Other editions of book The House of Pride and Other Tales of Hawaii

First published in 1912, “The House of Pride & Other Tales of Hawaii” is a collection of short stories by Jack London. John Griffith London (1876 – 1916), commonly known as Jack London, was an American journalist, social activist, and novelist. He was an early pioneer of commercial magazine fiction, becoming one of the first globally-famous celebrity writers who were able to earn a large amount of money from their writing. London is famous for his contributions to early science fiction and also notably belonged to "The Crowd", a literary group an Francisco known for its radical members and ideas. These fantastic stories are highly recommended for fiction lovers and are not to be missed by fans and collectors of London's timeless work. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

How is this book unique? Illustrations includedOriginal & Unabridged EditionOne of the best books to readClassic historical fiction booksExtremely well formattedOriginally published in 1912, this collection contains six stories:- The House of Pride- Koolau the Leper- Good-bye, Jack- Aloha Oe- Chun Ah Chun- The Sheriff of KonaA departure from London's normal tales of the frozen North, all of these tales take place in the islands of Hawaii. Many of these stories deal with leprosy and the victims of this disease being sent away to Molokai. Some of the stories also deal with class differences, some of which still exist in one form or another in today's society. All the stories are very well written and thought provoking. These short stories about the conflict between the native Hawaiians and the European settlers vividly capture the struggles of the early 20th century.

"Never are there such departures as from the dock at Honolulu. The great transport lay with steam up, ready to pull out. A thousand persons were on her decks; five thousand stood on the wharf. Up and down the long gangway passed native princes and princesses, sugar kings and the high officials of the Territory. Beyond, in long lines, kept in order by the native police, were the carriages and motor-cars of the Honolulu aristocracy. On the wharf the Royal Hawaiian Band played 'Aloha Oe,' and when it finished, a stringed orchestra of native musicians on board the transport took up the same sobbing strains, the native woman singer's voice rising birdlike above the instruments and the hubbub of departure." - From "Aloha Oe"

The stories in this collection include some of London's finest South Seas tales. In them, Hawaii is portrayed, not as a tropical paradise, but as a land corrupted and despoiled by the arrival of the supposedly civilized white settlers. The tales include "Koolau the Leper," "Good-by Jack," and "The Sheriff of Kona," which deal frankly and sympathetically with the taboos of leprosy; "Chun Ah Chun," the story of a Chinese man displaced by the unyielding encroachments of western ways of life; and "The House of Pride" and "Aloha Oe," which criticize racial intolerance. While in Hawaii, Jack and Charmian spent a week living among the inhabitants of the leper colony on the island of Molokai. Their surprise at finding, not a cursed place of misery and horror, but a joyful, thriving community is evident in London's essay. With compassion and high good humor, London records his impressions of the people and their activities, including shooting contests, band and choir concerts, and a fourth of July festival featuring antic donkey races. In "Koolau the Leper", London describes Koolau, who is a Hawaiian leper-and thus a very different sort of "superman" than Martin Eden-and who fights off an entire cavalry troop to elude capture, as "indomitable spiritually a ... magnificent rebel". This character is based on Hawaiian leper Kaluaikoolau who revolted and resisted capture from forces of the Provisional Government of Hawaii in the Kalalau Valley in 1893.

"Never are there such departures as from the dock at Honolulu. The great transport lay with steam up, ready to pull out. A thousand persons were on her decks; five thousand stood on the wharf. Up and down the long gangway passed native princes and princesses, sugar kings and the high officials of the Territory. Beyond, in long lines, kept in order by the native police, were the carriages and motor-cars of the Honolulu aristocracy. On the wharf the Royal Hawaiian Band played "Aloha Oe," and when it finished, a stringed orchestra of native musicians on board the transport took up the same sobbing strains, the native woman singer's voice rising birdlike above the instruments and the hubbub of departure." -- From "Aloha Oe."

A departure from London's normal tales of the frozen North, all of these tales take place in the islands of Hawaii. The tales deal with racial issues, family relationships, leprosy quarantines, missionaries, and the diverse people who make their homes on the beautiful Hawaiian islands. London traveled to Hawaii in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including an eight-month stay shortly before he died in 1916. He had a fondness for the islands that is apparent in the rich descriptions in these tales. Short Stories in this Collection: ''The House of Pride'', ''Koolau the Leper'', ''Good-bye, Jack'', ''Aloha Oe'', ''Chun Ah Chun'', ''The Sheriff of Kona''

First published in 1912, “The House of Pride & Other Tales of Hawaii” is a collection of short stories by Jack London. John Griffith London (1876 – 1916), commonly known as Jack London, was an American journalist, social activist, and novelist. He was an early pioneer of commercial magazine fiction, becoming one of the first globally-famous celebrity writers who were able to earn a large amount of money from their writing. London is famous for his contributions to early science fiction and also notably belonged to "The Crowd", a literary group an Francisco known for its radical members and ideas. These fantastic stories are highly recommended for fiction lovers and are not to be missed by fans and collectors of London's timeless work. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.