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A Daughter of the Snows (1902) is Jack London's first novel. Set in the Yukon, it tells the story of Frona Welse, "a Stanford graduate and physical Valkyrie" who takes to the trail after upsetting her wealthy father's community by her forthright manner and befriending the town's prostitute. She is also torn between love for two suitors: Gregory St Vincent, a local man who turns out to be cowardly and treacherous; and Vance Corliss, a Yale-trained mining engineer.
248 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1902
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About the author
Jack London
7,641 books7,689 followersJohn 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".
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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May 24, 2022
1902, Jack London pubblica il suo primo romanzo, appunto La figlia delle nevi, ha circa 26 anni e si sentono eccome.
Il libro che ho appena letto mi è parso come una frenetica voglia dell'autore di mettere su carta tutto ciò che fremeva nella sua mente in quel determinato periodo, posso capirlo, ma credo anche che facendo ciò si rischia di andare in sovraccarico e così è stato, ovviamente questo è un mio personale giudizio di fine lettura.
La storia che ci viene raccontata è il ritorno nelle terre natie di Frona, figlia della massima autorità in un luogo sperduto ed aspro come il Klondike. Frona troverà al suo ritorno persone che conosceva già ed altre ne conoscerà durante le varie avventure qui raccontate, ma...
Come dicevo prima, London ha voluto strafare, perchè ha messo troppa carne al fuoco: ha voluto raccontare di come vivevano in quella landa dimenticata da Dio che è l'Alaska, dove alla fine dell'Ottocento, periodo in cui è narrata la storia, gli uomini andavano in cerca dell'oro, poi racconta della crescita di Frona e di molte altre situazioni.
Il problema principale è quello strato appiccicoso e stantio di razzismo e xenofobia, questi immersi in elucubrazioni al limite dell'alcolico perso sulla mitologia nordica, di supposta supremazia etnica e via di queste immonde riflessioni, così come riflessioni inudibili sulle presunte inferiorità femminili e via discorrendo, dove non mi dilungo perchè ho già i conati a volontà!
I vari intrecci sono confusionari, mi son perso varie volte, si passa di palo in frasca e la narrazione mi è risultata prolissa, petulante e supponente.
La ciliegina sulla torta poi me l'ha regalata questa "bella" edizione, dove i refusi sono in una quantità che mai avrei immaginato di trovare in un'opera letteraria. Ci sono nomi che cambiano, Frona diventa Forna, Lucile che diventa Lucilla e poi una serie infinita di errori di singolare col plurale, boh!
Jack, mi spiace ma questa volta non ci siamo proprio, bocciato senza riserve!
Il libro che ho appena letto mi è parso come una frenetica voglia dell'autore di mettere su carta tutto ciò che fremeva nella sua mente in quel determinato periodo, posso capirlo, ma credo anche che facendo ciò si rischia di andare in sovraccarico e così è stato, ovviamente questo è un mio personale giudizio di fine lettura.
La storia che ci viene raccontata è il ritorno nelle terre natie di Frona, figlia della massima autorità in un luogo sperduto ed aspro come il Klondike. Frona troverà al suo ritorno persone che conosceva già ed altre ne conoscerà durante le varie avventure qui raccontate, ma...
Come dicevo prima, London ha voluto strafare, perchè ha messo troppa carne al fuoco: ha voluto raccontare di come vivevano in quella landa dimenticata da Dio che è l'Alaska, dove alla fine dell'Ottocento, periodo in cui è narrata la storia, gli uomini andavano in cerca dell'oro, poi racconta della crescita di Frona e di molte altre situazioni.
Il problema principale è quello strato appiccicoso e stantio di razzismo e xenofobia, questi immersi in elucubrazioni al limite dell'alcolico perso sulla mitologia nordica, di supposta supremazia etnica e via di queste immonde riflessioni, così come riflessioni inudibili sulle presunte inferiorità femminili e via discorrendo, dove non mi dilungo perchè ho già i conati a volontà!
I vari intrecci sono confusionari, mi son perso varie volte, si passa di palo in frasca e la narrazione mi è risultata prolissa, petulante e supponente.
La ciliegina sulla torta poi me l'ha regalata questa "bella" edizione, dove i refusi sono in una quantità che mai avrei immaginato di trovare in un'opera letteraria. Ci sono nomi che cambiano, Frona diventa Forna, Lucile che diventa Lucilla e poi una serie infinita di errori di singolare col plurale, boh!
Jack, mi spiace ma questa volta non ci siamo proprio, bocciato senza riserve!
November 9, 2013
(NOTE: This is a long review, because at the time of this writing, most of the other reviews, are short and would not have helped me make up my mind about choosing to read the book. So this is quite lengthy, but is designed for the ones trying to decide whether to read it or not.)
This book brings out very mixed feelings. I would do 2 1/2 stars if I could. First, this was written in 1902 which means it reflects the thinking of the time and of the setting in Alaska. As well, it is either London's first or second novel, as he wrote two that year. So, as with many young writers, his craft is developing and we can see the difference between a book like White Fang and A Daughter of the Snows.
In one way, the book is forward thinking, as its female lead Frona Welse is a very unconventional, independent young woman who returns after about 10 years of education to the wilds of Alaska. It does not hurt that her father is one of the most powerful merchants in Alaska and supplies all the gold prospectors with their rations. His power is shown by the strict rationing of sugar he gives out to even the wealthiest of the Eldorado Kings. At any rate, Frona is by Edwardian and Victorian standards an unconventional woman. Jack London, however, contrasts her to the "burlesque" women who frequent the dance halls and are not considered worthy of socializing with her. Lucille is good enough for the men to dance with, but when she meets Frona on the road, she tries to avoid "sullying" Frona. Frona, on the other hand, has few such thoughts. She tries to be kind and friendly, and when Lucille visits her, she insists the Indian servant bring her in. Later, when Lucille marries Treadway, Frona agrees to stand in as her maid of honor, and with the help of a few others, makes sure that Lucille Treadway and her husband are included in the social set. As well, Frona handles a gun, a dog team, a canoe, rescue operations, and bitter cold without complaints or comment. She is a strong character, and she is actually above reproach in all areas sexual.
