The story of a Swiss family that is shipwrecked on an island in the East Indies. Soon, the family must construct shelter, obtain food, and begin forging a way of life in their new home. Written by Swiss pastor Johann David Wyss, the novel was intended to teach his sons about moral values, good husbandry, and self-reliance in the natural world.First published in 1812, the story has undergone many translations, revisions, and additions in the English language. This edition is derived from the best-known version translated and edited by William H.G. Kingston and published in 1879. This book contains over 100 black and white original illustrations.