| “ | She had pictured it differently, close to shore, crowned with a beautiful white house. But there was no house visible, only the boldly silhouetted rock with its faint resemblance to a giant head. There was something sinister about it. She shivered faintly. | ” |
–Vera seeing Soldier Island for the first time, And Then There Were None, Chapter 2 | ||
Soldier Island (originally known as Indian Island or Nig*er Island) is the main setting from the 1939 novel And Then There Were None. It is a small island located off the coast of Devon.
Description[]
| “ | If this had been an old house, with creaking wood, and dark shadows, and heavily panelled walls, there might have been an eerie feeling. But this house was the essence of modernity. There were no dark corners - no possible sliding panels - it was flooded with electric light - everything was new and bright and shining. There was nothing hidden in this house, nothing concealed. It had no atmosphere about it. Somehow, that was the most frightening thing of all... | ” |
–Description of the house, And Then There Were None, Chapter 5 | ||
Soldier Island is a small, isolated rock near the Devon coast which is only accessible by boat. The island has high cliffs and seagull surrounding it.
The house located on the island is noted for being (at the time) modern Art Deco-style building, which was constructed for one of the previous inhabitants before the story.
History[]
The first known owner of the island was an American millionaire and yachtsman. He did not live there for long due to his third wife being constantly seasick. After he placed the island for sale, many rumours of the new owners began; ranging from Hollywood starlet Gabrielle Turl to the British military using it for some secret government tasks.
At the time of the story, Soldier Island had been recently purchased by U. N. Owen, with all transactions being handled by Isaac Morris, a lawyer from London.
However, the island actually belonged to "Mr. and Mrs. Owen" even though all transactions were handled by a lawyer, Isaac Morris. The people who wanted to go to the island were droven there by Fred Narracott, a local boatsman.
Several individuals were invited to the island on August 8, 1939, and subsequently killed there.
“Guests” on the island[]
- Emily Brent (needed a paid vacation)
- Vera Claythorne (temporary job as a secretary)
- Anthony Marston(called in at the behest of a distant friend)
- Lawrence Wargrave (called in at the behest of a distant friend)
- Philip Lombard (broke; called in a new "Job" [mercenary] prospect)
- John Macarthur (called in to meet old army friends)
- Edward Armstrong (called as a family doctor)
- William Blore (roped in in a professional way)
Domestic staff[]
- Thomas Rogers (butler)
- Ethel Rogers (maid)
Owners[]
Several people were rumoured to be the past or present owners of Soldier Island
Symbological meaning[]
In the novel And Then There Were None, Soldier Island stood to symbolize a point of no return.
It also represents the mental and physical strand of the guests due to being blocked there.
Trivia[]
- The location was based off Burgh Island, an island resort located at the South Devon coast.