Ο Διάβολος

by Jack London, Βίκη Ξηρακιά (Translator)

Την εποχή του πυρετού του χρυσού, ο δρόμος ενός σκληροτράχηλου άντρα θα συναντηθεί μ’ εκείνον ενός ημίαιμουκουταβιού. Το ζώο καταδικάζεται να διαμορφώσει έναν χαρακτήρα παρόμοιο μ’ αυτόν του αφέντη του. Οι δυο τους θα περάσουν μαζί πέντε θυελλώδη χρόνια στις αφιλόξενες βορειοδυτικές περιοχές του Καναδά, πιστοί στο αμοιβαίο τους μίσος και εγκλωβισμένοι στη μεταξύ τους έριδα.

Στην έκδοση περιλαμβάνεται ως επίμετρο το δοκίμιο «Τα άλλα ζώα» του Τζακ Λόντον. Και τα δύο κείμενα κυκλοφορούν για πρώτη φορά στα ελληνικά.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Classics, Adventure, The United States Of America, American

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1902

About the author

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".

Reviews

[Alexander Theofanidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Εξαιρετική νουβέλα από τον Λόντον, ωμή και νατουραλιστική. Το μίσος φέρνει κοντά έναν άνθρωπο και ένα σκύλο. Ό,τι σπέρνεις, θα θερίσεις. Και ο τελευταίος που θα μείνει ζωντανός και αλώβητος, κερδίζει. Εκπλήσσουν τα πολύ δυνατά στοιχεία ειρωνείας, πέρα από την κλασική αγάπη του Λόντον για τη φύση και την πανίδα.

[Mariafrancesca di natura viperesca sta con gli ultimi della terra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non è una favola nera

Non credo che il socialista solitario Jack London griderebbe allo scandalo se, in nome della libertà del lettore, all'altro mondo qualcuno gli recapitasse questa interpretazione della sua brevissima novella.
No, non credo proprio.
Troppo rancore, o meglio, troppo odio tra l’uomo e il cane per potere essere attribuito solo all'esplosione della bestialità in Leclère e alla furbizia umana in Batard, la bestia. Non è immaginabile nella realtà.

Troppa violenza tra i due, per fare una somma di torti e ragioni che ne renda sin-patico uno più dell’altro: l’odio puro può solo portare alla distruzione: la suspense sta nel modo in cui la fine si compirà.
Non si può tifare per il cane (versante debole della coppia uomo/animali) quando questo ( questi?) usa tutta l’astuzia umana sviluppata per la mera vendetta; fino a inimicarsi pure la muta, fatta di suoi pari, sacrificata dal francese sull'altare dell’avido commercio: indotta, con la sua prepotenza, alla strana, ma consueta, alleanza con il potente e ormai fedelissima guardia del corpo contro lui stesso, Batard.

Troppa brutalità fino allo splatter quando i due si affrontano in un corpo a corpo alla pari: Leclère che si libera dei milioni di anni di evoluzione darwiniana per misurarsi a mani libere con Batard, addomesticato e proverbiale amico, ridiventato fiera primordiale. Impressionante.

Troppo si somigliano i due demoni: aggressivi tra di loro e soprattutto aggressivi con i simili in una corsa al cupio dissolvi purché l’altro soccomba. Uno sprezzo della vita assurdo. Un legame vittima-carnefice spinto ai limiti. E allora? Non è una favola nera.

E se London abbia rappresentato nel francese Leclère il potere che acceca l’uomo solo al comando, e in Batard lo schiavo che vuole vendicarsi in un corpo a corpo mortale del nemico di sempre, falso “buon badrone”, quando ha oltrepassato ogni limite governabile con la ragione?
London non sembra avere alcuna speranza nella ragione quando l’uomo si trova in situazioni estreme, come la Wilderness del mondo delle nevi: Leclère come Acabh e Kurtz. Del resto era uno studioso di Melville e di Conrad. Quel primo scorcio del secolo ventesimo era tutto uno scricchiolio raccapricciante che non presagiva nulla di buono.
I grandi letterati sono profetici.

[Ajeje Brazov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batard, è un cane lupo che viene comprato da un essere umano senza scupoli di nome Black Leclerc. Leclerc dal primo momento che ha visto il cane, ancora cucciolo, lo chiama subito Batard (bastardo, dispregiativo). Batard ha negli occhi quella furia primordiale che a Leclerc affascina. Così inizia questo rapporto di amore/odio tra i due...

Spesso l'uomo aveva l'impressione di essersi scontrato con l'essenza stessa della vita, quell'essenza indomabile che dal cielo spinge il falco in picchiata come un fulmine alato, guida la grande oca polare attraverso i continenti e scaglia i salmoni in amore attraverso i tremiladuecento chilometri delle ribollenti acque dello Yukon.

