Charles Warren Stoddard
Charles Warren Stoddard was an American author and editor renowned for his evocative travel writings that captured the essence of Polynesian life. Born in New York, he developed a passion for literature and travel early on, which led him to explore the South Seas extensively. His experiences in these exotic locales inspired his most notable works, including 'South Sea Idyls' and 'The Island of the Blue Dolphins,' where he vividly depicted the landscapes, cultures, and peoples of the islands he visited. Stoddard's prose is characterized by its lyrical quality and deep appreciation for the natural beauty and cultural richness of Polynesia. Stoddard's literary significance lies not only in his travel narratives but also in his role as a pioneer in American literature, bringing the allure of the Pacific Islands to a broader audience. His writings contributed to the growing interest in travel literature during the late 19th century and provided a unique perspective on the intersection of Western and indigenous cultures. Stoddard's legacy endures through his influence on subsequent travel writers and his contributions to the genre, marking him as a notable figure in American literary history.
Famous Quotes
View all 2 quotes“A grown person in Tahiti has an eating hour allotted to him twice a day, at 10 A.M. and 5 P.M.”
“The exquisite nautilus floated past us, with its gauzy sail set, looking like a thin slice out of a soap-bubble; the strange anemone laid its pale, sensitive petals on the lips of the wave and panted in ecstasy; the "Petrel" rocked softly, swinging her idle canvas in the sun; we heard the click of the anchor-chain in the forecastle, the blessedest sea-sound I wot of; a sailor sang while he hung in the ratlines and tarred down the salt-stained shrouds. The afternoon waned; the man at the wheel struck two bells,—it was the delectable dog-watch. Down went the swarthy sun into his tent of clouds; the waves were of amber; the fervid sky was flushed; it looked as though something splendid were about to happen up there, and that it could hardly keep the secret much longer. Then came the purplest twilight; and then the sky blossomed all over with the biggest, ripest, goldenest stars,—such stars as hang like fruits in sun-fed orchards; such stars as lay a track of fire in the sea; such stars as rise and set over mountains and beyond low green capes, like young moons, every one of them; and I conjured up my spells of savage enchantment, my blessed islands, my reefs baptized with silver spray; I saw the broad fan-leaves of the banana droop in the motionless air, and through the tropical night the palms aspired heavenward, while I lay dreaming my sea-dream in the cradle of the deep.”
Books from the author
