ON THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF – The Complete Ballantyne Action Series (Annotated)

Enriched Edition. Sea adventures, western classics, treasure hunts, war tales, and exploration storiesBy R. M. Ballantyne

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Length590h 53m

About this audiobook

On the Edge of the Cliff – The Complete Ballantyne Action Series gathers the kind of peril-driven narratives for which R. M. Ballantyne became a defining Victorian writer of adventure. Its episodes place youthful courage, physical danger, moral testing, and providential escape at the centre of the action, moving with brisk, pictorial prose from suspenseful crises to lessons in discipline and character. In literary context, the collection belongs to the nineteenth-century tradition of imperial and juvenile adventure fiction, where entertainment, instruction, and Christian-inflected ethics are closely intertwined. Ballantyne's authority as a storyteller was shaped by an unusually active early life. Born in Edinburgh in 1825, he worked for the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada before turning to literature, and his firsthand encounters with travel, wilderness, and practical hardship informed his fiction's realism. Though best remembered for The Coral Island, he wrote prolifically for young readers, combining documentary detail with dramatic incident. This volume is recommended for readers interested in classic adventure literature, Victorian moral imagination, and the origins of modern youth action fiction. It offers excitement, historical texture, and insight into how nineteenth-century narratives taught courage through danger. This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience. - A comprehensive Introduction outlines these selected works' unifying features, themes, or stylistic evolutions. - A Historical Context section situates the works in their broader era—social currents, cultural trends, and key events that underpin their creation. - A concise Synopsis (Selection) offers an accessible overview of the included texts, helping readers navigate plotlines and main ideas without revealing critical twists. - A unified Analysis examines recurring motifs and stylistic hallmarks across the collection, tying the stories together while spotlighting the different work's strengths. - Reflection questions inspire deeper contemplation of the author's overarching message, inviting readers to draw connections among different texts and relate them to modern contexts. - Lastly, our hand‐picked Memorable Quotes distill pivotal lines and turning points, serving as touchstones for the collection's central themes.

Adventure Survival Exploration Coming of Age Nature & Wilderness Journey Hero War & Battle Crime

Audiobook details

GenreChildren's Literature

Length590 hrs 53 mins

Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices

FormateBook with Audio

Publish dateNov 22, 2019

LanguageEnglish

1ON THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF – The Complete Ballantyne Action Series (Annotated)

151Rivers of Ice (pt. 5)

2Introduction

152Under the Waves (pt. 1)

3Historical Context

153Under the Waves (pt. 2)

4Synopsis (Selection)

154Under the Waves (pt. 3)

5Novels

155Under the Waves (pt. 4)

Show all chapters

6The Coral Island (pt. 1)

156Under the Waves (pt. 5)

7The Coral Island (pt. 2)

157The Settler and the Savage (pt. 1)

8The Coral Island (pt. 3)

158The Settler and the Savage (pt. 2)

9The Coral Island (pt. 4)

159The Settler and the Savage (pt. 3)

10The Coral Island (pt. 5)

160The Settler and the Savage (pt. 4)

11Snowflakes and Sunbeams (The Young Fur Traders) (pt. 1)

161The Settler and the Savage (pt. 5)

12Snowflakes and Sunbeams (The Young Fur Traders) (pt. 2)

162In the Track of the Troops (pt. 1)

13Snowflakes and Sunbeams (The Young Fur Traders) (pt. 3)

163In the Track of the Troops (pt. 2)

14Snowflakes and Sunbeams (The Young Fur Traders) (pt. 4)

164In the Track of the Troops (pt. 3)

15Snowflakes and Sunbeams (The Young Fur Traders) (pt. 5)

165In the Track of the Troops (pt. 4)

16Snowflakes and Sunbeams (The Young Fur Traders) (pt. 6)

166Jarwin and Cuffy (pt. 1)

17Ungava (pt. 1)

167Jarwin and Cuffy (pt. 2)

18Ungava (pt. 2)

168Philosopher Jack (pt. 1)

19Ungava (pt. 3)

169Philosopher Jack (pt. 2)

20Ungava (pt. 4)

170Philosopher Jack (pt. 3)

21Ungava (pt. 5)

171Post Haste (pt. 1)

22Martin Rattler (pt. 1)

172Post Haste (pt. 2)

23Martin Rattler (pt. 2)

173Post Haste (pt. 3)

24Martin Rattler (pt. 3)

174Post Haste (pt. 4)

25The Dog Crusoe and his Master (pt. 1)

175Post Haste (pt. 5)

26The Dog Crusoe and his Master (pt. 2)

176The Lonely Island (pt. 1)

27The Dog Crusoe and his Master (pt. 3)

177The Lonely Island (pt. 2)

28The Dog Crusoe and his Master (pt. 4)

178The Lonely Island (pt. 3)

29The World of Ice (pt. 1)

179The Lonely Island (pt. 4)

30The World of Ice (pt. 2)

180The Red Man's Revenge (pt. 1)

