captivity. The narrative underscores the brutality of colonial rule as it follows Rídan's attempts to regain his freedom and the kindness of a man named Pulu, who shows compassion towards him even under dire circumstances. Rídan's heartbreaking story invites readers to grapple with issues of identity, cultural dislocation, and resilience in the face of systemic oppression.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Rídan the Devil, and Other Stories: 1899
- Author credits: Becke, Louis (1855–1913)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Adventure stories, Australian
- Pacific Area -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
- Sea stories
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Short Stories
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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.


