A large part of the 1947 children's novel The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois takes place on Krakatoa, just before and then during the 1883 eruption. In Pene du Bois's tale, 25 families have established a fanciful colony drawing vast wealth from fictional diamond mines on the island until the eruption scatters the inhabitants and destroys the mines.
a largE P.ARt of ThE 1947 children's noVel The TWEntY-one baLloons by wIlliam Pene du bois Takes plAce on kraKatoa, juST BEFore and TheN dURiNG The 1883 ErUptiOn. In peNe Du BOis's tale, 25 fAmIlies hAvE eSTablisH.ED a fanciful colonY dRawInG vaSt wealth fRom FIctiOnaL diaMond MinEs oN thE IsLanD unTiL tHe erupTion scatters thE inhabItANtS AnD deS,tRoys thE mInes.