31The World of Ice (pt. 3)

181The Red Man's Revenge (pt. 2)

32The World of Ice (pt. 4)

182The Red Man's Revenge (pt. 3)

33The Gorilla Hunters (pt. 1)

183The Red Man's Revenge (pt. 4)

34The Gorilla Hunters (pt. 2)

184My Doggie and I (pt. 1)

35The Gorilla Hunters (pt. 3)

185My Doggie and I (pt. 2)

36The Gorilla Hunters (pt. 4)

186The Giant of the North (pt. 1)

37The Gorilla Hunters (pt. 5)

187The Giant of the North (pt. 2)

38The Golden Dream (pt. 1)

188The Giant of the North (pt. 3)

39The Golden Dream (pt. 2)

189The Giant of the North (pt. 4)

40The Golden Dream (pt. 3)

190The Giant of the North (pt. 5)

41The Golden Dream (pt. 4)

191The Madman and the Pirate (pt. 1)

42The Golden Dream (pt. 5)

192The Madman and the Pirate (pt. 2)

43The Red Eric (pt. 1)

193The Madman and the Pirate (pt. 3)

44The Red Eric (pt. 2)

194The Battery and the Boiler (pt. 1)

45The Red Eric (pt. 3)

195The Battery and the Boiler (pt. 2)

46The Red Eric (pt. 4)

196The Battery and the Boiler (pt. 3)

47The Red Eric (pt. 5)

197The Battery and the Boiler (pt. 4)

48Away in the Wilderness (pt. 1)

198The Battery and the Boiler (pt. 5)

49Away in the Wilderness (pt. 2)

199The Thorogood Family

50Fighting the Whales (pt. 1)

200The Young Trawler (pt. 1)

51Fighting the Whales (pt. 2)

201The Young Trawler (pt. 2)

52The Wild Man of the West (pt. 1)

202The Young Trawler (pt. 3)

53The Wild Man of the West (pt. 2)

203The Young Trawler (pt. 4)

54The Wild Man of the West (pt. 3)

204Dusty Diamonds, Cut and Polished (pt. 1)

55The Wild Man of the West (pt. 4)

205Dusty Diamonds, Cut and Polished (pt. 2)

56The Wild Man of the West (pt. 5)

206Dusty Diamonds, Cut and Polished (pt. 3)

57Fast in the Ice (pt. 1)

207Dusty Diamonds, Cut and Polished (pt. 4)

58Fast in the Ice (pt. 2)

208Dusty Diamonds, Cut and Polished (pt. 5)

59Gascoyne (pt. 1)

209Twice Bought (pt. 1)

60Gascoyne (pt. 2)

210Twice Bought (pt. 2)

61Gascoyne (pt. 3)

211Twice Bought (pt. 3)

62Gascoyne (pt. 4)

212Twice Bought (pt. 4)

63Gascoyne (pt. 5)

213The Island Queen (pt. 1)

64The Lifeboat (pt. 1)

214The Island Queen (pt. 2)

65The Lifeboat (pt. 2)

215The Island Queen (pt. 3)

66The Lifeboat (pt. 3)

216The Rover of the Andes (pt. 1)

67The Lifeboat (pt. 4)

217The Rover of the Andes (pt. 2)

68Chasing the Sun (pt. 1)

218The Rover of the Andes (pt. 3)

69Chasing the Sun (pt. 2)

219The Rover of the Andes (pt. 4)

70Freaks on the Fells

220The Rover of the Andes (pt. 5)

71STORY 1 (pt. 1)

221The Prairie Chief (pt. 1)

72STORY 1 (pt. 2)

222The Prairie Chief (pt. 2)

73STORY 1 (pt. 3)

223The Prairie Chief (pt. 3)

74STORY 2

224The Lively Poll (pt. 1)

75STORY 3

225The Lively Poll (pt. 2)

76The Lighthouse (pt. 1)

226Red Rooney (pt. 1)

77The Lighthouse (pt. 2)

227Red Rooney (pt. 2)

78The Lighthouse (pt. 3)

228Red Rooney (pt. 3)

79The Lighthouse (pt. 4)

229Red Rooney (pt. 4)

80Fighting The Flames (pt. 1)

230Red Rooney (pt. 5)

81Fighting The Flames (pt. 2)

231The Big Otter (pt. 1)

82Fighting The Flames (pt. 3)

232The Big Otter (pt. 2)

83Fighting The Flames (pt. 4)

233The Big Otter (pt. 3)

84Fighting The Flames (pt. 5)

234The Big Otter (pt. 4)

85Silver Lake (pt. 1)

235The Big Otter (pt. 5)

86Silver Lake (pt. 2)

236The Fugitives (pt. 1)

87Deep Down (pt. 1)

237The Fugitives (pt. 2)

88Deep Down (pt. 2)

238The Fugitives (pt. 3)

89Deep Down (pt. 3)

239The Fugitives (pt. 4)

90Deep Down (pt. 4)

