Francesca de Tores' Cast Away: Selkirk Survival Tale
SkimNews Take
By focusing on the historical figure behind the myth, the novel likely explores the psychological toll and practicalities of isolation that the more romanticized "Robinson Crusoe" narrative often overlooks.
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- Francesca de Tores published Cast Away, a historical novel about Alexander Selkirk, the real‑life inspiration for Robinson Crusoe.
- Alexander Selkirk opens the novel by quoting Frank O’Hara’s poem “Mayakovsky,” framing his castaway experience as a personal catastrophe.
- Francesca de Tores previously authored Saltblood, which won the 2024 Wilbur Smith adventure writing prize for its portrayal of gender‑queer pirate Mary Read.
- Cast Away concentrates on Selkirk’s solitary survival on a remote island 400 miles off Chile, detailing activities such as goat hunting, moonshine brewing, and self‑sufficiency.
Why it matters: Readers of historical maritime fiction gain a richly researched, character‑driven novel that revives Selkirk’s story, while the publisher adds a new title to its catalog, expanding its literary offerings.
