The cruise of the Snark,
Jack London
Hardcover
(The Macmillan company, Aug. 16, 1911)
THE CRUISE OF THE SNARK is Jack London’s story of the building of the Snark and his cruise with his wife Charmian, from San Francisco to Honolulu, then on through the South Seas. This was to have been the realization of a life’s dream for the author, however, as rumor has it, he was deeply in debt at the time although he claims to have paid for the building of the Snark himself. He had contracted with a magazine to deliver 35,000 words describing his trip for which he was to have been paid his standard story rate. However, the magazine promptly took credit for financing the entire trip. The trip progressed, but was plagued with troubles and misfortune. Overcome with health problems, the Londons were forced to abandon their planned voyage and return home to Glen Ellen, California. It is a fascinating story of the London’s cruise to the South Seas; Hawaii, the Marquesa’s, Tahiti, Bora Bora, the Solomon’s and Australia.. Chapters 5, 6, 7 and 8 are specifically of the portion of their trip that took place in Hawaiian waters. Mr. London presents artful word pictures of both land and sea and one of the most eloquent descriptions of the feat of surfing that I have had the pleasure of reading The story provides not only a view of the tropics through the eyes of one of America’s greatest authors, but also an opportunity to get to know him as an individual. Complimented by an array of photos numbering 119 and a LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS at the front that identifies each. THE CRUISE OF THE SNARK is a dazzling collection piece. With more people interested in collecting, fewer and fewer of the early editions are becoming available on the open market with true First printings being a rarity. This 1st Impression of the 1st Edition still in very nice nice condition would be a wonderful addition to an Island library.