240The Fugitives (pt. 5)

91Deep Down (pt. 5)

241Blue Lights (pt. 1)

92Shifting Winds (pt. 1)

242Blue Lights (pt. 2)

93Shifting Winds (pt. 2)

243Blue Lights (pt. 3)

94Shifting Winds (pt. 3)

244Blue Lights (pt. 4)

95Shifting Winds (pt. 4)

245Blue Lights (pt. 5)

96Hunting the Lions (pt. 1)

246The Middy and the Moors (pt. 1)

97Hunting the Lions (pt. 2)

247The Middy and the Moors (pt. 2)

98Over the Rocky Mountains (pt. 1)

248The Middy and the Moors (pt. 3)

99Over the Rocky Mountains (pt. 2)

249The Eagle Cliff (pt. 1)

100Saved by the Lifeboat (pt. 1)

250The Eagle Cliff (pt. 2)

101Saved by the Lifeboat (pt. 2)

251The Eagle Cliff (pt. 3)

102Erling the Bold (pt. 1)

252The Eagle Cliff (pt. 4)

103Erling the Bold (pt. 2)

253The Crew of the Water Wagtail (pt. 1)

104Erling the Bold (pt. 3)

254The Crew of the Water Wagtail (pt. 2)

105Erling the Bold (pt. 4)

255The Crew of the Water Wagtail (pt. 3)

106Erling the Bold (pt. 5)

256Blown to Bits (pt. 1)

107The Battle and the Breeze (pt. 1)

257Blown to Bits (pt. 2)

108The Battle and the Breeze (pt. 2)

258Blown to Bits (pt. 3)

109The Cannibal Islands (pt. 1)

259Blown to Bits (pt. 4)

110The Cannibal Islands (pt. 2)

260Blown to Bits (pt. 5)

111Lost in the Forest (pt. 1)

261The Garret and the Garden (pt. 1)

112Lost in the Forest (pt. 2)

262The Garret and the Garden (pt. 2)

113Digging for Gold (pt. 1)

263Jeff Benson

114Digging for Gold (pt. 2)

264Charlie to the Rescue (pt. 1)

115Sunk at Sea (pt. 1)

265Charlie to the Rescue (pt. 2)

116Sunk at Sea (pt. 2)

266Charlie to the Rescue (pt. 3)

117The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands (pt. 1)

267Charlie to the Rescue (pt. 4)

118The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands (pt. 2)

268Charlie to the Rescue (pt. 5)

119The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands (pt. 3)

269The Coxswain's Bride

120The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands (pt. 4)

270STORY 1 (pt. 1)

121The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands (pt. 5)

271STORY 1 (pt. 2)

122The Iron Horse (pt. 1)

272STORY 2

123The Iron Horse (pt. 2)

273STORY 3

124The Iron Horse (pt. 3)

274The Buffalo Runners (pt. 1)

125The Iron Horse (pt. 4)

275The Buffalo Runners (pt. 2)

126The Iron Horse (pt. 5)

276The Buffalo Runners (pt. 3)

127The Norsemen in the West (pt. 1)

277The Buffalo Runners (pt. 4)

128The Norsemen in the West (pt. 2)

278The Buffalo Runners (pt. 5)

129The Norsemen in the West (pt. 3)

279The Hot Swamp (pt. 1)

130The Norsemen in the West (pt. 4)

280The Hot Swamp (pt. 2)

131The Pioneers (pt. 1)

281The Hot Swamp (pt. 3)

132The Pioneers (pt. 2)

282The Hot Swamp (pt. 4)

133Black Ivory (pt. 1)

283Hunted and Harried (pt. 1)

134Black Ivory (pt. 2)

284Hunted and Harried (pt. 2)

135Black Ivory (pt. 3)

285The Walrus Hunters (pt. 1)

136Black Ivory (pt. 4)

286The Walrus Hunters (pt. 2)

137Black Ivory (pt. 5)

287The Walrus Hunters (pt. 3)

138Life in the Red Brigade (pt. 1)

288The Walrus Hunters (pt. 4)

139Life in the Red Brigade (pt. 2)

289Wrecked but not Ruined (pt. 1)

140Fort Desolation

290Wrecked but not Ruined (pt. 2)

141The Pirate City (pt. 1)

291Six Months at the Cape (pt. 1)

142The Pirate City (pt. 2)

292Six Months at the Cape (pt. 2)

143The Pirate City (pt. 3)

293Memoirs

144The Pirate City (pt. 4)

294Personal Reminiscences in Book Making (pt. 1)

145The Story of the Rock (pt. 1)

295Personal Reminiscences in Book Making (pt. 2)

146The Story of the Rock (pt. 2)

296Personal Reminiscences in Book Making (pt. 3)

147Rivers of Ice (pt. 1)

297Analysis

148Rivers of Ice (pt. 2)

298Reflection

149Rivers of Ice (pt. 3)

299Memorable Quotes

150Rivers of Ice (pt. 4)

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