In another way, this book is about as backward thinking as you can get. The many discussions about the superiority of the white race, in particular the Nordic stock, is overdone, and is really hard to swallow. Since it is a product of its times, the racism has to be viewed as if you were living in 1902 not 2013. I don't know London's views on race and racial superiority. In this book, as in others, he treats the Indians as mainly decent characters. So it is not that he denigrates them, but rather the words of some of his characters espouse the great virtues of the white race over other races. This leaves me to believe that the attitudes of the characters are just that, the attitudes of the characters. As anyone who has read other Jack London books knows, he has really evil characters who treat dogs horribly and others that treat them very well. The problem I have is that both Frona and Vance Corliss, the two sympathetic characters in the book, are the ones discussing and espousing these views. So you can both admire and dislike aspects of Frona.
The book centers around Frona Welse, Vance Corliss, and Gregory St. Vincent. The support characters of Del Bishop and Jake Welse round out the characters that are really, truly focused on in this book. There are other characters that are strong, sturdy regulars, but it is sometimes hard to keep them all straight. They include Eldorado Kings, traveling gold prospectors, a few Indians like Bella and Gow, and some French colonel who has not yet learned to paddle a canoe (can't remember his name). Corliss the mining engineer and St. Vincent the traveling correspondent are the chief rivals for Frona's affections, an area where Frona's father says SHE must choose. He promises not to interfere. Here are spoilers, but I'm not hiding them, as they are somewhat predictable. Corliss proposes and is turned down, but Frona wants to remain friends. St. Vincent proposes and is accepted. In the novel, Corliss is presented as the admirable character, ethical, brave, and above reproach. On the other hand, St. Vincent is portrayed as a coward, a lady's man, and a tall-tale spinner. You listen to his tales and you wonder how on earth they could be true. However, the women love him and are charmed by him, and the men almost to a one dislike him. Indeed, after the first big brawl in which St. Vincent is introduced and shown to be a coward, Del Bishop shows a hate for him and seems bent on bringing him down. This will lead us to more spoilers later.
The strongest point of this book is the description of the ice break on the river. The great detail devoted to that was AMAZING! I could really get the sense of the ice breaking up, the power and fear of the huge pieces of ice sheering away trees and raising the water level and flooding cabins. It's almost as breath-taking as a picture. (I'm sure there are those who feel it goes on too long over several chapters, but I would say, that is London's strength in a book that often drags in terms of plot, too long for some events, and too little for others.)
The book could indeed have been shorter with a lot of inaction and not much happening in the way of character development or theme development. You do get a good sense of the setting == both time and place in this novel. Even in his first novels, London had a way with that. The characters are not overly developed, and yet you fully understand Frona, St. Vincent, and Corliss, so I guess they are developed enough.
There two plot points that really do something to make the book are actually interesting. The first is the attempted rescue of the man who collapses on the other side of the river from Split Island. The harrowing canoe attempt to rescue him and to bring him back are interesting and tie directly in with what I said above about enjoying the descriptions of the ice breaking up. They find that he is still alive after 3 days (how???? seems implausible) and that he carries urgent dispatches for Frona's father. They are able to bring him back across the river, but not to Split Island but the other island. Frona sends Corliss to get help for the man or to take him to her father. Meanwhile, Frona comes upon the scene in the one big cabin where Gregory St. Vincent stands accused of killing Bella and her "husband", a very angry, ruminating, dangerous fellow. Frona acts as his defense attorney in this mockery of s trial. All evidence is circumstantial except for Bella's dying words that say St. Vincent is to blame. Predictably, St. Vincent is found guilty by all the miners and is sentenced to immediate hanging. ON the gallows, St. Vincent changes his story to one that reveals him a total coward (his first story was that two masked me came in and there was a huge brawl that killed Bella and the angry man -- whose name eludes me!). One Indian with a scar supposedly came in and Bella and this Indian did in Bella's husband. No one believes Gregory St. Vincent, and he is about to be hung. Just in the nick of time, a raft comes up, a body of a badly wounded Indian named Gow is deposited on shore, and Gregory identifies him as the murderer. After many communication attempts, one of the miners is able to communicate with Gow (in Gow's language) and confirm Gregory St. Vincent's cowardly story.
WE are not almost to the end of the book. St. Vincent is set free, but Frona is forever changed in her feelings toward him. He threatens to sully her name with things he THINKS he knows. Then Corliss comes and Frona reveals that her father had to leave for the "OUTSIDE" -- which I assume means outside Alaska because of the dispatches -- and she asks Corliss to take her back to Dawson now that the rivers are free of ice. But the last words in the chapter and the book are directed by Frona to St. Vincent. "'He ...he suggested you,' she added shyly, indicating St. Vincent." I assume HE means her father had suggested that St. Vincent escort her back to Dawson. I have no idea and it is one of the strangest endings I've encountered in a classic. I HATE the ending...it makes no sense. I did not expect Frona to fling herself into Corliss's arms, but I thought she'd walk away from St. Vincent. Not just be standing at the edge of the river between Gregory and Vance. I don't even really see the symbolism,and that is why I include the whole ending here, even if it is a spoiler, because it doesn't SPOIL anything.
So do I recommend this book? Yes, if you like to read about the Alaskan goal rush times and like unconventional women characters. NO, if you want well-written, well-resolved plot lines.
This book brings out very mixed feelings. I would do 2 1/2 stars if I could. First, this was written in 1902 which means it reflects the thinking of the time and of the setting in Alaska. As well, it is either London's first or second novel, as he wrote two that year. So, as with many young writers, his craft is developing and we can see the difference between a book like White Fang and A Daughter of the Snows.
In one way, the book is forward thinking, as its female lead Frona Welse is a very unconventional, independent young woman who returns after about 10 years of education to the wilds of Alaska. It does not hurt that her father is one of the most powerful merchants in Alaska and supplies all the gold prospectors with their rations. His power is shown by the strict rationing of sugar he gives out to even the wealthiest of the Eldorado Kings. At any rate, Frona is by Edwardian and Victorian standards an unconventional woman. Jack London, however, contrasts her to the "burlesque" women who frequent the dance halls and are not considered worthy of socializing with her. Lucille is good enough for the men to dance with, but when she meets Frona on the road, she tries to avoid "sullying" Frona. Frona, on the other hand, has few such thoughts. She tries to be kind and friendly, and when Lucille visits her, she insists the Indian servant bring her in. Later, when Lucille marries Treadway, Frona agrees to stand in as her maid of honor, and with the help of a few others, makes sure that Lucille Treadway and her husband are included in the social set. As well, Frona handles a gun, a dog team, a canoe, rescue operations, and bitter cold without complaints or comment. She is a strong character, and she is actually above reproach in all areas sexual.
