The Isle of Pines

Abstract

"The Isle of Pines" by Henry Neville, published in 1668, is an early utopian narrative that blends themes of sexual freedom, societal decay, and political commentary. It tells the story of George Pine and four women who are shipwrecked on a bountiful island. Pine fathers children with each woman, and over generations, distinct tribes form, leading to tensions and civil war. Though the island seems like a paradise, the story questions the morality of idleness and presents a society devolving into chaos, needing rescue by Dutch explorers.