Left to Themselves
Author: first_name: Edward Irenaeus
last_name: Prime-Stevenson
Language: English
Year: 1891

Said to be the first-ever gay youth novel, this 1891 story follows the adventures of 12-year-old Gerald Saxton embarking on a trip from New York, to meet his father in Nova Scotia. He is chaperoned by 17-year-old Philip Touchtone. During the trip, their steamer sinks, they are shipwrecked, and marooned on an island. In addition, a shady antagonist is stalking the two. And while all this is happening, a friendship of mutual affection develops between the boys (nothing explicit). - Summary by Dona