A Voyage round the World: A book for boys

In Short

This classic nineteenth-century maritime narrative follows young Harry Frankland as he departs his comfortable home to sail the globe aboard a British merchant ship. Spanning the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the high seas between, the journey carries Harry and his companions through isolated coral islets, South American ports, the Peruvian guano trade, California's gold-rush hub, and the restricted waters of feudal Japan. Along the way, they endure pirate attacks, surviving shipwrecks, and hostile encounters with local populations. The book has endured because it pairs relentless, episodic survival adventure with detailed observations of natural history, geography, and industrial practices, framed through the steadfast camaraderie of its youthful leads.

The Story

The story opens at an old grey English manor-house, where Harry Frankland, the third son in a large and loving family, takes leave of his parents and siblings to pursue his dream of going to sea. Joining the ship Triton, Harry quickly adapt to life on the water alongside his spirited young friend Jerry and his steady relative, Cousin Silas Brand. Their initial leg takes them across the Atlantic, making a scientific landing at the remote, guano-covered rocks of Saint Paul's Island before proceeding south to the South American mainland.

Touching down in Brazil, the travelers inspect local sugar plantations and learn the intricacies of processing mandioca root into tapioca. Pushing further south toward the treacherous currents of Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands, their resourcefulness is continually tested. In one perilous sequence, Harry and Jerry find themselves trapped on a high rock by aggressive wild bulls; an attempt to scare the beasts off with a flaming torch inadvertently sets the surrounding tussac grass ablaze, forcing a desperate night escape. Later, when their boat drifts off a dark coast, Cousin Silas bravely plunges into the freezing ocean with their faithful dog, Surley, to swim for shore and fetch help for the stranded crew.

Reaching the Pacific, the crew makes landfall at Valparaiso, Chile. There, they absorb local history—including tales of Lord Cochrane's naval exploits—and venture inland to hunt guanacos while dodging native pumas. The voyage then heads north along the South American coast to the Chincha Islands off Peru, where Harry observes the intense, industrial extraction of guano carried out by convicts and masked laborers.

Disaster strikes repeatedly as the vessel pushes across the Pacific. During a sudden storm, Jerry is tossed off a yard-arm into the ocean, prompting Harry and dog Surley to dive in after him; the trio manages to cling to a released life-buoy until rescued. After taking in the bustling, chaotic sights of San Francisco during the Gold Rush, their journey takes a darker turn in the South Pacific. Pirates board their vessel, taking Harry, Jerry, and their companions captive. They endure a harrowing chase as their captors fire on a pursuing corvette before the boys manage to escape onto an uninhabited coral atoll.

On the island, the castaways study the native wildlife—such as frigate birds—and construct a massive double canoe. Navigating through dangerous archipelagos, they suffer another shipwreck, defend a makeshift fort against hostile islanders, and rescue a Japanese traveler named Hatchie Katsie. Bound for his homeland, they visit the port of Hakodadi in Yesso, observing Japan's busy harbours and stone architecture. Having rounded the globe and survived countless perils, Harry finally returns home to his family manor in time for Christmas, forever changed by the broad horizons and hard-won lessons of his global circuit.

How It Unfolds

Leaving the manor behind Harry bids farewell to his parents and siblings at their ancient English estate, boarding a post-chaise to begin his nautical life. Onboard the ship, he settles into maritime routines while listening to the old boatswain Fleming argue against modern innovations like steam engines.

Surveys on barren rocks The crew anchors near Saint Paul's Island in the Atlantic, where the naturalists study nesting seabirds and aggressive crabs. Harry and Jerry observe the strange environment while learning the value of respecting wildlife from Cousin Silas.

Plantations and wild fires In South America, the boys examine the local processing of mandioca root before venturing into the Falkland wilderness. Trapped on a rock by wild bulls, Jerry throws a torch to drive them off, accidentally setting the surrounding fields ablaze.

Plunging into the dark sea When their boat drifts helplessly in cold coastal waters, Cousin Silas leaps into the ocean late at night to swim for shore and raise the rescue signal. The dog Surley dives in after him to aid in the long swim.

The Chilean mountains and Peru Reaching Valparaiso, the party explores the steep mountain ranges, hunts local game, and hears first-hand accounts of historical sea battles. They continue north to the Chincha Islands, witnessing the heavy labor of harvesting guano deposits.

