Hearts of Three, by Jack London

by Jack London

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Genres: Classics, Fiction, Adventure, Romance, American, Childrens, Young Adult

388 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1911

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

[Debbie Zapata]

Anyone who knows how much I adore Jack London may be surprised to see a DNF from me for this book. I blame it on the foreword. I guess I never should have read it.

After reading The Abysmal Brute, i made a super-short list of other London titles that were not set in his usual locations and/or were not about his usual topics. This was the first one I chose to read, and when I saw this first paragraph of that infamous foreword, at first I was intrigued:
"I hope the reader will forgive me for beginning this foreword with a brag. In truth, this yarn is a celebration. By its completion I celebrate my fortieth birthday, my fiftieth book, my sixteenth year in the writing game, and a new departure. “Hearts of Three” is a new departure. I have certainly never done anything like it before; I am pretty certain never to do anything like it again. And I haven’t the least bit of reticence in proclaiming my pride in having done it. And now, for the reader who likes action, I advise him to skip the rest of this brag and foreword, and plunge into the narrative, and tell me if it just doesn’t read along."

That sounded pretty cool, but even though I like action, I read the rest of the foreword and learned that this book is a novelization by London of a movie script by Charles Goddard, the man responsible for The Perils Of Pauline and other such films.
Comes now Mr. Charles Goddard to one, Jack London, saying: “The time, the place, and the men are met; the moving pictures producers, the newspapers, and the capital, are ready: let us get together.” And we got. Result: “Hearts of Three.”

Well, I still thought it would be pretty cool. But then I got to thinking, and I decided that I really did not want to read such a thing, even if it was written by one of my favorite authors. It was not an original idea by London, it was merely a reworking of someone else's idea. Even if London would have been expected to put his own stamp on the story, he still had to follow the other man's plot lines and characterizations, not create any of his own.

I just couldn't face it. Even less when I skimmed the beginning of the first chapter. I have four other 'unusual' London titles waiting for me, so I will go on ahead to the next one and leave this one where it lies. I will also not be giving a rating, since it really is not fair to rate any book just on its foreword and my own prejudices against the creative process by which it was made.

DNF after the foreword.

[Sergei Ter-Tumasov (Սերգեյ Տեր-Թումասով) · Rating 2 out of 5]

В детстве эта книга мне очень нравилась (ну, еще бы - там столько приключений, поиски сокровищ и все в таком роде)!!!!!!! Но прочитав сейчас, увидел, что на приключениях и сериальных страстях далеко не уедешь. Книги любых жанров (в том числе и развлекательных) могут и должны нести в себе что-то настоящее, реальное, то, что каждый читатель может найти в своей собственной жизни. А когда этого нет, то книга выглядит как некое надувательство, как проявление неуважения к читателю!!!

[Metodi Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Един от многото ми любими романи като младеж, че и сега.

За разлика от повечето творби на Лондон, тази се развива в горещите Кариби и си заслужава да бъде прочетена!

Съкровище, пирати, бандити и загадки - какво повече му трябва на храбрия приключенец, избрал да се потопи във фантастичния разказ на Джек Лондон.

Непреходна класика!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

- I might be biased, because this book is one of those spell-binding gems that stole my heart when I was a kid
- Who doesn't like a tale of adventure and treasure seeking? This book right here has it all, including secret passages, deadly traps, old map... Indiana Jones, eat your heart out
- London writes great women. Considering that the novel was published in 1911 both Leoncia and the Lady Who Dreams feel modern, and there is practically no sexism so typical in literature of that period. His heroines are feminine and admirable, but also are strong-willed, brave and opinionated. After reading Hearts of Three, I sincerely believe in London's utmost respect for the opposite sex. I doubt that he considered females complete equals to males, but it seemed he held opinion that women had a natural power over men to which it was a virtue to submit. Does that make sense?
- This book needs to be published again! Why in the world is it out of print?!

[Inna · Rating 2 out of 5]

В ті роки, коли я захоплювалася романами Жюля Верна, я без сумніву оцінила б цей роман вищою оцінкою. Але зараз це сприймається як суміш дещо казкових пригод з пошуками скарбу і сантабарбари.

[Димитър Цолов · Rating 4 out of 5]

Задъхан приключенски сюжет, издържан в духа на произведенията на Х. Райдър Хагард и Едгар Бъроуз, гарниран с обилни дози романтика и страдащ от всички симпатични кусури на литературата от ония времена: крайно нелогични житейски избори на героите, посред низове от уникални съдбовни съвпадения. Личи си също така, че основата е била филмов сценарий (по идея на Чарлз Годард), защото дори самият автор признава, че в „Сърцата на тримата“ може би липсва органична свързаност. При все това доволно се забавлявах с перипетиите на двамата Моргановци и възлюбената им Леонсия, а томчето ще заеме своето място при останалите „Златни детски книги“ на „Труд“, които събирам от 2006 г.

