The Sea-Wolf

By: Jack London

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

When Humphrey Van Weyden finds himself struggling in the freezing waters of San Francisco Bay, he thinks the worst that can happen to him is drowning. After he is rescued by the Ghost and its captain, Wolf Larson, Humphrey discovers that there are fates far worse than death.

On Larsen's hell-ship, the dilettante hero is forced to slave as cabin boy and humble seaman. Over the seven months' voyage to the sealing grounds off Siberia, he engages in an epic duel with his ruthlessly Nietzschean skipper, a conflict that must end with the death of one of them.

In Humphrey's story, Jack London recalls his own adventures on a sealing vessel at the age of 17. And in the vivid dialogs between Larsen and Van Weyden, he gives the clearest definition of his savage philosophy of life.

Public Domain (P)2010 Tantor

Shiver me timbers!

I was one of those East Bay residents who heard the name Jack London and started pondering which restaurant I'd choose for dinner. In Oakland, California this man's name is a meeting place ("I'll meet you at Jack London in front of the Christmas tree.")But now in my later years I worry about what I'm missing. Jack London was one of those things. So I listened carefully listened to all the samples offerings of The Seawolf, and I chose this one because of the reader's voice and rhythm.
Thank God I didn't put it off any longer. What a great story teller. What a great craftsman of characters. And he never lounges, never gives you 20 or so pages in which to catch your breath and lower your heart rate. There will be pages where he's teaching us about sailing a seal hunting ship but even there he's building tension between mates, adding growing suspicion and emotion. We remember "better watch out for that guy" and "that guy's always carrying that knife." And then, before anybody is ready for, it some storm hits or another ship raises the stakes and tests our new boy and even the regulars with threat of disaster.
I listened carefully to select Steven Hoye, and he never disappointed. This was a very physical novel to read aloud, so many elements crashing against each other. And Hoye never missed a beat. I literally forgot it was one guy after a while. The voices were so distinct. And (spoiler alert) once a woman was introduced he just dropped into her voice like second nature.
All the while I was listening, my mind drifted back occasionally to the beginning of the story, and I'd say, this guy should have been in San Francisco tonight, instead he's practically on another planet. And that is part of London's talent. He gives us a place and time that is historically true, but the environment, the world of values, language, morality, are all so far removed from the main character's home life, that he seems to have been abducted by aliens onto another planet. And so is the reader. Every time something happened that required 'normal' behavior (a wound, for example) the reader is glad to see that there is some place for conventional response and action. We breath a deep sigh to know that pockets of human kindness can still be found, though they are just hidden away behind masks of treachery.
The Seawolf is a great adventure from the very beginning to the end. Enjoy!

i enjoyed it

contains some dialogue and philosophy but i found it interesting as part of their characters who are a sharp contrast in many ways. sticks to the story well though and had a tempo I liked

Sea wolf satisfies

Sea Wolf is one of Jack London’s best! An adventurous sea story around the late 1800’s with engaging characters and realistic story. There’s no doubt London has a way with words like no other so the dialogue is fantastic ( dictionary recommended). A story that puts you right there in the action and can’t wait to see what happens next! Highly recommend!

Favorite Author

I'm a Jack London fan since I was a kid. I didn't know he had more than White Fang and Call of the Wild which were two of my childhood favorites.

excellent

Very well written, and very well narrated was completely enjoyable. I would highly recommend this book and this particular performance of it.