In another way, this book is about as backward thinking as you can get. The many discussions about the superiority of the white race, in particular the Nordic stock, is overdone, and is really hard to swallow. Since it is a product of its times, the racism has to be viewed as if you were living in 1902 not 2013. I don't know London's views on race and racial superiority. In this book, as in others, he treats the Indians as mainly decent characters. So it is not that he denigrates them, but rather the words of some of his characters espouse the great virtues of the white race over other races. This leaves me to believe that the attitudes of the characters are just that, the attitudes of the characters. As anyone who has read other Jack London books knows, he has really evil characters who treat dogs horribly and others that treat them very well. The problem I have is that both Frona and Vance Corliss, the two sympathetic characters in the book, are the ones discussing and espousing these views. So you can both admire and dislike aspects of Frona.
The book centers around Frona Welse, Vance Corliss, and Gregory St. Vincent. The support characters of Del Bishop and Jake Welse round out the characters that are really, truly focused on in this book. There are other characters that are strong, sturdy regulars, but it is sometimes hard to keep them all straight. They include Eldorado Kings, traveling gold prospectors, a few Indians like Bella and Gow, and some French colonel who has not yet learned to paddle a canoe (can't remember his name). Corliss the mining engineer and St. Vincent the traveling correspondent are the chief rivals for Frona's affections, an area where Frona's father says SHE must choose. He promises not to interfere. Here are spoilers, but I'm not hiding them, as they are somewhat predictable. Corliss proposes and is turned down, but Frona wants to remain friends. St. Vincent proposes and is accepted. In the novel, Corliss is presented as the admirable character, ethical, brave, and above reproach. On the other hand, St. Vincent is portrayed as a coward, a lady's man, and a tall-tale spinner. You listen to his tales and you wonder how on earth they could be true. However, the women love him and are charmed by him, and the men almost to a one dislike him. Indeed, after the first big brawl in which St. Vincent is introduced and shown to be a coward, Del Bishop shows a hate for him and seems bent on bringing him down. This will lead us to more spoilers later.
The strongest point of this book is the description of the ice break on the river. The great detail devoted to that was AMAZING! I could really get the sense of the ice breaking up, the power and fear of the huge pieces of ice sheering away trees and raising the water level and flooding cabins. It's almost as breath-taking as a picture. (I'm sure there are those who feel it goes on too long over several chapters, but I would say, that is London's strength in a book that often drags in terms of plot, too long for some events, and too little for others.)
The book could indeed have been shorter with a lot of inaction and not much happening in the way of character development or theme development. You do get a good sense of the setting == both time and place in this novel. Even in his first novels, London had a way with that. The characters are not overly developed, and yet you fully understand Frona, St. Vincent, and Corliss, so I guess they are developed enough.
There two plot points that really do something to make the book are actually interesting. The first is the attempted rescue of the man who collapses on the other side of the river from Split Island. The harrowing canoe attempt to rescue him and to bring him back are interesting and tie directly in with what I said above about enjoying the descriptions of the ice breaking up. They find that he is still alive after 3 days (how???? seems implausible) and that he carries urgent dispatches for Frona's father. They are able to bring him back across the river, but not to Split Island but the other island. Frona sends Corliss to get help for the man or to take him to her father. Meanwhile, Frona comes upon the scene in the one big cabin where Gregory St. Vincent stands accused of killing Bella and her "husband", a very angry, ruminating, dangerous fellow. Frona acts as his defense attorney in this mockery of s trial. All evidence is circumstantial except for Bella's dying words that say St. Vincent is to blame. Predictably, St. Vincent is found guilty by all the miners and is sentenced to immediate hanging. ON the gallows, St. Vincent changes his story to one that reveals him a total coward (his first story was that two masked me came in and there was a huge brawl that killed Bella and the angry man -- whose name eludes me!). One Indian with a scar supposedly came in and Bella and this Indian did in Bella's husband. No one believes Gregory St. Vincent, and he is about to be hung. Just in the nick of time, a raft comes up, a body of a badly wounded Indian named Gow is deposited on shore, and Gregory identifies him as the murderer. After many communication attempts, one of the miners is able to communicate with Gow (in Gow's language) and confirm Gregory St. Vincent's cowardly story.
WE are not almost to the end of the book. St. Vincent is set free, but Frona is forever changed in her feelings toward him. He threatens to sully her name with things he THINKS he knows. Then Corliss comes and Frona reveals that her father had to leave for the "OUTSIDE" -- which I assume means outside Alaska because of the dispatches -- and she asks Corliss to take her back to Dawson now that the rivers are free of ice. But the last words in the chapter and the book are directed by Frona to St. Vincent. "'He ...he suggested you,' she added shyly, indicating St. Vincent." I assume HE means her father had suggested that St. Vincent escort her back to Dawson. I have no idea and it is one of the strangest endings I've encountered in a classic. I HATE the ending...it makes no sense. I did not expect Frona to fling herself into Corliss's arms, but I thought she'd walk away from St. Vincent. Not just be standing at the edge of the river between Gregory and Vance. I don't even really see the symbolism,and that is why I include the whole ending here, even if it is a spoiler, because it doesn't SPOIL anything.
So do I recommend this book? Yes, if you like to read about the Alaskan goal rush times and like unconventional women characters. NO, if you want well-written, well-resolved plot lines.
August 4, 2020
A parte i ricorrenti sproloqui sulla superiorità della razza sassone, c’è tutta la potenza narrativa di Jack.
Lo Yukon ghiacciato che si rompe ha un fragore che assorda le orecchie. Frona è stata una dei miti fondanti della mia infanzia (nonostante la mia totale ritrosia per le basse temperature, andare a caccia d’oro nello Yukon con una muta di cani, mi attirava assai), anche se l’edizione Sonzogno di cui disponevo era talmente tagliuzzata e brutalmente tradotta che solo adesso ho capito tutta la vicenda di Tamerlano , così come quella della prostituta (praticamente espunta).