[Oleh Bilinkevych · Rating 2 out of 5]

Деякі книги вартує залишити в тьмяних спогадах дитинства і більш не повертатись.

[Iryna Khomchuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Давно я так не падала в дитинство, як із цією книгою Це ж — саме те, що я любила читати (тому повз мене і пройшли Пітер Пен, чарівник Смарагдового міста та інші "дитячі" герої))) Карколомні пригоди, екзотичні місця, старовинні храми та їх скарби, а ще ж любов і дружба — тут наявні всі складові, аби захопити романтика (навіть якщо йому вже далеко за...)))
Однак це зовсім не той Джек Лондон, якого я досі читала, і це мене здивувало. Де глибина характерів? Де трагізм? Де занурення в потаємні куточки душі героя? Де відчуття того, що ти переживаєш разом із ним усі його випробування? Немає. Є просто яскраві й захоплюючі картинки, як того і вимагає кінематограф — адже роман написаний саме для кіно. Тому й багато у ньому погонь, стрілянини, зміни декорацій, блиску, візуалізацій, динаміки. А ще — яскравого карибського сонця, теплого моря, островів, зелені і спеки, тобто того, що чудово розфарбовує сірі листопадові дні)))

[Emiliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Бих препоръчала книгата на всички любители на приключенията.

[Maryna Ponomaryova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Для тих, хто любить латиноамериканські серіали.

[Viktoriia Lastovets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Классный приключенческий роман.
Очень живое и интересное повествование, непохожее на другие романы Джека Лондона. Прочитав аннотацию, понимаю почему.
Раньше я смотрела фильм, очень его люблю, но (как обычно бывает) книга превосходит по качеству описания природы, а также мыслей и рассуждений главных героев. Причем концовка в книге намного длиннее и полна событиями, которых я не помню в фильме.
Рекомендую к прочтению всем любителям приключений, загадок и тайн индейцев майа, а также поклонникам романтических историй.

[Daulet Smagulov · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Сердца трёх" - это, на мой взгляд, самое слабое произведение Джека Лондона. В своём желании уместить в произведении столь огромное множество событий, автор упускает массу деталей, некоторые сцены или события выглядят абсолютно нелепыми, некоторые развешанные ранее "ружья" так и остаются нетронутыми до самого конца. Очень сильно, видимо, сказалось желание автора сделать книгу максимально кинематографичной, его соавторство с Чарльзом Годдардом и незнание того, куда приведут героев сюжетные перипетии в следующих главах. Но чего у книги не отнять, так это хорошо проработанных и харизматичных персонажей, которые, однако, не получают должного развития и раскрытия в ходе сюжета.

[Gela Tevzadze · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best adventure novels I've ever read! Got acquainted with it sometime in early teens, and the favorable impression still persists... Can not say for sure whether re-reading will improve or even maintain this perception, but definitely a great reading for formative years.

[Aleksandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Сразу предупреждаю, все мои слова в этой рецензии - это исключительно личное мнение, и многое, что мне не понравилось,связано только с тем, что у меня свои взгляды на вещи, да и кажется, что возраст также даёт своё.

Очень приятно было ознакомиться с предисловием автора, которое объясняет многие особенности романа: Джек Лондон писал это произведение вместе со сценаристом кинофильмов, и вся история готовилась напрямую к экранизации. Вы это почувствуете по стилю и языку романа: в книге очень мало детальных описаний природы, окружающего мира, нет витиеватых предложений, достаточно неглубоко показаны чувства героев. Кроме легких прикосновений, вздрагиваний, томящих взглядов не ждите ничего. Диалоги достаточно просты и их очень много, поэтому книга читается достаточно легко.

Основной сюжет - это классический вестерн с гринго, индейцами, рабами, добычей нефти, игрой на бирже, поиском клада.
Однако, всё это разбавляется большим количеством романтических отношений в стиле мыльных опер, а именно, обнаружения тайных родственников, безответной любви, любовного пятиугольника (!). И всё было бы ничего, если бы романтическая часть не была достаточно поверхностной для меня. Я не верила в любовь ни одного из персонажей, действия их не всегда следовали тому, что они говорят. Если честно, жаль было только королеву племени, но это мелочи.

Что же мне не понравилось и почему я поставила 2,5 из 5:
1. Образ женщины, а именно испанской женщины и отношение мужчин, героев романа. Времена, конечно, были другие, но поэтому сейчас и читать уже такие книги не очень хочется, особенно, потому что есть приключенческие романы, где женщина смела и интересна как личность. Леонсия же, я её так и не поняла и всю её любовную линию. В предисловии автор упоминал, что книгу он писал по указанию сценариста и однажды ему пришлось резко поменять сюжет, в частности в романтической его части. Может быть это было увлекательно для автора, но скорее всего именно такой подход нанёс урон книге.
2. Ярлыки на почве национальности: он же гринго, индеец, негр, испанец (нужное подчеркнуть)! Причём такого в книге слишком много для меня и постепенно перестаёт казаться как ирония, а скорее как заноза в ухе.

