Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-03-25
TAKES HOLD OF THE READER
WITH A GRIP.
Mr.. Jack London's New Novel by the
MacMiIlans.
STORY OF THE BRUTALITY OF A
PRIMITIVE DANE.

LOnuOu y last DOOh icpiiheSi ia ANc'Nh
Der by the Macmillan Company.
About the story as a story there is
only one thing to say--it takes hold Of
the reader with a grip like Wolf Lar.
sens own and does not loosen when
Wolf slides off his board into the
treacherous, engulfng sea. Its read.
able form, the openness and sincerity
of the narrator, the record Of his
strange experiences stamp the book
with the mark of genius. It is a great
novel written with constant evidence
of creative force the possession Of
which by the author has been limited
in previous works of his.
IL doesn't matter much what has
been said of the book Tor Of the serial
as It appeared in the Century Maya.
zine"D; as an impressive literary crea-
tion It stands alone.
Even the cranky" professional cri.
tic who, like Frank Norris Annixter
never accepted another's verdict with
out-"Yes, that's all very well In
some ways, II is, and then again. in
some ways, II isn't" cannot close the
book without an impulsive great
strong-masterful." SO lining himself
with the detested majority.
There is, however. little reason to
feel ashamed of the verdict, for the
book not only makes demands on the
emotional side Of the reader but II ap.
peals to his higher faculties Of reason,
and convinces him against whatever
personal prejudices he has, that the log
OF Van Weyden discovers true yet
heretofore "unblazed" sea trail.
While the chapters reek with blood
and brutality. there is nothing about
the book itself that is revolving to the
most refined taste. The narrator's sem
sitiveness to unkind treatment. his
hatred OF the life he was forced to be.
come part Of by accident and physi.
cal coercion, serve to bring into relief
the Sea VOLTS animality, and to arouse
the readers indignation.
Mr.. London has been charged with
"unrelieved brutality" in literary
sense. This book breathes with human
love and sympathy, and, to the last,
gives evidence Of the vitality Of what
is the Greatest Thing In the world.
Larsen's victim says: "The continu
al brutality around me was degenera'
tive in it's effect. II bid fair to destroy
for me all that was best and brightest
In my life," yet SO vital thing is right
feeling in a man that after all the
terrible abuse which he had suffered ;
when Wolf came into his power, Van
Weyden was unable to kill an un
armed, unresisting man." He simply
could not do 1t. The gun was lowered
in his hands, raised. and lowered again
Wolf Larsen knew why he was safe
but his philosophy did not explain the
reason:
Hump he said slowly. you cant
do II. You are not exactly afraid. YOU
are impotent. Your conventional mo
rality is stronger than you. You arr
the slave to the opinions which hav'
credence among the people you hav'
known and read about. Their code ha
oe'" W ~ -. -,
t,ine you ispea' anu ~ Spise " ~,
phi'osophy' anu Vi ~aa. " '',,, 's
YOU II Wou'u no' 70. yVu "'' ="
"',neu, un'e''s.'he MAJ :, ~,
inns wa ". oNp '.,,. -, ,a
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III eo',ee''on WV us ~
oos.'Ne mn". 20 s"'u 49,. 49, 1870
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par y, n,s "ao on .,.. Wv, ~, Ia. l.
sa,io' Io"nson "as "..s ~ ,ssn,,,
pin''p'e' au 49, 80. ,,a,
ne was 'isn'' u. my" ~ We" eh -,
gnu nc Voc a., - 10 ~ -, :,
~, 'ao ISL -, In, h,s aou
.u. " himself s'" n.,..ma, ~
anu III '"'. "Ay Va 49, eos,
N'o,s VI . ~ - go