The Sea-Wolf (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

When I first dipped into THE SEA WOLF, I was struck by its similarity to CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS. Humphrey van Weydon's ferry-steamer, The Martinez, is rammed by another ship in San Francisco Bay in a heavy fog. Van Weydon is rescued by Wolf Larsen, captain of the seal-hunter, The Ghost. Larsen refuses to take Van Weydon ashore, laughing at his offer of money. Once again, I am reminded of another famous book, MOBY DICK, and Larsen is Captain Ahab. Ruthless and single-minded, Larsen decides to make Van Weydon his cabin boy on this four month trip to provide seal pelts for fashionable American women. Van Weydon resists until Larsen catches hold of his arm and squeezes. A man of letters who freely admits never working a day in his life, Van Weydon does everything he's told from that point on, including aiding and abetting the Captain as he mistreats his crew. Early on we learn some of Larsen's motivation when he and Van Weydon have a literary discussion. We discover that Larsen is a literary bully. He's never spent a day in school, but he reads Shakespeare, Robert Browning and John Milton. London's theme becomes clear and Larsen and van Weydon argue about immortality, van Weydon declaring that man has a soul; Larsen retorting with a Scrooge-like "Bah!" And suddenly we have the first gleanings of an existentialist novel. If there were no God, how should man behave? Larsen, seeing evil everywhere he looks, decides he will do whatever is best for him personally. The conflict is not precisely good versus evil. Van Weydon is a weakling, a pampered rich man, a coward. There is also much to admire about Wolf Larsen. He outduels seven men during a mutiny. He's constantly reading, constantly trying to understand. When Van Weydon's story arc begins to ascend--he learns seamanship, rebuilds the ship when its masts are destroyed--we can't help but give Larsen a bit of credit. Larsen never took no for an answer, no task was too difficult. Another interesting element in the book is London's fledgling steps toward women's liberation. Van Weydon falls in love with another castaway, Maud Brewster, and together they overcome storms, isolation on a small seal rookery, and sabotage. I guess I knew London was a better writer than the man who wrote CALL OF THE WILD (His short story "To Build a Fire" is one of my favorites), but I wasn't expecting a philosophical discourse wrapped around a sea adventure.

Excellent, clear, descriptive writing by London, which is his signature talent.A compelling walk into the psychology of Wolf Larson, a sociopath ruling over men imprisoned on his schooner, The Ghost.Could have been a tour de force, but it builds our imagination toward a thrilling conclusion, then flails along into a somewhat anticlimactic finish.Albeit, the one on one conversations between Wolf Larson & Humphrey are first rate.There could have been an ultimate showdown between Larson & Humphrey, and or, Larson & his brother, Death Larson; but this doesn't materialize. London chooses instead to essay chapters devoted to syrupy puppy love, between he and Maud Brewster.Good book, but it falls short of it's potential.R. ParentiLong Island

I am a sailor and felt like I was on board.I read this book many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the reading again. Perhaps more so!Male or female will be mesmerized.

This is my third tale this year and I have to say he lived in different times when there was still wild frontiers and he just tells great stories.

"The Sea-Wolf," is an old Jack London classic. A great book for English Lit. and has surely been the focus of stacks of term papers. But, if that drives you away from reading this tale, you will miss a great read!I took this book on after burning through "Call of the Wild, " and "White Fang," on my new Kindle. My first experience with Jack London and both wonderful reads. These two books gave me a lot of insight into the themes that show up in " The Sea-Wolf." So, I can recommend both of the classics as great reads which will supplement understanding "The Sea-Wolf. "I discovered some of my all time favorite paragraphs in "Call of the Wild," and "White Fang." When Jack London is hot, he can really bang out some thought provoking and powerful images. For me, perhaps more so in the first two reads than in "The Sea-Wolf." Still, "The Sea-Wolf ," is a great adventure and a page burner on it's own. London can, and does, pour it on with his brilliant ship handling and seamanship scenes. Character development in "The Sea-Wolf " is stellar too as London creates great images and keeps the deep characters limited and vivid.A sailing adventure, a struggle for survival, the waxing and waning of dominance, personal discovery and growth along with a love story are seamlessly wrapped together and proved to me that "The Sea-Wolf," is a classic worthy of a revisit or an introduction to Jack London's great writing.Paul S Lewis

I enjoyed t h e book immensly immensly. So descriptive in his writing, I want to read more of his work.

Jack London's The Sea Wolf is a complex drama that would never be written today. It is clearly constrained by the Victorian morality of the time. That said, it is thoroughly engaging, even if one is not familiar with the nautical terminology. Not to give away the plot, it is a necessarily allegorical tale of good and evil, superbly told. London was clearly influenced by Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast" as well as Shakespeare's "The Tempest." Caliban is in full force here, as is Ariel (female version). But it is the clash of humanistic philosophies that is most interesting, aside from the blazing sea adventure, unlikely as it is. London, of course was a seaman for much of his astonishing life, so it is unfathomable that he did not recognize the impossibility of the chain of events. It is ever more to his credit as a story-teller, that the reader never "gives up The Ghost" (pun intended). This is a classic story, one that should be on the reading list of every undergraduate Literature class. Unlikely as it is, these days.

The story is truly captivating and held my interest too the end with the only downside being that the ending felt a little flat but honestly an amazing tale never the less.

A must read for aspiring book lovers. Best of Jack London's.

An exciting though implausible yarn. Jack London obviously had a through knowledge of the seafarer of the day. Must read some more Jack London. A well produced edition. Hornblower might possibly be more realistic.

Paper quality is too cheap for this price. Do not buy from bantam classics.

Definitely a good book, pleasant to read, it's so much better than the pocket edition I previously own. Worth the price!

Very disappointed I could not read this . I was looking forward to it but the printing is ridiculously small