Вот убрать бы стенания Леонсии, некоторые сцены с национальными ярлыками, то было бы чуть лучше. Но опять же, ни один из героев не удивил меня. Наверное, читать надо было чуть-чуть раньше в жизни.

[Мариана Рангелова · Rating 4 out of 5]

Наскоро си припомних тази книга, която си спомнях от детството си. Потопих се между пожълтелите страници, за да погълна историята, която ни представя Джек Лондон. Иска ми се да бъде преиздадена, за да имам копие, което аз съм си купила (защото майчиното малко се поокъсва вече)...

любим цитат:
"- Ти и аз сме жени - благо и нежно я смъмри царицата - и не можем да съдим сами за себе си, понеже сме жени. Мъжете ще решат дали съм лъжлива вещица или жена с любящо сърце. А засега, понеже сме жени и следователно слаби същества, да бъдем добри една към друга."

[Daniel Rico · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una historia entretenida escrita para vender y por ello contiene enormes lagunas para el lector avispado.

[Maksym Popovych · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's really quite rare that I say this about a book but I really didn't like this one. It's not that I didn't enjoy reading it in some sense, but it's just clearly not well-written, almost as if it had been badly written on purpose.

Before taking up Hearts of Three, I had read Foucault's Pendulum, a highly reflective book, charged with intellectual references and allusions. So I wanted to pick some light reading for a change. It turns out that 'light' reading also needs to be well-written to be enjoyable...

I was intrigued by the introduction where the author admits that he wasn't satisfied with the result when he had finished writing Hearts of Three. Jack London explains that it was originally intended to be a screenplay for a movie, which would be packed with action. He speaks of the cinema of the time in a condescending tone, essentially calling it a supply of visual rollercoasters. Interestingly, that is how some people refer to superhero movies nowadays.

Although I generally enjoy fast-paced stories, action for the sake of action escapes me as a reader. Within a single page, the protagonist decides to leave New York, takes a train across the country to New Orleans, boards a ship somewhere to Central America, rents a boat, and arrives to a treasure island. On top of that, the characters are really flat. They change their minds as quickly as the wind changes direction in the boat chase chapter (I almost wrote 'the boat chase scene'). There's a lot of gun-shooting, fist-fighting, prison-setting-on-dynamite, almost-hanging-the-innocent and so on.

The love story is simply bizarre with lots of engagements, marriages, lost siblings, all of which reads as a Mexican telenovela. The women do not sit idly by and are engaged in some action. But they are written in the way that they appear capricious and entitled. People of color are shown very much from the colonial perspective, although there are some bright moments of sympathy and empowerment in the book.

First, I thought that I didn't like the book because it is written for children. But ultimately I don't think that's really the main issue here... I recently re-read some books from my childhood and I still enjoyed them.

Two stars just for the inventive adventures and the ability to pack so much in such a little book.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

London's riotous final novel is a ludicrously entertaining page turner. A young NY stockbroker goes to Panama to find a lost treasure and encounters an identical twin cousin, stages a jail break, gets married to a beautiful cult leader, escapes from bandits, etc., etc. There are even giant spiders. London finds himself in a particularly buoyant mood - the dialogue is fun and quippy, and the pace relentless. In his introduction, he cheerfully admits he wrote this book as a treatment for the movies - sadly, it was his last book, as he died at the ludicrous age of 40. But what a way to go.

[Kakha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I love this book! How much pleasure I got while reading it... JL is just an amazing writer, his works are so different and gorgeous.

[Evgeniia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You have the makings of a man. I now lay my sentence upon you: From now on, through all your days under the sun, you shall always think like a man, act like a man, be a man. Better to die a man any time, than live a beast forever in time. The Ecclesiast was wrong. A dead lion is always better than a live dog."

"The memory of it did not make him a bit happy. Nor did the rightness of it. Right it was. That he never questioned. Yet the right, he found in his case, to be the sorriest of consolation."

I started reading this book, the story of which I know by heart, only because I love Jack London’s style. But I noticed very quickly that exactly in this book there wasn’t anything of his style. But it doesn’t make the book worse. I always do some conclusions and notes during reading. But I never write them down before I finish reading the whole book. Because only in this case I can judge objectively.

