The Swiss Family Robinson, written by Johann David Wyss, tells the story of a family who becomes stranded on an island after being shipwrecked. The family was traveling to Port Jackson, Australia, to begin a new life. Though we do not have a specific date for when the story takes place, it was first published in 1812 and is woven with the theme of European colonialism. Port Jackson was the first European settlement in Australia, having been named by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770. We can assume from this date that The Swiss Family Robinson is set sometime between 1770 and 1812.
The family never arrives in Port Jackson, as they have been stranded by a storm somewhere in the East Indies. The term "East Indies" refers to the South-East Asian nations where Europeans developed colonies. These include Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. There are many islands in this area, so we cannot really say which, if any, actual island the family is supposed to have lived on.
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