Robert Paltock (1697–1767)

[The Life and Adventures of Peter Wilkins] by Robert Paltock
An early adventure story novel published in 1751 that now claims a place in the proto science fiction genre. The subtitle says “containing an account of his visit to the Flying Islanders taken from his own mouth in his passage to England, from off Cape Horn in America in the ship Hector”
The novel was originally published in two volumes and was something of a success being reprinted several times. It is a well written account which in the majority of its first volume owes much to Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe published thirty years earlier: but then in the latter part of the novel Youwarkee the flying woman literally drops from the sky and Paltock’s novel moves into fantasy land and in my opinion moves up a gear to present a story that makes this well worth reading.

Peter Wilkins voyages take him to the Southern seas and shipwrecks and Pirates result in him being sold into slavery in South America. He becomes heavily reliant on his fellow prisoner Glanlipze (Portuguese) and the two of them escape and flee to where Glanlipze has made his home and married a local woman. Peter is impressed by the love both physical and affectionate that is shared by the two of them and this becomes a theme throughout the book along with Peter’s deep devotion to God which fires him with an almost missionary zeal in the second volume. Peters adventures continue and after hi-jacking a fully stocked ocean going ship he becomes the only survivor of another encounter with pirates, this time he drifts into the waters close to Antartica. Shipwrecked again with his ship magnetised to a rocky archway on an unexplored island, he eventually finds a way onto the island via an underground sea-way and finds an almost idyllic lake and forest where he makes his home. Here he re-enacts the story of Robinson Crusoe, using salvaged tools and materials to build a home for himself. Like Crusoe his is a voyage of discovery as he painstakingly learns about his new home and figures out how to survive through hard work and ingenuity and his faith in God. When he gets depressed he turns to his religion and says:

“These thoughts brought me to my knees, and I poured out my soul to God, in a strain of humiliation, resignation to his will and earnest petitions for deliverance or support in this distress.”

Like Crusoe having spent a number of years on the Island he receives a visitation, but not from pirates, but in the form of the beautiful Youwarkee a naked flying primitive woman who tumbles from the sky with damaged wings. Peter nurses Youwarkee and as soon as they are able they make love and enjoy a relationship similar to his friend Glanlipze. Paltock’s description of their first night together is handled with charm and some eroticism. They go on to have a number of children together and it is Youwarkee’s developing self belief that enables her to broach the question of returning home when she is able to fly again. Peter is loath to lose his partner and is in fear of losing everything whenever she goes on flying missions back to the wrecked ship. Paltock describes well this almost idyllic life on the island and he makes Youwarkee’s graundee (the wing like material with its intricate webbing) come to life. Towards the end of the first volume Youwarkee fly’s back to her homeland, where her father is king of the realm, leaving Peter fretting about her return, she takes the three children who have been born with fully functioning graundees. The second volume describes Youwarkee’s return and Peter’s eventual departure (transported: roped to a chair) to met the king. He finds a primitive community of people living in cave like systems and who are at war with neighbouring countries. Peter is accepted by the king and agrees to lead his army if they will convert to Christianity, the people currently worship images of God and it is Peter’s mission to destroy the images. The second volume does not have the same tensions as the first, as Peter’s leadership is always going to be successful and he uncovers a plot to kill the king with ease. The primitive culture holds few surprises and Peter’s rapid elevation to the king’s right hand man failed to hold my interest. Their is some light satire made of Peter’s clothing and manners among the primitives and of their religious beliefs which tend towards catholicism, but their is little subtlety and it is all a bit ham fisted.

As a fantasy adventure story this works well, and considering it’s date of publication it can be admired as one of the first novels to combine adventure, fantasy and a more realistic depiction of a different culture. Peter does become a bit insufferable as the story unwinds, but there is always Youwarkee to dream about. Predates Edgar Rice Burroughs stories by about 150 years and stands up well. 3.5 stars.… (altro)