In Southern Seas: A ‘Boys’ Own’ Unpublished Manuscript Adventure Story written in Felbrigg, north Norfolk

A 474 page complete ‘Boys’ Own’ type adventure story begun by Miss Valence Carter of St Margaret’s, West Runton, Norfolk between April 8th 1923 and January 21st 1924. The entire story, titled ‘In Southern Seas’ is handwritten in a neat juvenile cursive, hand bound using black thread and has pasteboard covers and a tipped-in presentation note as a gift to her brother ‘Christopher M Carter’. High in action and imperialist tropes the adventure begins onboard an American passenger steamer struggling in heavy seas in the Pacific Ocean and tells the tale of a family, ship wrecked and facing the perils of pirates and cannibals.

The Bodleian Library has an example in similar style and length titled ‘The Lost Kingdom’, set in Spanish colonial era Peru completed in 1922 written by Miss Valence’s brother, C. M. Carter. Similarly written in a child’s hand and bound using black thread and pasteboard covers this story was also written at The Den, St. Margaret’s in West Runton.

PHYSICAL CONDITION: In original quarter cloth green binding featuring a cut out of a hand drawn palm tree above a decorative title to the upper board. Text block hand stitched with black thread. Binding entirely sound. Endpapers very fresh. Original manuscript is in very good condition, age toned, written and numbered to both verso and recto in black ink throughout. c. 40,000 words. Tipped in to front is a smaller leaf which reads ‘Christopher M Carter from his loving sister Valence. St Margaret’s West Runton Norfolk Xmas [1922]. The final leaf reads ‘The End. Finished Jan 21st 1924’.