Lo Yukon ghiacciato che si rompe ha un fragore che assorda le orecchie. Frona è stata una dei miti fondanti della mia infanzia (nonostante la mia totale ritrosia per le basse temperature, andare a caccia d’oro nello Yukon con una muta di cani, mi attirava assai), anche se l’edizione Sonzogno di cui disponevo era talmente tagliuzzata e brutalmente tradotta che solo adesso ho capito tutta la vicenda di Tamerlano , così come quella della prostituta (praticamente espunta).
May 24, 2022
Troppo razzista e misogino per i miei gusti. Lo abbandono senza rimpianto.
May 17, 2013
Here’s one for the white supremacy bookshelf. Hard to find a book with more crack-brained ideas about race than this first novel by Jack London. Set in northern Canada during the gold rush on the Klondike, it’s also a mixed bag of yarns about miners and adventurers on the north frontier.
The daughter of the title is Frona Welse a spirited and fiercely independent young woman whose main grievance is that she wasn’t born male. Being a woman she has to settle for living vicariously through the lives of adventurous men. There’s also the nuisance of amorous advances by men who don’t live up to her ideals. . .
Read my review at my blog.
The daughter of the title is Frona Welse a spirited and fiercely independent young woman whose main grievance is that she wasn’t born male. Being a woman she has to settle for living vicariously through the lives of adventurous men. There’s also the nuisance of amorous advances by men who don’t live up to her ideals. . .
Read my review at my blog.
June 1, 2022
Primo romanzo scritto da Jack London, autore che personalmente adoro, ma che in quest'opera prima è ancora acerbo nella scrittura.
La prima cosa da rilevare è che pur partendo come un romanzo di avventure, ha un lungo intermezzo rosa, torna all'avventura poi vira sul legal thriller e infine si conclude. Questo miscuglio di generi crea confusione, tradisce le aspettative del lettore e non appare ben gestito da London. Altro grosso problema è la descrizione della protagonista che parte come una giovane intraprendete e anticonformista, poi ha una fase di passività, si risveglia all'avventura e anche al confronto alla pari con i signori maschietti e poi chiude in modo quieto. L'aspetto, però, più fastidioso di questo romanzo (per fortuna enunciato solo in una quantità ridotta di pagine, ma non meno sgradevole per questo) è l'enunciazione della presunta supremazia della razza bianca (per la precisione anglosassone) sulle altre. London scriveva ai primi del '900 e questo probabilmente era il sentire comune dell'epoca, quindi vale come descrizione di un ambiente culturale dell'epoca. Del resto, è bene leggere oggi queste pagine spiacevoli perchè dobbiamo ricordare che il suprematismo è un problema tutt'ora esistente ed è pericoloso fare finta che tutti siano in grado di avere una mente aperta e priva di pregiudizi.
In mezzo a tutto questo guazzabuglio, troviamo delle bellissime pagine sull'Alaska, la descrizione di una traversata del fiume ghiacciato mozzafiato e una protagonista che, nei suoi momenti buoni, è davvero forte.
La prima cosa da rilevare è che pur partendo come un romanzo di avventure, ha un lungo intermezzo rosa, torna all'avventura poi vira sul legal thriller e infine si conclude. Questo miscuglio di generi crea confusione, tradisce le aspettative del lettore e non appare ben gestito da London. Altro grosso problema è la descrizione della protagonista che parte come una giovane intraprendete e anticonformista, poi ha una fase di passività, si risveglia all'avventura e anche al confronto alla pari con i signori maschietti e poi chiude in modo quieto. L'aspetto, però, più fastidioso di questo romanzo (per fortuna enunciato solo in una quantità ridotta di pagine, ma non meno sgradevole per questo) è l'enunciazione della presunta supremazia della razza bianca (per la precisione anglosassone) sulle altre. London scriveva ai primi del '900 e questo probabilmente era il sentire comune dell'epoca, quindi vale come descrizione di un ambiente culturale dell'epoca. Del resto, è bene leggere oggi queste pagine spiacevoli perchè dobbiamo ricordare che il suprematismo è un problema tutt'ora esistente ed è pericoloso fare finta che tutti siano in grado di avere una mente aperta e priva di pregiudizi.
In mezzo a tutto questo guazzabuglio, troviamo delle bellissime pagine sull'Alaska, la descrizione di una traversata del fiume ghiacciato mozzafiato e una protagonista che, nei suoi momenti buoni, è davvero forte.
November 30, 2018
To start off I must say that I think this is a wonderful book with a very likeable heroine. She is so accomplished that it might even put Katniss Everdeen to shame. The scene where the story takes place is also extremely vivid and I felt like I was back in that era, which was nice.
I did not know what to expect after reading most of the reviews here, so after having a very different experience I feel like I must say this:
This book is in no way, shape or form racist! The words racist and racism have become a joke, sadly, and to use them to judge this book is shocking. Yes, one guy (the good guy) at one point in the book declares his love for the white race and says that it is better than others and has explored more, built more and done more civilized things. So what? Can´t a white man enjoy the accomplishments of his race, his ancestors? Is that only okay for EVERYONE else? This happens only once in the book, does not take up much space, 2-3 pages at most, and then it´s over. The guy didn´t want to harm anyone else, he was just having a moment (which of course, I felt a bit silly reading about since I´ve been conditioned to feel shame for anyone taking pride in their white ancestry). The book has many different minor characters of American Indian descent and they have voices, they are all different from each other and give the book a very nice "diverse" feel, but I guess in our silly progressive modern times it´s enough for a white guy to write anything about a different race to be declared a racist... So they are damned if they do and damned if they don´t, right? You´d think that most of the baying mob, constantly crying and wailing about diversity (and racism), would enjoy how the native characters were displayed? Or just having so many native characters at all? But no. That can´t be acknowledged in a historically accurate novel, because one guy in the story thinks it´s okay to be white...
I really loved half of the book (1/4 & 4/4) so those parts would be worthy of 5 stars, then the other half (2/4 & 3/4) was about three stars, so I feel that 4 stars are fair.