Overboard in the ocean swell A sudden pitch of the ship throws Jerry from the upper rigging into the heavy seas. Harry jumps overboard to support his friend, and together with Surley, they cling to a floating life-buoy in the dark until help arrives.

Gold rush ports and pirate capture After observing the crowded harbor of San Francisco, the ship encounters heavily armed sea bandits in the Pacific. The boys are captured by the pirate leader Silva and held aboard his schooner during an intense high-seas chase.

Stranded on the coral atoll Escaping their captors, the survivors establish a camp on an uninhabited coral island, observing frigate birds and gathering food. They repair a thirty-foot double canoe to launch themselves back onto the open ocean.

Defending the fort and heading home After surviving another wreck on a dangerous reef, the crew builds a fortified hill position to hold off hostile islanders. They pick up a stranded Japanese traveler, visit the port of Hakodadi, and ultimately complete their journey, returning safely to England for the holidays.

The People

• Harry Frankland

A spirited, open-minded third son who leaves his comfortable home to satisfy a deep desire for sea travel. Facing shipwrecks, pirate captures, and wild animal attacks, he grows from an inexperienced boy into a capable, reflective sailor who returns home with a deep appreciation for world cultures and divine providence.

• Jerry

Harry’s energetic and impulsive companion aboard ship, always quick to jump into action or crack a joke. His recklessness sometimes brings trouble—such as accidentally setting a field on fire or falling from the yard-arm—but his bravery and loyalty make him an indispensable ally throughout their trials.

• Cousin Silas Brand

The steady, principled adult figure of the expedition who acts as a mentor to the young boys. Driven by duty and a strict moral code, he protects the youth from unnecessary danger, restrains them from harming harmless wildlife, and unhesitatingly risks his life by swimming through freezing waters to fetch help for his stranded crew.

• Old Fleming

The ship’s veteran boatswain, a staunch conservative who mistrusts new-fangled technologies like steam engines and railways. Though set in his ways, his deep seamanship and dramatic sea stories provide essential guidance and entertainment to the young crew.

• Surley

The faithful, brave ship dog who accompanies the boys on shore trips and voyages. He consistently proves his worth by helping pull Jerry from the ocean waves and guarding the group against wild animals.

In Its Own Voice

"The loudly grumbler at anything new introduced on board was old Fleming the boatswain. He called himself a Conservative, or, rather, a Tory, and strongly opposed all change."

The old sailor defends traditional ways on the forecastle, arguing that modern inventions like steam-engines do more harm than good to people who ought to stay home.

"To glide down by a back-stay and to jump overboard after him was the work of a moment. I scarcely knew what I was doing."

Harry describes his instant impulse to dive into the heavy ocean swell when he sees Jerry fall headlong from the high yard-arm.

"Our midnight watches have not been unprofitable. Often and often in the calm night we have gazed upward at the starlit sky and thought upon God."

Looking back on his journey from the quiet of his English home, Harry reflects on the spiritual clarity gained during long, solitary hours at sea.

What It's Really About

Beneath its rapid succession of maritime perils and exotic landfalls, the novel is an educational defense of Victorian enterprise, scientific curiosity, and moral fortitude. It contrasts the steady, law-abiding discipline of the British crew with the lawlessness of Pacific pirates and the uncultivated state of remote lands.

The narrative constantly emphasizes the value of observation. Practical geography, botany, and regional industry—from the mechanics of a mandioca press to the ecological origin of guano deposits—are treated with as much gravity as a violent storm. Kingston presents the wider world not merely as a backdrop for danger, but as a vast, structured creation meant to be understood, respected, and responsibly navigated by principled young men.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers interested in classic sea literature will find here an authentic period slice of mid-nineteenth-century maritime fiction. It moves at a brisk pace, offering a detailed look at the mechanics of age-of-sail navigation, historical ports like pre-fire San Francisco, and early encounters with remote island ecosystems. The dynamic between the youthful protagonists and their older mentors gives the story an enduring, warm camaraderie.

Readers should be prepared, however, for the overt period attitudes of its era. The narrative reflects typical nineteenth-century British imperialism, paternalistic views toward indigenous populations, and casual religious moralizing. Yet for those willing to engage with it in historical context, the book remains a lively, comprehensive voyage around a rapidly changing globe.