A Son of the Sun: The Adventures of Captain David Grief [Hardcover]

Jack London (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2001

Entertaining, atmospheric, and action-filled--yet difficult to obtain until now--the eight short stories in Jack London’s A Son of the Sun center on the thrilling exploits of Captain David Grief in the dangerous and exotic South Seas.

Captain Grief encounters the adventurers, scoundrels, pirates, and opportunists who followed the example of their colonial predecessors and exploited the islands and their resources early in the twentieth century. Inspired by London’s own voyage through the South Seas on board his self-made yacht, the Snark, these stories paint a colorful--and at times horrifying--picture of the remote South Pacific.

Thomas R. Tietze and Gary J. Riedl provide concise and illuminating introductions to each story as well as informative notes. The volume is enlivened by reproductions of London’s own photographs and maps, and by the illustrations that accompanied each story when first published.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

One of London's lesser-known works, this collection of eight short stories concerns the adventures of Capt. David Grief. In his South Pacific travels, Grief encounters exploitative natives, pirates, and colonists. This edition has introductions to each story by scholars Thomas R. Tietze and Gary J. Riedl, plus numerous illustrations and maps. With all those extras and at this price, this 1912 title is more for academic libraries.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

Thomas R. Tietze and Gary J. Riedl, who teach English at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minnesota, provide concise and illuminating introductions to this volume. Also, the volume is enlivened by reproductions of London's own photographs and maps, and by the illustrations that accompanied each story when first published.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press (December 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806133627
• ISBN-13: 978-0806133621
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,419,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Thomas Tietze and Gary Riedl Compose Great Introductions, April 18, 2002

By 

Fred Morris (Halifax, Nova Scotia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Son of the Sun: The Adventures of Captain David Grief (Hardcover)

Jack London is undoubtedly one of the greatest American writers. His skill is present even in his lesser known short stories. This text conveniently gathers this collection into one edition and provides the reader with marvelous introductions. These two scholars (Tietze and Riedl) provide the reader with awesome maps and diagrams along with well-written critiques. This book is a must have for any adventure story fan.

5.0 out of 5 stars Thomas R. Tietze is a literary wonder, April 17, 2002

By 

Simon Marbury (Halifax, Nova Scotia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Son of the Sun: The Adventures of Captain David Grief (Hardcover)

Jack London's short stories are well-written and adventurous. I enjoyed them thoroughly. However, the introductions to each section by Thomas Tietze were surely the greatest introductions I have ever read. His concise and insightful interpretations of the text should not be underappreciated. I bought the book because of Jack London, but read the stories with greater understanding because of Thomas Tietze. Kudos to this book.

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Edition of Little-Known London Stories, February 19, 2002

By 

Matthew H Camp - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Son of the Sun: The Adventures of Captain David Grief (Hardcover)

In short, these editors have fulfilled a desire I have had for years. Some of these stories appear in Jack London collections, but until this well-researched edition came out there was nowhere to get them all in one book.
These David Grief stories are a pleasure to read: a truly heroic hero, exotic settings, well-crafted characters, language at once crisp and descriptive where every word defines a character, furthers the action, or draws the reader into the narrative.
The footnotes illuminate the historical and geographical references in the stories, but even on their own these stories encapsulate cultural views, historical settings, and philosophies with London's personal twist. Hardly anyone today would describe the original islanders in terms of monkeys; but as soon as you think London is racist for doing so, he takes island characters and portrays them heroically and sensitively - often in the same story. One should understand that London did not shy away from presenting the reader with a slice of reality. It is his hero who is the fantasy, but one gets the sense, and rightly so, that London's fantastical characters inhabit a very real world with which he was personally familiar.
The price tag on this edition will discourage those casually acquainted with London, but if you want the best of the best of London this is indispensable.
Consider this as a gift for the short-story lover in your life, whether writer or reader, who appreciates craft and literary substance in their action, romance, and adventure stories. A great collection in every way.