- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Raincoast Books (July 1 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 155192417X
- ISBN-13: 978-1551924175
- Product Dimensions: 22.2 x 14.4 x 2.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 581 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #682,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
Subtitled An Illustrated Novel, Barbara Hodgson's Hippolyte's Island is a literate adventure/love story brimming with beautiful reproductions of ancient maps and old brass instruments, photos of penguins, and illustrations of whales and kelp. The artifacts all relate to the sea journey of a modern-day traveler from Vancouver, Hippolyte Webb, who seeks to prove the existence of the Aurora Islands in the distant South Atlantic, which have inexplicably disappeared from modern maps. Once the eccentric and likable Webb returns from his rediscovery, he must then navigate the equally dangerous shoals of the New York publishing world and the disbelief of his editor, Marie Simplon at Rumor Press, who has promised to publish his book on the journey.
Hippolyte's Island is Hippolyte's book--for long stretches, he is alone on a rented sailboat scanning the horizon for the mysterious Auroras. As he notes in his journal: "Three specks sighted by observant, brave, intrepid, gullible, lying, hallucinating, vainglorious, reckless, spiteful eighteenth-century explorers. About to be rediscovered by an updated version endowed with pretty much the same characteristics." Though at times too factual (and burdened by a slow start), this book can also be a gripping read. Engagingly humorous and occasionally terrifying, it may cause you never to set foot on a boat again, let alone swim in the deeps of the sea. --Mark Frutkin
From Publishers Weekly
Hodgson's cleverly illustrated novel takes the reader on a fabulous journey, not only to the Aurora Islands, a mysterious trio of land formations that obsess the eccentric and delightful Hippolyte Webb, but also on a touching pilgrimage of faith. Webb, an oddball of a young man who collects ancient maps, is a born adventurer. In him, Hodgson (The Sensualist) has crafted the ultimate explorer, one who favors the tools and primitive science of the 18th and 19th centuries over the advances and conveniences of our modern-day world and craves to experience places unknown to mankind. For this particular journey, Webb comes up with the brilliant plan to turn the story of what he is sure will be an amazing discovery into a book. The Auroras, which appeared in the South Atlantic on ancient maps, have disappeared from the contemporary record. Hodgson not only takes us into Webb's mind as he plans and sets out on his fantastic voyage, but also lavishly illustrates her tale with drawings, calculations, photographs and research. The enchanting Webb is vividly realized, as are the wonders of his solo journey to the Southern Hemisphere. The real fun begins when Webb's footloose existence clashes with the precise, ordered world of Marie Simplon, his New York editor. Did the trip really take place, or was it all a sham? In her quest to discover the truth about Webb's journey, Marie is forced to examine the boundaries of her own life as well as her attraction to this wildly unconventional man. Hodgson, using her talents as both writer and artist, once again displays her gift for bringing charmingly idiosyncratic characters to life. (Sept.)Forecast: For the price, this is an elaborately designed book, and should attract browsers who favor the sepia tones of ancient maps and documents.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
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First Sentence
HEAVY STEPS CRISSCROSSED OVERHEAD. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
HEAVY STEPS CRISSCROSSED OVERHEAD. Read the first page
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Concordance
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Beautifully Made Book,
By David C Polk (Ottawa Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Hippolyte's Island (Hardcover)
This is a beautifully made book. The quality of the construction, the maps and the illustrations, make it a treat to read. The story, of a man who re-discovers some islands (the Auroras) between The Falkland Is and the South Georgia Is is secondary. The first part, about the ideas of going there, and the second, the voyage, are not really all that compelling, but the third and fourth, dealing with the attempt by Hippolyte to prove the truth of his story, and Marie's disbelief, are more like a real novel. If you get a chance to buy this, do so. And savour it!
5.0 out of 5 stars
A breath of fresh air,
By Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader (So Cal) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Hippolyte's Island (Hardcover)
Illustrating a novel with foldout maps, collages of flora and photos of penguins might seem like a gimmick, but in the case of "Hippolyte's Island" they add to the delight of the book. Hippolyte Webb is a travel writer, and a sometime explorer and naturalist, a man who seeks adventure and manages to do it without having a telephone. He's at home in his leaking Vancouver apartment (he labels all the water stains as if they were exotic lands) wondering what to do next. He reads about the Auroras, a trio of islands near the Falklands which some people say exist and others say do not. He'll go find out! And he does.Little does Hippolyte know that journeying into the south Atlantic looking for elusive islands after too few sailing lessons will only be the beginning of the adventure. He has a buyer for the story of his travels, which means that he must work with his publisher. Not having a phone, fax, or computer, he arrives, disheveled, jolly, and accompanied by strangely shaped and smelling bags and crates, to take up residence in the conference room at Rumor Press. Lighthearted, intelligent, and fun, "Hippolyte's Island" raises questions about what is real and what isn't, and why should we care? Barbara Hodgson's writing is bright and delectable, and this novel is a winner all around. The graphic element is informative as well as fun, and adds to the overall charm of the story. Lovers of literary fiction should treat themselves to this one.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Now you see it; now you don't,
By
This review is from: Hippolyte's Island (Hardcover)
I'm a "slow" reader who likes to take her time savoring the use of language and ideas, so I figured this book would take me a while to finish. I was surprised when I finished it in two days!This novel with intriguing graphics caught my attention. The graphics are outstanding, and the collage of handwritten notes on sailing and wildlife with photos, watercolors, and drawings gives more information than a verbal description and adds depth and interest to an already interesting book. The fictional travel adventure is appealing and traveling to a mysterious place that may or may not exist sparked my curiousity. Once I started reading, I wanted to keep reading because the personality of the main character, Hippolyte Webb, was quirky and he was a man of many extreme talents as well as someone with ideosyncrasies and annoying habits. The main thing that bothered me was his sailing solo for days across the ocean with no previous experience as a sailor other than a basic learn-to-sail course. This was pretty unbelievable, although I found humor in it. Of course, a disappearing island is also unbelievable, but that was a given when I decided to read the book and part of what appealed to me in the first place.
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