[Federico DN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice doggie.

This was really really good, and an inspiration to write something of my own.

RTC.

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PERSONAL NOTE :
[1902] [28p] [Classics] [Recommendable]
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★★★★☆ Too Much Gold and Other Stories <--
★★★☆☆ El hombre de la cicatriz y otras narraciones

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Lindo perrito.

Esto fue realmente bueno, y una inspiración para escribir algo propio.

RTC

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NOTA PERSONAL :
[1902] [28p] [Clásicos] [Recommendable]
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[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story will not be for everyone. It's not all rainbows and unicorns, as they say. In fact it's zero rainbows and unicorns. That said, if themes of struggle, survival, identity, agency, one's nature, human-animal relationships, dominion and dominance, integrity, dedication, commitment, perseverance, honesty, patience, and unwavering focus interest you, give it a read. It's a straight-ahead, even angry accounting of Batard and his owner Black Leclere. Let these first sentences draw you in or push you away:

"Batard was a devil. This was recognized throughout the Northland. "Hell's Spawn" he was called by many men, but his master, Black Leclere, chose for him the shameful name, "Batard." Now Black Leclere was also a devil, and the twain were well matched. There is a saying that when two devils come together, hell is to pay."

I found it included as a sort of foreword to Pocket Books' 'Enriched Classic' edition of "The Call of the Wild."

[Alfredo Sirica · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stelle

Black Lecrère e il suo cane Bastardo amano odiarsi a vicenda. Il loro rapporto è morboso, il loro legame è basato sul bisogno catartico di sfogarsi l'uno sull'altro. Bastardo rappresenta una minaccia costante, sempre irato e pronto all'attacco. Il padrone è meno impulsivo, covando un odio cosciente che aspetta di sfogare sopprimendo il cane nel momento più opportuno e soddisfacente.

Come questa novella vuole insegnarci, è poco saggio sottovalutare una minaccia e procrastinarne il rimedio, sopravvalutando la nostra resistenza e la nostra sagacia. La minaccia, se la si lascia crescere senza estirparla finché si è in tempo, si trasforma in condanna.

[Mariner Waterworld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mine is a paperback edition with a compilation of a handful of short stories from the gold rush at the end of the XIX century.
It has been a very engaging reading experience, with involving descriptions of scenery as well as characters, impressions, feelings and motivations. It made it painful trying to scape death as gold miner that lost everything --hope included--, but was pushed forward only by life refusal to die, wondering at every nightfall if it will be just enough to get him awake next morning. It made it extremely stressful to watch the assassin, unconscious on the floor, with the need to kill him in order to survive and with the prohibition to kill him by the inner sense of justice. And it made so very real the cold, the hunger, the roughness of the wilderness...
It did really transport me to a place and a time without mobile, without security, with a completely different concept of comfort, often without food, and so very far from all I know, that indeed it resulted in a thrilling adventure, as reading should always be.

[Benedict · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another short story by Jack London, with the staple themes of man's relationship with dog (in the cold).

Diable (called Bâtard in later editions) is an aggressive half-wolf puppy adopted by the spiteful Black Leclère for the sole reason that Leclère hated him. The short story follows their violent lives together, their constant battling and determination to one day kill the other out of spite.

It's an engaging story initially but it gets a bit hard to swallow. There's a scene partway through where Leclère torments Diable with the noise of a harmonica, and it just seemed so petty that it was completely immersion-ruining. I could follow the man vs nature theme to a point but after then it was just... WHY..? Diable's hatred is easy to understand; his master constantly tortures him, and he's a dog, so he doesn't know any better and would retaliate. But Leclère? Why is he so obsessed with this dog? I didn't find it believable.

It's a good story if you like Jack London's other stuff but definitely not his strongest work.

[Myriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Increíble! Este es el tercer relato que me leo de London, después de "El ingenio de Poportuk" y "La hoguera", y debo decir que todavía no me ha decepcionado. Trata sobre la enemistad que se fragua entre Batard (el perro-lobo que da título a este relato) y su cruel dueño Leclere. Nos va relatando durante 5 de años el encarnecido desafío entre ambos seres y como esto desemboca a un final verdaderamente impactante.

[Everett Minshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batard was my introduction to Jack London, and I must say, never before have I read something so enthralling and visceral as this. A simple plot about a hateful dog and his evil owner speaks volumes of the Alaskan Gold Rush and how hate breeds hate and vengeance. This story is dope; a quick read worth the time.

[Ale Sfeir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diablo fue la primera historia que leí de Jack London, y debo decir que nunca antes había leído algo tan fascinante. Una trama simple sobre un perro odioso y su malvado dueño, más odioso que su mascota, tanto el amo como el animal son muy parecidos.
Esta historia es una lectura rápida que vale la pena leer en poco tiempo.
En mi opinión, el mejor trabajo de Jack London.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short story. I didn't expect the ending which made it 20 times better. I think this is a must read if you are a fan of jack London and even if you aren't. the relationship of hate is incredible to read. go buy it. now!

