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El Mexicano

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Tensión y lucha encarnizada contra el destino, crítica social y aventura son los ingredientes con los que London cocina los relatos de este volumen. Tres magníficas historias que derrochan energía y vitalidad, humanidad y emoción, y que lanzan al lector un gancho demoledor e inolvidable de pura literatura.



En London se dieron cita dos ideologías opuestas: la doctrina darwiniana de la supervivencia del más apto y el infinito amor a la humanidad.

Jorge Luis Borges

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1911

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About the author

Jack London

7,660 books7,687 followers
John Griffith Chaney, better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist and activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors to become an international celebrity and earn a large fortune from writing. He was also an innovator in the genre that would later become known as science fiction.

London was part of the radical literary group "The Crowd" in San Francisco and a passionate advocate of animal rights, workers’ rights and socialism. London wrote several works dealing with these topics, such as his dystopian novel The Iron Heel, his non-fiction exposé The People of the Abyss, War of the Classes, and Before Adam.

His most famous works include The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set in Alaska and the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, as well as the short stories "To Build a Fire", "An Odyssey of the North", and "Love of Life". He also wrote about the South Pacific in stories such as "The Pearls of Parlay" and "The Heathen".

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5 stars
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185 (37%)
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99 (20%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for robin friedman.
1,948 reviews415 followers
May 5, 2024
The Fighter

A low-budget 1952 boxing film, "The Fighter" starring Richard Conte is based on Jack London's story, "The Mexican". After seeing the film, which concludes with a brutal fight scene, I read London's story, which was originally published in 1911 in the "Saturday Evening Post".

The story is set in 1910 during the Mexican Revolution. It features a mysterious, sullen young man, Filipe Rivera, who offers his services to a group in El Paso, Texas, assisting the revolutionaries against Mexico's Diaz regime. London lived in El Paso at the time. Rivera gains the begrudging trust of the group and, although seemingly penniless, offers to provide $5000 to purchase rifles to help the revolutionaries.

Rivera has been earning money as a sparring partner for professional boxers. He works his way into a much-hyped bout with a highly-regarded fighter, Danny Ward, when Ward's prospective opponent suffers an injury. The lightly-regarded Rivera persuades Ward to fight "winner take all" for a pay-off of about $6000. Much of the story describes graphically the brutal 17-round fight with the crowd, the referee, and Rivera's own corner betting and working for Ward. Taking terrible punishment in the ring, Rivera remembers the cause for which he is fighting. He remembers as well the death of his parents at the hands of the Federales and how he had vowed to avenge their fate. Rivera knocks out his man in the final round, winning the purse while observing that "The Revolution could go on."

This is a sharply-paced, visceral story with its portrait of the fight game and of revolutionary Mexico. Readers interested in boxing will recognize the sport as it was over 100 years ago with its attendant corruption and violence. There is a sense of commitment and of devotion to a deeply held cause in the story, as well as in the film. I was glad that the 1952 film piqued my interest and led me to Jack London's original story.

Robin Friedman
Profile Image for Agustina Uliarte.
169 reviews29 followers
September 17, 2018
RESEÑA EN EL BLOG PRONTO
Claramente se ve reflejada una época historia de cuál me hubiera gustado saber más para adentrarme a leerlo.
La historia al principio resulta confusa, hay que determinar a cada personaje y su papel dentro del libro pero al final todo tiene sentido y uno solo quiere saber cómo va a terminar todo.
El final es excepcional 👌
Profile Image for Kovalsky.
349 reviews36 followers
December 4, 2020
Rivera il piccolo messicano che si batte sul ring contro i Gringos.
Odia il pugilato. Combatte prima per fame poi per la Rivoluzione.
La sua forza sono i ricordi terribili dei soprusi di Diaz che gli hanno portato via la famiglia, la dignità, il futuro. Ma non gli ha portato via l’odio. L’odio che è il motore necessario per affrontare i tiranni, per combatterli e vincerli.
“Ma una rivoluzione senza armi sarebbe destinata a fallire”
E allora il piccolo Rivera combatte per le armi. Contro tutto e contro tutti. Combatte per il riscatto del suo popolo contro il nemico usurpatore.

Rivera, piccola isola contro il mondo imperialista.
Cuba, piccola isola. Caimano verde contro gli squali. Since 1959.