More books I read – more fastidious I become. Because when I just started reading the book I felt there was a lack of literariness, preciosity of speech and beauty of language which represent for this kind of literature. All description was really simple, close to life and very ordinary. It was like that till the end of the book. Although Hemingway expressed himself in such style for a reason. It was his special style. He didn’t show any descriptions, neither of nature, nor of people, there weren’t any reflections, deep thoughts and introductions. Hemingway had only facts, actions and dialogs. His speech was unpretentious and yet I really like to read him. In “Hearts of Three” by London there are not any descriptions. And I even don’t know how I would imagine characters if I didn’t imagine them like they were in the movie. Because there wasn’t much description of characters’ appearance in the book. London doesn’t describe things and people much, almost all book consists of dialogs. But exactly this thing makes it so dynamic.

I got caught a lot starting with the Valley of Lost Souls. It’s surprising, but I love the movie the most exactly right from this moment. And after this it was impossible to stop reading. I wanted to read more, because it was interesting. Although I had a special interest. I wanted to find differences between the movie and the book :D That’s why I tried to find episodes and moments which weren’t in the movie.

I have watched the movie many times, but I completely don’t remember the first part. Or I don’t remember it that detailed as I remember the second one :D That’s why the first thing which attracted my attention was Francis Morgan and even more this behavior. He was rich, spoiled young man. Well, further on in Russian version of this entry I was comparing more detailed the book and the movie. I’m pretty sure none of you has watched the movie I’m talking about. Because it’s a Russian one. And it will be pointless to translate things which are not significant for you. Moreover unfortunately you’re not able to compare. So I’ll translate only things which have a bit of sense. And this is the cover of the movie.

I didn’t really like Parker. In the movie he seemed to be nicer. I’m really sorry about the Queen. She deserved happiness, but not death. And the fact that she was killed by Torres makes her death even sadder. And the whole chapter was deserved to Torres death. He really deserved it.

[Ira Therebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite book when I was 10. I have no idea how many times I read it. But I didn't remember what it was about anymore so I decided to read it as an adult. I didn't have many expectations since as a child one may like something completely different as an adult.

This book is very different from anything else Jack London wrote. It is based on a movie scenery and is more like a soap opera with adventures.

One thing I didn't like were the characters. Very simple. Their relationship seems incredibly ridiculous. But I guess many books have love at first sight. While the male characters are just simple, Leoncia is also annoying. How can anyone love that selfish brat? I liked Queen way more, she actually has something. And by the description she was also more beautiful. I also can't believe how indifferently Francis reacted to her death. What the hell!

The book really has a lot of adventures. A lot is happening, really a lot! This is a great thing. Although some parts seem to be going by too fast. Like there was not enough written. I love fast paced adventures but here it felt like something was missing.

I think I might be overrating this. It is a book with a lot happening and yet badly developed characters one doesn't care for and pretty horrible dialogues. I still liked it due to action, but I have a feeling that if I never have read this as a kid I would have given it a 3. But because it was so special to me back then and I would have probably rated it 10 out of 5 when I was a kid I think it may deserve an extra star. It is probably just better to read when one is younger.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. A typical adventure novel by London, but this one suffers mostly from the fact that it was not his original idea. I'm never one to say that writers should leave their comfort zone and explore settings that they usually wouldn't write about, but I think this one should have stayed on the shelf. I've read a lot of Jack's books, but this had to be the most stereotypical and racist one that he's ever written. I'm used to him writing Side characters that end up being caricatures of their race, but this one was so bad it was almost comical. I was actually laughing at some of the serious parts just because of how incredibly unrealistic these characters came across as.

The characters aside, I really liked the plot itself. The adventure and the mystery surrounding the treasure were fascinating. The action scenes were incredible which is already a strong point of his writing. I just wish he had put this in the Yukon or another place where you know he's comfortable. Not the worst book I've ever read, but I don't think I would ever reread this one especially when he has so many other books that have the same intensity and stakes, but with much better writing.

[Sean Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

If it’s action and adventure you want then this is a fun little story.

Beware, though, the book is quite dated in its use of language and racial slurs. There are a few incidences of very questionable language used to describe peoples of different race and class, and relationships between people of different races. The views expressed on these occasions are totally unacceptable in today’s society.

If you’re able to put that to one side, the plot is fast paced and engaging.

This particular version from Palmyra Classics is disappointingly full of typos! It’s still completely understandable; my guess is that the Russian publisher has used a computer to scan and re-produce the text and they have failed to proof read it before publishing.

[Marko · Rating 5 out of 5]

For once, London was not writing about Alaska.

[Bettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story got away from the author at points but the enthusiasm and romance never falters. Not especially 'kewl' for today's readers but I was immersed.

4.5*

[Anya Levkovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as a kid.. While I read it in Russian. Loved it even more now as an adult in its original language!

[Yuliia · Rating 3 out of 5]

finally!
my own happy end.

[Laura]

Free download available at FeedBooks.

[Kateryna Krotova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one of my favorite books!!! Love it!

[Dias Kappassov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Хороший роман, ближе к концу уже не можешь остановить чтение.