The Sea-Wolf (Oxford World's Classics)
by Jack London
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jack LondonEditor: John Sutherland
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-06-15
ISBN: 0199554943
Number of pages: 418
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Book Reviews of The Sea-Wolf (Oxford World's Classics)
Book Review: Wow, what a story and what a character!
Summary: 5 Stars
So imagine taking the real world brutality that London's wolves or dogs face in his Youkon novels. Now add that survival of the fittest and the most banal might make right themes from nature and apply them to a seafaring novel. That combination makes this novel.
The main protagonist is the victim of a ferry shipwreck near San Fransico and is swept out to sea where he is picked up by Captain Wolf Larson's sealing vessel. Larson refuses to returm him or to let him board another nearby vessel heading into San Fransico and so he is forced to serve on the vessel. He is in every way the antithesis of the sealers: weak, educated, literary, and not accostomed to manual labor. Half the story is the growth of the protagonist into more of a "man" through his experiences.
The genius of this novel however is in the character Wolf Larson, the ship's captain. He is stronger, meaner, and smarter than any other man he has met. By his own might he rules the ship. He is also well read and self educated, and his literary knowledge bonds the two main characters together. Larson takes the essence of nature, where the strongest rule and dominate, and applies it to man. Man is a part of nature and therefor not subject to any higher laws. Larson intimidates, beats up, murders, and takes any other measures of strength necessary to rule his vessel. In the end, even when he is dying and needs the protagonist to have any hope of escape, he still tries to commit murder to his would-be saviours. Why? Just to prove he still can. Its a brilliant study of humanity and a dichotomy of beliefs in the very nature of humanity versus nature.
A must read for any fan of London, American literature, or just a very good read (like me).
Summary of The Sea-Wolf (Oxford World's Classics)
In The Sea-Wolf, London's most gripping novel, Humphrey Van Weyden is rescued from the freezing waters of San Francisco Bay by a demonic sea captain and introduced to fates far worse that death. Through this story London recalls his own adventures on a sealing vessel at the age of seventeen. John Sutherland's notes include a history of pelagic seal hunting and an account of the many cinematic versions of this novel.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
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