The awesomeness of the book overall could raise it to 4,5.
I am not a big fan of the usual romances and the romance in this story is quite underwhelming and weird, to put it lightly, but that is just another element that fascinated me because it gives the main character another layer. She is not just this perfect goddess who can do everything.
ETA: I forgot to mention one other horribly racist scene that happens in the book. This will contain spoilers so read no further if you care about knowing something infinitely trivial and of no consequence to the main plot... At one point Frona and some others are walking through very harsh terrain and they see a group of incredibly hunky, handsome and blonde scandinavian dudes who are going up north. Well, sadly, straight after they come on the scene most of them drown. So no more handsome nordics for me to read about :( If I could change just one thing in the book I would have them survive so the characters would, in theory, have passed on those incredible genes for the white race ;)
I did not know what to expect after reading most of the reviews here, so after having a very different experience I feel like I must say this:
This book is in no way, shape or form racist! The words racist and racism have become a joke, sadly, and to use them to judge this book is shocking. Yes, one guy (the good guy) at one point in the book declares his love for the white race and says that it is better than others and has explored more, built more and done more civilized things. So what? Can´t a white man enjoy the accomplishments of his race, his ancestors? Is that only okay for EVERYONE else? This happens only once in the book, does not take up much space, 2-3 pages at most, and then it´s over. The guy didn´t want to harm anyone else, he was just having a moment (which of course, I felt a bit silly reading about since I´ve been conditioned to feel shame for anyone taking pride in their white ancestry). The book has many different minor characters of American Indian descent and they have voices, they are all different from each other and give the book a very nice "diverse" feel, but I guess in our silly progressive modern times it´s enough for a white guy to write anything about a different race to be declared a racist... So they are damned if they do and damned if they don´t, right? You´d think that most of the baying mob, constantly crying and wailing about diversity (and racism), would enjoy how the native characters were displayed? Or just having so many native characters at all? But no. That can´t be acknowledged in a historically accurate novel, because one guy in the story thinks it´s okay to be white...
I really loved half of the book (1/4 & 4/4) so those parts would be worthy of 5 stars, then the other half (2/4 & 3/4) was about three stars, so I feel that 4 stars are fair.
The awesomeness of the book overall could raise it to 4,5.
I am not a big fan of the usual romances and the romance in this story is quite underwhelming and weird, to put it lightly, but that is just another element that fascinated me because it gives the main character another layer. She is not just this perfect goddess who can do everything.
ETA: I forgot to mention one other horribly racist scene that happens in the book. This will contain spoilers so read no further if you care about knowing something infinitely trivial and of no consequence to the main plot... At one point Frona and some others are walking through very harsh terrain and they see a group of incredibly hunky, handsome and blonde scandinavian dudes who are going up north. Well, sadly, straight after they come on the scene most of them drown. So no more handsome nordics for me to read about :( If I could change just one thing in the book I would have them survive so the characters would, in theory, have passed on those incredible genes for the white race ;)
August 3, 2022
Μια ερωτική περιπέτεια στο μακρινό Γιούκον των μεταλλωρύχων είναι το θέμα αυτού του βιβλίου του Λόντον. Γραμμένο το μακρινό 1902, πριν εκατόν είκοσι χρόνια σήμερα μπορεί να φαίνεται αναχρονιστικό, ίσως και προκλητικό λόγω των απόψεων του Λόντον για την υπεροχή της Αγγλοσαξωνικής φυλής έναντι των άλλων. Όμως οι επικριτές του Λόντον αγκιστρωμένοι δογματικά στις απόψεις τους αδυνατούν να δουν συμπάθεια του Λόντον στις (κατά την άποψη του) υποδεέστερες φυλές (καθώς στα βιβλία του υπερέχει η ανδρεία, η γενναιότητα και η ηθική ακεραιότητα) ούτε το διάχυτο πάθος με το οποίο είναι γραμμένη κάθε πρόταση του βιβλίου. Ο Λόντον κυριολεκτικά ζει την κάθε στιγμή, οι περιγραφές της ζωής στο βορά είναι τόσο ζωντανές που νιώθεις τον κρύο αέρα ακόμα και μέσα στον καύσωνα ενώ οι φιγούρες που εμφανίζονται είναι αυθεντικές όσο δεν πάει. Ο Λόντον μπορεί σήμερα να φαίνεται παρωχημένος, μακρυά από τα σύγχρονα αναγνωστικά trends αλλά παραμένει διαχρονικός και υπερέχει σε ένα είδος που οι νέοι εκπρόσωποι ενδιαφέρονται περισσότερο για την εικόνα τους παρά το έργο τους. Η "Κόρη του Χιονιού" ίσως να μην είναι το καλύτερο βιβλίο του Λόντον, σίγουρα είναι όμως ένα αυθεντικό δείγμα του ύφους του.
June 9, 2022
Purtroppo per me non è stata una lettura facile. In alcune parti, soprattutto nei dialoghi, non capivo chi stesse parlando.
Per me è stato un libro "pomposo" senza motivo. Alla fine la storia è semplicissima: la figlia di un cercatore d'oro torna nel Klondike per seguire le orme del padre e si vede contesa tra due uomini. Ma dal manierismo in cui è scritto il romanzo sembrava chissà che cosa... Soprattutto nelle lunghe discussioni filosofeggianti in cui si perdono i personaggi - no anzi l'autore.. lasciando un po' il tempo che trovano. Mah.. Per me è no.
Nel frattempo ho rivalutato molto Corliss a discapito di St Vincent. Unica nota positiva del romanzo, assieme a Lucile.
Per me è stato un libro "pomposo" senza motivo. Alla fine la storia è semplicissima: la figlia di un cercatore d'oro torna nel Klondike per seguire le orme del padre e si vede contesa tra due uomini. Ma dal manierismo in cui è scritto il romanzo sembrava chissà che cosa... Soprattutto nelle lunghe discussioni filosofeggianti in cui si perdono i personaggi - no anzi l'autore.. lasciando un po' il tempo che trovano. Mah.. Per me è no.
Nel frattempo ho rivalutato molto Corliss a discapito di St Vincent. Unica nota positiva del romanzo, assieme a Lucile.
