The Captive in Patagonia is a first-person account of Benjamin Franklin Bourne's capture by Patagonian natives in the 1850s. The book details his life among the Patagonians, their customs, and his daring escape. It provides a unique perspective on the indigenous peoples of Patagonia and their interactions with European and American whalers and settlers. The narrative is both an adventure story and an ethnographic study, offering readers a glimpse into a world that was rapidly disappearing due to colonization and modernization.