Review of Shipwrecked But Not Lost

Shipwrecked is a tale that glistens with the icy pinnacles and cool morning dew of lands rarely heard of or visited. Starting in the small Russian t

own of Archangel, we meet dear old Ozaroff, his son Alexis, and his nephew Ivan. Shortly into the story, Ozaroff finds himself raising both headstrong boys on his own. Despite Ozaroff’s wise efforts to train his boys to become merchants like himself, Alexis and Ivan develop a love for the sea. A journey to St. Petersburg for studies at the Naval College only encourages their interest in going to sea. By the time we get to chapter seven, our young friends have left all they’ve ever known in search of a northeast passage.

That is where the story really begins. As the ship travels northeast above Asia, the young men become acquainted with the ship’s pilot, a wise old sailor. He and the two cousins become the only characters left in our story when a violent storm first traps the Juno in ice and then, presumably, buries her beneath the icy waves. Thus the pilot, Alexis, and Ivan are left alone on the island of Spitzbergen well within the Arctic Circle and far away from any help that might come except from the hand of God. 

The rest of the story, their grand discoveries, brave endurance, patient faith, and miraculous rescue are told in the remainder of this pretty little book. The young men do eventually return to Archangel and honor the wisdom of their father and uncle, Ozaroff. 

I suppose you can tell, but I really did enjoy this book. The geographical area (a very new one for me) seemed to grow and deepen in color and beauty as I read the story. I honestly did not see any glaring problems in it, so I can only say that I sincerely hope that you will enjoy it as well.

P.S. I have been informed that, since this story is largely a narrative, readers who prefer more dialog will, perhaps, not like it so well. I cordially enjoin such readers to use their imaginations well and be Shipwrecked but not lost.

Title: Shipwrecked But Not Lost

Author: Hon. Mrs. Dundas

Setting: Archangel (Arkhangelsk) & Spitzbergen (Spitsbergen), Russia

Main Character: Alexis

Original Book Printed: NA

This Printing: 2004

Pub: Lamplighter Pub.

Series: Rare Collector’s Series

ISBN: 1-58474-041-8

Chapters: 46

Pages: 167

Pages/Chapter: ~ 4

Additional Stories: None

Photo from store.lamplighter.net