Five men survive a South Seas shipwreck and wash up on a deserted beach, only to discover that they are not alone: five women inhabit the island as well. Moreover, these beautiful women possess wings like enormous scimitars and a breathtaking, avian athleticism that makes them stronger and faster than the landbound men. For their part, the winged women are both curious and wary of their strange new neighbors. They visit the men daily and alight on nearby trees but fly away if the men get too close. Besotted, the men hatch a plan to possess these extraordinary women, setting off a chain of events that will lead to jealousy, deceit, and rebellion.

A powerful allegory about women's rights with the flair of an adventure story, Angel Island is a neglected classic that remains as relevant today as when it was first published a century ago.