Jack London: profeta.
Profile Image for Diego.
520 reviews3 followers
January 15, 2021
Un muy pequeño cuento que retrata la vida de un joven que se juega la vida para financiar la revolución desde los Estados Unidos. Muy Bonito.
Profile Image for Alessandra Ale.
372 reviews11 followers
February 15, 2024
(Audiolibro) Un racconto diviso in 2 parti. Un ragazzo che sembra solo pieno d'odio, di cui si sospetta che possa essere una spia, un violento ma la cui perseveranza alla fine convince i rivoluzionari ad averne fiducia. Ha in realtà un passato di dolore che spera di vendicare con la rivoluzione messicana. La seconda parte racconta dettagliatamente come il ragazzo si guadagni il pane ed i soldi per finanziare la rivoluzione. È questa idea che lo fa andare avanti fino alla fine.
Magistralmente raccontata da London che ci fa entrare dentro la psicologia del protagonista e ce ne fa sentire tutta la disperazione e la forza della rabbia che la sostiene.
Profile Image for Reading bunny.
72 reviews4 followers
November 16, 2021
"This slender boy was the Unknown, vested with all the menace of the Unknown".

This is what i mean when i say i love boxe.
124 reviews9 followers
May 31, 2023
the revolution can go on
Profile Image for Lucia.
237 reviews23 followers
February 11, 2021
Racconto pieno di pathos da cui è stato difficile staccarsi,
un protagonista tanto stoico tanto passionalmente motivato.
Come al solito un grande Jack London.
Profile Image for Alma.
49 reviews
January 16, 2021
La verdad, si no hubiera sido por la escuela no la hubiera leído, pero ahora que lo he terminado, no me arrepiento de esta lectura.
Aunque corto, narra la voluntad de un joven mexicano que pese al desprecio y recelo de sus congéneres y terceros, se esfuerza por lo que realmente quiere: "la revolución"
Profile Image for Lusionnelle.
196 reviews12 followers
March 16, 2024
Je ne me souviens honnêtement pas si j’ai déjà vraiment lu Croc-blanc ou L’appel de la forêt, ou si mes souvenirs sont uniquement liés à leurs adaptations.
J’ai honnêtement mis de côté l'existence de ces romans – et donc de leur auteur, Jack London – jusqu’au jour où j’ai vu un documentaire sur Arte qui retraçait sa vie, son œuvre et ses engagements.

Puis, avec le COVID, les maisons d’édition ont offert plusieurs de leurs ouvrages numérisés comme soutien pendant la quarantaine. Le Mexicain, retraduit par Philippe Mortimer et réédité par les éditions Libertalia en faisait partie.
Et pourtant, ce n’est que récemment, en quête d’une lecture courte pour alterner entre deux nouvelles de l’anthologie de SF que je lis, que je suis retombée dessus et ma curiosité s’est à nouveau éveillée.

C’était un excellent choix, une vraie bonne idée d’offrir ce livre numérique d'un auteur important dans la littérature américaine, qui est une claque littéraire. Un rappel – et pour moi un apprentissage – du talent, de l'engagement politique et de l'humanité de Jack London.
Il est clair à présent que ma découverte ne s'arrêtera pas là. J'ai vu que Libertalia avait d'autres textes à proposer, et vu la qualité de leur édition, je n'hésiterai pas à piocher parmi ceux-là en premier lieu. Cette édition de la nouvelle comprend en effet une préface et une postface passionnantes qui ont apporté beaucoup de contexte biographique, historique et géopolitique au texte et enrichi ma lecture.

Le Mexicain est une courte nouvelle qui se passe en Californie, où les révolutionnaires mexicains en exil de la dictature de Porfirio Diaz, en place en 1910, tentent de s’organiser et de préparer le renversement du pouvoir.
On suit notamment une jeune recrue, Rivera, qui veut se faire une place parmi les révolutionnaires, malgré la réticence de ces derniers à employer ce jeune sorti de nulle part, dont ils ne savent rien. Or, Rivera va participer à l’organisation au-delà de leurs attentes, ramenant d’on ne sait où le financement qui leur manque toujours de plus en plus.

La première partie s’applique à présenter ces révolutionnaires, leur organisation, leur combat contre l’impérialisme, la dictature, et leur soif d’égalité, de liberté. Mais par la suite, le récit devient étonnamment haletant dans une seconde partie où on apprend que pour gagner l’argent qui les finace, Rivera participe à des combats de boxe.