July 13, 2020
London'un ilk romanı ve bu aşırı derecede hissediliyor. Kurguda kopukluklar var. Yayinevinin berbat yazım hataları da buna tuz biber ekti. Roman içersindeki olaylar ayrıştırılarak öykü olarak sunulsaydı bence daha başarılı bir kitap olurdu.
May 23, 2022
I'm not a daughter of the snow, quite the contrary I'm afraid - and I really don't know how I would have coped in such climate as that described by London.
A beautiful female figure, still too much racism, to much chauvinism for me to appreciate the novel fully!
A beautiful female figure, still too much racism, to much chauvinism for me to appreciate the novel fully!
June 5, 2019
Nicht das Beste von London. Für zwischendurch als nette Geschichte geeignet. 😊 Passiert sehr wenig. Bisschen Liebe, bisschen Goldsuche, bisschen Spannung. Aber von allem nur eben ein bisschen.
June 2, 2022
La sinossi, confermata dalla lettura dei primi capitoli, mi aveva esaltata: l'avventura della caccia all'oro, la natura selvaggia, una protagonista donna fuori dagli schemi, forte, orgogliosa e indipendente che riesce a muoversi come (e a volte meglio) degli uomini in un mondo che ai tempi era di loro esclusivo appannaggio... Peccato che poi le aspettative non siano state mantenute. La trama cambia: dopo l'arrivo a Dawson la natura resta sullo sfondo e al centro della storia ci finisce un triangolo amoroso, la protagonista si dimostra incoerente e l'autore mette in bocca ai personaggi discorsi misogini e razzisti che peggiorano le cose.
Resta un romanzo godibile, scritto in modo molto scorrevole e che presenta capitoli davvero degni di nota (come quello della traversata dello Yukon che ha appena rotto i ghiacci), ma il problema fondamentale, a mio avviso, è che in questo primo romanzo London abbia voluto cimentarsi con troppe cose insieme: il romanzo d'avventura, il romanzo d'amore, e negli ultimi capitoli persino col romanzo giudiziario; opta per una protagonista che vorrebbe probabilmente essere femminista, ma che in svariati episodi sembra solo dimostrare il misoginismo imperante all'epoca, e che pur essendo stata cresciuta con gli indiani si lancia in discorsi sulla supremazia della razza bianca... Insomma, un romanzo acerbo di uno scrittore che non aveva ancora le idee chiare e che, pur mostrando altissimo potenziale, non si dimostra ancora in grado di gestire trama, personaggi e tematiche.
Resta un romanzo godibile, scritto in modo molto scorrevole e che presenta capitoli davvero degni di nota (come quello della traversata dello Yukon che ha appena rotto i ghiacci), ma il problema fondamentale, a mio avviso, è che in questo primo romanzo London abbia voluto cimentarsi con troppe cose insieme: il romanzo d'avventura, il romanzo d'amore, e negli ultimi capitoli persino col romanzo giudiziario; opta per una protagonista che vorrebbe probabilmente essere femminista, ma che in svariati episodi sembra solo dimostrare il misoginismo imperante all'epoca, e che pur essendo stata cresciuta con gli indiani si lancia in discorsi sulla supremazia della razza bianca... Insomma, un romanzo acerbo di uno scrittore che non aveva ancora le idee chiare e che, pur mostrando altissimo potenziale, non si dimostra ancora in grado di gestire trama, personaggi e tematiche.
June 25, 2017
Che dire... mi ci è voluta una notte insonne per finirlo, altrimenti probabilmente avrei gettato la spugna. La storia di per sé non è riuscita a prendermi: l'ambientazione nelle terre estreme americane e canadesi è l'unica cosa tipicamente londoniana del romanzo e forse l'unica che abbia apprezzato sul serio; per il resto, la trama è incentrata sul triangolo amoroso dei tre protagonisti, di cui la principale, Frona, mi è risultata davvero insopportabile. Inoltre, mi è stato a dir poco difficile entrare nella retorica della superiorità dell'uomo bianco, che trovo strana in London.
Per venire a questa edizione in particolare, è davvero una vergogna. Oltre a una traduzione mal fatta (cui purtroppo ormai siamo abituati), il libro è letteralmente ZEPPO di errori di battitura e refusi (nonché frasi sconnesse e senza senso che avrebbero potuto essere facilmente corrette semplicemente grazie a una rilettura più approfondita). Non mancano nemmeno gli errori grammaticali (come "su" scritto più volte con l'accento), né le confusioni sul nome dei personaggi (Lucile diventa Lucilla in più di un'occasione).
Per venire a questa edizione in particolare, è davvero una vergogna. Oltre a una traduzione mal fatta (cui purtroppo ormai siamo abituati), il libro è letteralmente ZEPPO di errori di battitura e refusi (nonché frasi sconnesse e senza senso che avrebbero potuto essere facilmente corrette semplicemente grazie a una rilettura più approfondita). Non mancano nemmeno gli errori grammaticali (come "su" scritto più volte con l'accento), né le confusioni sul nome dei personaggi (Lucile diventa Lucilla in più di un'occasione).
March 18, 2012
3.5 stars
This is one of Jack London's earlier works. There was a bit of jumping around in the story, which may have seemed worse inthe ebook that I read than in a physical copy, since the jumping around appeared to happen within a paragraph.
Overall it was a really interesting story of the Klondike in 1898, the main character, Frona is a girl from the North who was sent away by her single father for a fine higher education. She comes home to the North, and proves that you can take the girl out of the Klondike, but you can't take the Klondike out of the girl. She meets lots of interesting people and eventually has to choose what she wants for herself. It was reminiscent of one of his other novels, The Valley of the Moon, which also had a strong female character, which is kind of surprising coming from a male author at the time.
This is one of Jack London's earlier works. There was a bit of jumping around in the story, which may have seemed worse inthe ebook that I read than in a physical copy, since the jumping around appeared to happen within a paragraph.
Overall it was a really interesting story of the Klondike in 1898, the main character, Frona is a girl from the North who was sent away by her single father for a fine higher education. She comes home to the North, and proves that you can take the girl out of the Klondike, but you can't take the Klondike out of the girl. She meets lots of interesting people and eventually has to choose what she wants for herself. It was reminiscent of one of his other novels, The Valley of the Moon, which also had a strong female character, which is kind of surprising coming from a male author at the time.
