The Isle of Pines 

What would happen if a group of people started their society on a deserted island? Henry Neville’s 1668 novella, The Isle of Pines, explores this idea, showing how human nature shapes even the simplest beginnings.

In the story, George Pine and four women survive a shipwreck and find themselves on an uninhabited island. Over time, their descendants grow into a large society. At first, it seems like a chance to create a perfect world. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that old problems like inequality, power struggles, and unfair treatment of others follow them to the island.

Neville uses this story to raise important questions about human behavior. Can people truly start fresh, or do we carry our flaws wherever we go? He also hints at the dangers of colonization, showing how, even in a new land, the same mistakes are repeated.

Though written centuries ago, The Isle of Pines feels surprisingly modern. It reminds us that real change requires more than just a new setting-changing how we think and act.