Dans l’espoir de gagner le pactole qui permettrait d'acheter les munitions et les armes qui leur manquent, il obtient un combat contre la star montante dans sa catégorie de poids.

Jack London fait alors montre d’un talent incroyable d’écriture dans la retranscription de ce combat qui n'a rien à envier des meilleurs films du genre. Et ce, à la fois dans l’efficacité du rythme, de la gestion de la tension narrative, et dans la façon dont on se trouve plongé à même l’esprit et le corps de Rivera, et de tout ce qui l’habite dans le combat. Taiseux et mystérieux dans toute la première partie de la nouvelle, on découvre un être futé et vif, habile de ses mots comme de ses poings. On apprend ce qui le ronge et l’anime depuis le début pendant qu’il se bat, pas seulement contre son opposant mais contre tous ceux qui organisent sa défaite.

C’est un récit de dépassement de soi et d’émancipation, emprunt d’humanité et d’un certain optimisme envers l’être humain qui combat pour rendre justice tout comme pour la liberté et l’égalité. En somme, un texte qui reste aujourd'hui moderne, efficace et passionnant. Une très bonne porte d'entrée pour savourer la plume de Jack London.
Profile Image for Akramjon.
3 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2021
​​Meksikalik

Jek Londonning ushbu yirik hikoyasi to'lig'icha uning uslubiga xos yozilgan. Ya'ni, asar bosh qahramoni hayotda qiynalgan, boshqalardan keskin ajralib turadigan shaxs. Uni tasvirlaganda kuch-qudrat, g'urur, hissiy mustahkamlik, sovuqqonlik, o'zining boshqalardan ustunligini his qila olish kabi xususiyatlar bilinib turadi. Bunday xususiyatlar Ajdodlar nidosida ham, Oq so'yloqda ham, Martin Iden va Oydin vodiy qahramonlarida ham bor.

Filippe Rivera (bosh qahramon)ning yana bir xususiyati, uning hokimiyatga intilmasligidir. U jamoani katta mablag' bilan ta'minlashi, eng xavfli topshiriqlarni bajarishiga qaramay, jamoa yig'iladigan joy polini artib yurishdan qochmaydi va uyalmaydi. Agar bu bi'rilar jamoasi bo'lganda, u aynan beta bo'ri bo'lardi.

Hikoyada jang sahnasi juda ajoyib yoritib berilgan. Boks qoidalari, undagi ma'lum texnikalar, nozik jihatlar, kelishuvlar, barcha-barchasi to'liq yoritilgan. Uni o'qish mobaynida zamonaviy kinolardagi yakkama-yakka jang sahnalarini ko'rayotgandak bo'lasiz.

Hikoyaning asosiy mavzusi ozodlik harakati, ya'ni meksika xalqining zolim hukmdorlarga qarshi harakatidan iborat.