February 17, 2017
Probably my favourite book. I keep returning to her all the time. Beautifully written with great characters.
August 23, 2025
This is difficult to rate, because it has its ups and downs, and betrays the fact that is one of his earliest novels. Though he had been writing short stories for nearly a decade the craft of knitting together 300 pages was not wholly under control by this time. What worked best for me was the display of varied side characters in the first half, together with the ambience of Dawson City, in the Yukon Territory, and then most of the second half during the exhilarating breaking up of the ice along the Yukon River and the rescue of the dispatch messenger.
What was less successful was the love triangle, which was telegraphed, and yet I will credit London with a more palatable portrayal of a female character and romantic story than he manages in some of his later works (which are often the biggest weakness of some of his best stories). Frona is certainly a great woman, both capable and independent as well as educated and empathetic, though she does offer some philosophical thoughts that are certainly disturbing to modern readers (though not necessarily so out of tune with the time period). But in the end, she is perhaps still a little too perfect a character (though with the significant flaw of not judging St. Vincent correctly).
The pervading theme of this novel, however, is more about the traits that make up "a real man" - courage, resolve, integrity, fair-dealing and speech, being the most important - something that appears in many of London's works (and which perhaps he shares with Hemingway). Corliss has all those, even though he was a bit of an intellectual at first, but one who ultimately gets his hands dirty and adopts some of the roughness of the locale to put a finish on his character. London was only about 25, and had lived a bit of a rough life, and certainly valued that as an ideal expression of manhood. What is eye-opening is that he is willing to write a female character who, in addition to lauding such traits in a man, exhibits those same traits herself and is applauded by the men for having them. That makes the subject less about masculinity and femininity, and more a universal model for everyone, and I can't really disagree with that as a model.
On a personal note, it doesn't hurt that I read this in Seattle, interspersed with visits to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Pioneer Square.
What was less successful was the love triangle, which was telegraphed, and yet I will credit London with a more palatable portrayal of a female character and romantic story than he manages in some of his later works (which are often the biggest weakness of some of his best stories). Frona is certainly a great woman, both capable and independent as well as educated and empathetic, though she does offer some philosophical thoughts that are certainly disturbing to modern readers (though not necessarily so out of tune with the time period). But in the end, she is perhaps still a little too perfect a character (though with the significant flaw of not judging St. Vincent correctly).
The pervading theme of this novel, however, is more about the traits that make up "a real man" - courage, resolve, integrity, fair-dealing and speech, being the most important - something that appears in many of London's works (and which perhaps he shares with Hemingway). Corliss has all those, even though he was a bit of an intellectual at first, but one who ultimately gets his hands dirty and adopts some of the roughness of the locale to put a finish on his character. London was only about 25, and had lived a bit of a rough life, and certainly valued that as an ideal expression of manhood. What is eye-opening is that he is willing to write a female character who, in addition to lauding such traits in a man, exhibits those same traits herself and is applauded by the men for having them. That makes the subject less about masculinity and femininity, and more a universal model for everyone, and I can't really disagree with that as a model.
On a personal note, it doesn't hurt that I read this in Seattle, interspersed with visits to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Pioneer Square.
December 20, 2021
Questo non è un posto per i deboli di cuore.
È un mondo dal sapore antico, quello descritto da Jack London in questo suo primo romanzo; un mondo fatto di corse in slitta, risse da taverna e contrattazioni all’emporio cittadino, popolato da cercatori d’oro, giornalisti giramondo e Re dell’Eldorado. Ed è in questo mondo incastonato nei ghiacci dell’estrema Nord dell’America che è cresciuta Frona Welse, ragazza schietta e dal carattere dirompente, che dopo un periodo di studio lontano da casa fa ritorno al paese natìo.
Descrizioni che lasciano a bocca aperta: la rottura di un grande fiume ghiacciato viene raccontata con un’attenzione e una suggestione tali da trasportarci all’istante lì, su quelle barche di legno in balìa delle onde, mentre dietro di noi il mondo crolla su se stesso. Grande evocatore, il caro London.
Un plauso anche alla sua protagonista femminile: per vivere alla fine del XIX secolo, Frona è una donna ben moderna e non convenzionale. Forte nella mente così come nel fisico, desta le attenzioni di molti per il suo aspetto attraente ma anche per l’intelletto acuto e la brutale onestà. Capace di guidare da sola un’imbarcazione attraverso il torrente in tempesta, ma anche di emozionarsi per i primi palpiti d’amore e per l’armoniosa bellezza della natura che la circonda.
Peccato per quegli sproloqui sulla superiorità della razza bianca anglosassone e sulla selezione naturale che privilegia sempre il più forte e violento! Ancora di più un peccato, perché messi in bocca proprio ad una protagonista così risoluta e indipendente dal pensiero comune.
Ma ripetendomi che si tratta di un libro scritto nel 1902 e ambientato in una comunità estremamente rigida e circoscritta, sono riuscita a godermi comunque la storia.
Forse manca un po’ di maturità, ma è una prima prova letteraria onorevole per uno scrittore che fin da subito dimostra di saper raccontare intensamente il conflitto tra la magnificenza stupefacente della natura selvaggia e il potere di corruzione della società umana.
Continuerò sicuramente a leggerti, Jack.
È un mondo dal sapore antico, quello descritto da Jack London in questo suo primo romanzo; un mondo fatto di corse in slitta, risse da taverna e contrattazioni all’emporio cittadino, popolato da cercatori d’oro, giornalisti giramondo e Re dell’Eldorado. Ed è in questo mondo incastonato nei ghiacci dell’estrema Nord dell’America che è cresciuta Frona Welse, ragazza schietta e dal carattere dirompente, che dopo un periodo di studio lontano da casa fa ritorno al paese natìo.
Descrizioni che lasciano a bocca aperta: la rottura di un grande fiume ghiacciato viene raccontata con un’attenzione e una suggestione tali da trasportarci all’istante lì, su quelle barche di legno in balìa delle onde, mentre dietro di noi il mondo crolla su se stesso. Grande evocatore, il caro London.
