On a Wild Island

The action of the story takes place in Brazil. Four children, due to circumstances, are left unattended by their parents. Left in the care of lazy servants, they are practically on their own – and decide to make a small sea voyage on an old boat. A broken oar and a strong current take their toll – after spending a night at sea, the children find themselves on an uninhabited island.

There are no servants here, and there is no help coming. The kids are forced to fight for survival with their own strength. Harsh conditions teach each of the four "Robinsons" a lot...

English writer Elizabeth Thomasina Mead-Smith (1854–1914) is primarily known as an author of novels for girls and women. But she also worked in other genres: her pen belongs to historical, detective, and adventure novels and stories; these works are practically unknown in Russia.

The story "On a Wild Island" was published in 1892. This edition reproduces illustrations by the English artist William Raine, made