Kimgaki sirli tashkilotlar, qo'zg'olonlar, jang sahnalari qiziq bo'lsa, hikoya aynan ular uchun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Samandar Malikov.
16 reviews1 follower
October 25, 2022
"Meksikalik" hikoyasidan keyingi taassurotlar.
Hayot hech qachon bir tekis bo‘lmaydi. Ayrimlarga muvaffaqiyatga erishish shunchaki baxt, ayrimlarga esa hayot-mamot...
Oldingda deyarli bajarib bo‘lmas ish. Hamma senga qarshi. "– Ҳазилингни ташла, аҳмоқ бола! – деб шивирлади у. – Енгилиб қўя қол, Ривера.
– Барибир сен ютқизасан, – деб қўшиб қўйди Спайдер Хагерти. – Денни ғалабани сенинг қўлингга бериб қўймайди. Кэллига қулоқ бер, йиқилиб қўя қол.
– Йиқилиб қўя қол, йигитча..."
Lekin oldingda shunchaki g‘alabadan kattaroq narsa turibdi. Xalqingni keyingi taqdiri va kelajagi senga bog‘liq. Lekin buni faqat Xudo bilan o‘zing bilasan. Atrofdagilarning gaplari endi bir pul... Butun vujuding bilan yengishni xohlaysan va uddalaysan... va ozod bo‘lasan.
Profile Image for Miguel Mandujano.
89 reviews5 followers
July 31, 2022
Me parece que la narrativa de los dos primeros cuentos es impecable, los diálogos exactos, las descripciones precisas, los personajes con pequeñas sutilezas admirables en su psicología, las justas intervenciones del narrador. Aspectos que le dan un ritmo agradable de lectura. La trama, exquisita, si bien no son ideas complejas que nadie había pensado antes, sí puedo destacar que London trabaja la historia con una genialidad inesperada para mí, sobre todo en "por un filete" con esa confrontación entre la experiencia y la juventud. Sin embargo, el último cuento para mí no está a la altura, o, para ser concreto, no fue lo que esperaba.
Profile Image for Sinesio.
43 reviews
September 12, 2020
Conto que narra o engajamento de um jovem mexicano nos preparativos de uma insurreição associada à revolução mexicana. Por meio do boxe, esse jovem misterioso consegue obter recursos para financiar a compra de armas e munições. London, apoiador da revolução (ao menos nessa fase), mostra os esforços dos mexicanos nesse movimento, mas seu próprio engajamento passou do ponto nesse conto. Mesmo assim, conseguiu criar um clima tenso durante a luta, mas, ao contrário de outros de seu contos, inclusive os de boxe, ninguém tem dúvida de que, no final, o bem vencerá...
Profile Image for J. D. Román.
479 reviews6 followers
June 10, 2023
Este cuento trata sobre Felipe Rivera, un hombre que apoya la Revolución Mexicana, pero para poder tener dinero e irse a la guerra, se ve obligado a aprovechar su buen físico en el boxeo. En un principio, la historia no engancha, pero una vez que comienzan las peleas de Felipe, se acelera de repente. London no profundiza tanto en el mundo del boxeo como hubiese querido, pero es un buen punto de partida para quien le interese el tema. Y si quieren meterse de lleno en las dos caras de este deporte y emocionarse con cada combate, siempre les recomendaré el anime "Hajime no Ippo".
Profile Image for Miguel.
Author 2 books11 followers
July 24, 2023
Había leído sólo "El llamado de la selva" de London y me pareció una gran novela. Encontrarme con los cuentos contenidos en "El mexicano" provocó en mí un asombro que pensé olvidado. El autor fue un aventurero y eso se ve reflejado ejemplar: de Texas a Escocia, de ahí a alguna isla tropical habitada por caníbales y termina en una aldea de esquimales.
Profile Image for G.
545 reviews15 followers
October 17, 2021
Not my kind of story. My book club members liked and got quite a lot from the story. I just barely managed to get through the entire story. I kept losing my place starting over, putting it down & when I finished I still didn’t know what I’d just read. Not my kind of story I guess.
83 reviews3 followers
December 30, 2021
Inizia più in sordina rispetto ad altre opere di London, ma l'incontro di boxe è veramente al cardiopalma, scritto con una tensione notevole e un respiro cinematografico che non a caso interessò Ejzenstein. Molto potente l'immagine finale.
4 reviews
August 26, 2024
Tres historias con tres personajes distintos, un boxeador en la revolución, otro boxeador al final de su carrera, y un hombre de clase alta en una huelga general.
La tercera tiene un enfoque bastante curioso e interesante :)
Profile Image for John Kooz.
73 reviews7 followers
March 20, 2018
An amazing and incredibly inviting short story. Purely about soldering truthful revenge! I loved it.
Profile Image for Claudia Santos.
92 reviews58 followers
May 10, 2020
Ojala le hubiera ganado más rapido porque tanto pelear me aburrió :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Philippe.
187 reviews2 followers
April 17, 2022
Cette courte nouvelle se passe entre Mexique et États-Unis au tout début du XXeme siècle pendant le règne du sanguinaire Porfirio Diaz. La révolution mexicaine manque cruellement de ressources et le personnage principal de la nouvelle, Felipe Rivera, issu d’une famille ouvrière pauvre de Veracruz dont les parents ont été victimes du massacre de la filature de Rio Blanco en 1907, va les aider par son courage et son abnégation dans un combat de boxe baignant dans une hostilité raciste et xénophobe. Un texte poignant et captivant.
Profile Image for Papa Young.
6 reviews
August 24, 2023
Cool story, enjoyed how Felipe pulled through to beat Danny Ward!!

Jack London has a great style/prose, can’t wait to read more!
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