Swiss Family Robinson edition

I was able to borrow a couple copies of Swiss Family Robinson from our library.  I thought I would share the first section of each book.

Penguin Classics – this is not the same Penguin Classics edition that shows up first in the search on Amazon, as you can compare by “Looking Inside.”  This book is over 400 pages and includes the original author preface. 

“Already the tempest had continued six terrible days, and far from subsiding on the seventh, its fury seemed to increase.  We had wandered so materially from the right track, and were so forcibly driven toward the south-east, that not a creature on board knew where we were.  The ship’s company were exhausted by constant labour and watching, and the courage which had hitherto sustained them now began to fail.  The masts had been shivered to pieces and cast into the sea: several leaks appeared, and the ship began to fill.  The sailors forbore from swearing and were now employed in prayers, or in making the absurdest vows as the condition of their release from danger.  Each recommended his soul to God, but at the same moment thought of contriving the best means for preserving his life.”

This next selection was published by Children’s Classics, is printed in a larger font and is just over 250 pages.

“For six days the storm had raged wildly, and our situation became more dangerous every hour.  Driven out of our course, we no longer knew our position, and the ship had lost her masts and was leaking.”

–As you can see, this is a largely edited and sanitized version of the former, with hardly a mention of God in the story, from what I could see at first glance.  

Hope that’s helpful.

Kim