[Jeroen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid short story, with some of the best individual sentences I've ever read.

[RangerSix · Rating 5 out of 5]

The praise of evil, the glimmer in the most nefarious malignant cruelty. A dry, disturbing and perforating text.

[Lautaro Lobo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un relato cruel, que nos hace recordar que Jack London es un gran, gran escritor.

[Lasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Bâtard is the first story in my Penguin Classics edition, and it was an interesting introduction to Jack London’s style. The pacing is tight, and it immediately sets the tone for his gritty, wilderness-focused narratives.

The story centers on Bâtard, a dog filled with hatred for his abusive master, Black Leclère. It’s a brutal portrayal of their relationship, one built on violence, mistrust, and mutual contempt. This isn’t a heartwarming "man and his dog" tale—quite the opposite. The story dives deep into the harsh, survivalist instincts of both man and animal, and you can feel the raw, untamed wilderness pressing in on the characters.

While I appreciated the intensity and darkness of the story, it didn’t entirely win me over. The characters, especially Bâtard and Leclère, are bleak and hard to connect with emotionally. The plot feels more like a quick study in brutality rather than a fully fleshed-out narrative. It serves as a good introduction to Jack London’s world, but I was left wanting a bit more depth and complexity in the relationships and themes.

Overall, Bâtard is a decent, fast-paced read, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. I’m curious to see how London develops similar themes in his longer works.

Lasha 2024

[Bosburp · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Bâtard was the first story I read from the Penguin Classics collection of Jack London's works, which also includes White Fang, Call of the Wild, and Love of Life. It’s a fitting introduction to Jack London’s harsh and raw style of storytelling.

This story isn’t about loyalty, but quite the opposite—Bâtard and his master, Black Leclère, share a dark, violent, and bitter relationship. They aren’t companions but enemies, locked in a constant struggle for dominance. The story explores themes of hatred and vengeance between man and beast, creating a tense and almost uncomfortable atmosphere.

While it didn’t grip me as much as some of London’s more famous works, Bâtard is still a solid, intense read that showcases London’s knack for portraying the brutal side of nature. If you’re new to his writing, it’s a good way to experience the unforgiving world he often writes about.

-Bosburp

[Edith Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

hair-raising. a story of addictive hatred? a terrible man and a terrible dog coexist and live to see the other suffer, or maybe even die. can a dog outsmart his abusive master? can a man abuse a powerful beast and get away with it? can all this hate lead to any satisfaction? (spoiler: think the answer is no. )

[Magi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me pareció un relato demoledor.
Siento mucha pena por Bâtard, ya que probablemente nunca supo lo que es el amor y la calidez de un hogar. Nació y creció a raíz del dolor, maltrato, odio y violencia.
Leclère sólo pudo ofrecer odio y esa fue su condena, terminar siendo víctima del mismo dolor que sembró.
El odio mutuo los llevo a una oscuridad eterna de la que nunca serán libres, la muerte.

[José M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relato sobre el odio mutuo entre un perro y su amo. Cruel y directo, con claras reminiscencias de "La llamada de lo salvaje" pero aún más duro, más oscuro.
Qué decir de Jack London, no puedo ser imparcial con él, me encanta esa forma que tiene de trasladarte casi físicamente al interior de la historia, de hacer palpable lo peor del espíritu humano (y canino).

[Heather Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. I accidentally read this book because I downloaded call of the wild and thought this was the opening chapter when it actually was its own story. So an interesting but very dark tale as I was trying to figure out how Harrison Ford was going to fit in.
I guess the laugh is on me.

[Liliana Gulyasik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for creating writing.
With an engaging use of writing and elements of fiction, the story is quite visceral and violent with never one positive emotion. It's filled with violence and hatred and can be a difficult read.

[Nathan Beery · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion Jack London's best work

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colección del Diario Popular / El Día; tomo de 1995 entregado con el diario.

[James Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story shows cruelty in the relationship between Leclere and his wolfdog, Batard. Worth a read, and quite an engaging story.

[Silvano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un odio-amore ma anche tanto rispetto tra un uomo ed un cane. Si sono piaciuti-odiati alla prima occhiata. Breve, da leggere assolutamente.

[Nerea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3'5 stars

[Styria · Rating 3 out of 5]

J'apprécie toujours le style (et la traduction) de London mais beaucoup trop de maltraitance du chien.

[Gürkan Metin]

8,5/10

[Maria Tsagkari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Το επίμετρο ήταν πιο ενδιαφέρον απ' το short story.