Castaways of the Flying Dutchman
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| Castaways of the Flying Dutchman | |
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| Author | Brian Jacques |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Castaways series |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Puffin Books |
| Publication date | 2001 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 336 |
| ISBN | ISBN |
| Followed by | The Angel's Command |
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman is the first novel in the Castaways series by Brian Jacques, published in 2001. It is based on the legend of the cursed ship The Flying Dutchman. A young boy, Nebuchadnezzar (later Neb (shortened) and Ben (reversed)), and his dog, Denmark (named after the country in which he was found and later Den (shortened) and Ned (reversed)), are the lone survivors of the Flying Dutchman, fated to wander the earth forever immortal and youthful, helping those who need aid.
The sequel is entitled The Angel's Command, and was published in 2003.
Another "Castaways" book, "Voyage of Slaves", was published in September 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Main Characters
Neb/Ben, Den/Ned, Captain Vanderdecken, Angel, Luis the Shepherd, Mr. Smithers, Mrs. Winn, Amy, Alex, Wilf, Jon, Will, Will's Family
[edit] Minor Characters
Mr. Braithwithe, Regina Woodworthy, Maud Bowe, Tommo, Horatio, Scraggs, Jamil, Sindh, Vogel, Cap'n Winn, Hetty, Mrs. Smithers, Archie, Mr. Mackay, Dai Evans, Blodwen Evans, Petros, The Chinese Gem Dealer, Bjournsen, Bjournsen's Three Sons
[edit] Plot summary
The story starts by vaguely introducing thirteen-year-old Neb, who at the beginning has no name, no parents, and is a mute. He is apparently running away from his life as an abused orphan, and accidentally slips on the "Flying Dutchman" as a stowaway. He is found, and made to work with the cook, an antagonistic character who abuses Neb. One day, while the crew is off drinking in the port town of Esbjerg, a dog wanders onto the ship and is befriended by Nebuchadnezzar, (the name the cook, Petros, gave him). He names the dog Denmark, after the country he found the dog in. They strike up an immediate friendship. Den hides under sacks until it is safe to come out. The cruel, wild, and fearsome Captain Vanderdecken steers his ship toward a long trip to get emeralds from a dealer across the ocean, supposedly in Asia. The ship sails to South America, to Cape Horn, where the evil Captain Vanderdecken fails three times to pass. After the third attempt, Captain Vanderdecken curses the Lord for smiting him, and an angel descends from heaven and curses the ship to sail the seas for eternity.
The Angel, however, realizes Nebuchadnezzar and Denmark are not part of the motley, now undead crew, and throws them overboard. He blesses them, telling them to walk the earth forever, wise and forever young, to give kindness and guidance wherever they went. They later wash up on shore and find that they are able to communicate by thought. They are found and taken in by a kind-hearted shepherd who grows fond of them, but does not press the issue of how they got there. After spending many years with the shepherd, the shepherd dies in a storm, trying to save a ewe. The angel appears in a dream telling them that they must move on at the sound of a bell, which they hear as one of the sheep walks past (the sheep is wearing the bell). Neb and Den, young but ageless, must leave.
After leaving the sheepherder, they have changed their names again. Both names have been reversed; Neb is now Ben and Den is Ned. It is apparent that they have lived with each other for many centuries. This day, they get on a train without knowing where they are going, and end up getting off at the village of Chapelvale. They meet a lady named Mrs. Winn and a boy and a girl named Alex and Amy. The children warn them about the Grange Gang. The gang leader, Wilf, takes an immediate disliking to Ben.
Together Ben, Ned, Amy, Alex, and Mrs. Winn go on a treasure hunt to save the town, which is about to be converted into a limestone quarry and cement factory. They team up with an old ship's carpenter named Jon (who is at first believed to be a mad scientist), a milkman named Will, and Will's family. They follow a series of clues written by Mrs. Winn's ancestor, who was believed to have been given the deeds to the town. One clue leads to a treasure (which is a Byzantine artifact) and another clue and continues that way until three treasures and clues have been found. The last clue, of course, is the hardest and is the last thing that may show them the location of the deeds to Chapelvale.
The deeds to the village are found and Mrs. Winn is able to claim Chapelvale as her property so that it can be saved. However, the angel appears in a dream once again and Ben and Ned must leave Chapelvale, and their friends, at the sound of a bell. Jon finds a bell in the Almshouse and becomes excited about the discovery. He and Will decide to try the bell out. Ben and Ned run as fast as they can to escape the sound, as the angel has told them that they must once again leave at the sound of a bell, but it is too loud, and they must leave.
This leaves a great open ending for "The Angel's Command", followed by "Voyage of Slaves".
[edit] Translations
- Les Naufragés du Hollandais Volant, tome 1 (French)
- Die Gestrandeten (German)
- Skipbrudne fra Den flygende hollender (Norwegian)