Un plauso anche alla sua protagonista femminile: per vivere alla fine del XIX secolo, Frona è una donna ben moderna e non convenzionale. Forte nella mente così come nel fisico, desta le attenzioni di molti per il suo aspetto attraente ma anche per l’intelletto acuto e la brutale onestà. Capace di guidare da sola un’imbarcazione attraverso il torrente in tempesta, ma anche di emozionarsi per i primi palpiti d’amore e per l’armoniosa bellezza della natura che la circonda.
Peccato per quegli sproloqui sulla superiorità della razza bianca anglosassone e sulla selezione naturale che privilegia sempre il più forte e violento! Ancora di più un peccato, perché messi in bocca proprio ad una protagonista così risoluta e indipendente dal pensiero comune.
Ma ripetendomi che si tratta di un libro scritto nel 1902 e ambientato in una comunità estremamente rigida e circoscritta, sono riuscita a godermi comunque la storia.
Forse manca un po’ di maturità, ma è una prima prova letteraria onorevole per uno scrittore che fin da subito dimostra di saper raccontare intensamente il conflitto tra la magnificenza stupefacente della natura selvaggia e il potere di corruzione della società umana.
Continuerò sicuramente a leggerti, Jack.
May 27, 2022
Ammetto che il libro non mi ha entusiasmato tranne che per le parti descrittive di cui London è maestro. La traversata dello Yukon ghiacciato in pieno disgelo è a dir poco epica. Meno interessanti le descrizioni dei personaggi, alcuni sopra le righe, anche la stessa protagonista, l’eroina in questo caso, che con i suoi atteggiamenti e le sue azioni libere ed “evolute” pone in crisi l’ottica predominante della piccola comunità del posto. Predomina infatti la mentalità dell’epoca, misogina e perbenista, pervasa anche dalla supposta supremazia etnica, cui non si sottrae neppure la stessa Frona. Gli intrecci non sono particolarmente curati. London saprà fare di meglio!
October 2, 2023
Glimpses of the genius that would be Jack London but the plot is all over the place. Frona is a woman well ahead of her time time and an interesting character and there is a sequence of an iced over river that feels so real. There’s some weird racism that is apropos to the time period but it’s biggest sin was that it was boring.
May 30, 2020
Jack London’ın ilk romanı, 1902 basım. Yazar henüz 26 yaşındaymış eser yayınlandığında. Ancak bu romanı yazdığı dönemde kendisinin bir hayli hayat tecrübesine sahip olduğunu biliyoruz. Bu yaşına kadar halihazırda yapmış olduğu Pasifik’te korsanlık- denizcilik işleri, ülkenin kuzey bölgesinde dilenerek yaptığı beş parasız yolculuklar, hapse atılma tecrübesi ve hepsinin üstüne Klondike altına hücum yıllarında bölgede yaşadıkları zaten 40 yaşına kadar süren kısa ömründeki yazarlık kariyerinin önemli alt yapısını oluşturuyor. İşte bu altyapının büyük bölümü 25-26 yaşlarındaki London, bu romanı yazarken cebindeydi.
Öte yandan, yarı otobiyografik öğeler içeren Martin Eden’de anlatısını bulan yazarın entellektüel gelişimini açısından bu kitapta Jack London’ın henüz yolun başında olduğunu anlıyoruz. Kitaplarında sıklıkla referans verdiği Nietzsche ve Ubermensch kavramıyla, Spencer ve sosyal Darwinizm ile bu kitabı yazdığı dönemde henüz tanıştığı anlaşılıyor. Sonraki yıllarda sosyalizm ve Marx ile bu okumalarını harmanladığında ortaya koyduğu insan ve doğadaki tüm canlıların toplumsal, biyolojik ve ruhsal gelişimlerine dair ortaya koyduğu çok katmanlı ve olgun yorumlarının bu kitapta izi yok henüz. Dahası, kitabın ana karakterlerinin dilinden düpedüz ırkçı görüşler savunuluyor. Jack London’ın bütün eserlerini bitirmeye yaklaştığım şu günlerde, yazarın diğer eserlerinde böyle bir özelliğe rastlanmadığı, dahası bence Martin Eden’le birlikte en muhteşem ve son eseri olan The Star Rover (The Jacket)’da London’ın ırkçılıkla hesaplaştığını söyleyebilirim. Şükür ki çabuk kurtulmuş bu illetten.
Ancak romanın anlatısı ABD’nin hakim WASP sınıfı tarafından beyaz ırk üstünlüğünün nasıl rasyonalize edildiğini okumak için ideal. Özellikle ırkçı fikirlerin “bilimsellik”in otoritesi ardına alarak 20.yy. başı ABD’de nasıl savunulduğunu, Amerikan yerlilerinin zaaflar içinde, siyahlarında hizmetkârlığa meyilli doğaları olduğu iddiasının beyaz adamın kolonyal dünyadaki bariz hakimiyetine dayandırılarak nasıl açıklandığını bu romanda okuyabilirsiniz. Romanda öne çıkan karakterler hem fiziksel hem entellektüel yönleriyle güçlü, en çetin doğa şartlarında ayakta kalabilmeyi başaran insanlar ki Jack London öykü romanlarında bol bol çizilir bu übermensch karakteri. Ancak yalnız bu romanda bu üstün nitelikteki insanların bu özellikleri ırklarından getirdikleri iddiası mevcut.
Roman karakterlerinin ırkçı fikirlerinde Amerikan ırkçılığı ile ilgili bir yön özellikle dikkatimi çekti. Tüm dünyayı milliyetçi hareketlerin kasıp kavurduğu 20.yy başında Amerikan toplumu için milliyetçi değerleri kurgulayabilecekleri tarihsel alt yapı yok. Anglosaxon ve Alman göçmenlerden bir toplum yaratma çabasındalar, ancak bu toplumu oluşturacak ortak, üstünde uzlaşılmış etik değerlerin zemini henüz çok zayıf ve kırılgan. Dolayısıyla bu “beyaz” toplumun daha oluşum sürecinin başında, ırkçılığın ve beyaz adamın üstünlüğünde uzlaşının bu toplumun en temel birleştirici öğesi olarak ortaya çıktığını bu romanda net olarak görmek mümkün. Siyahlar, sarılar, Amerikan yerlileri ve Latinolar bu beyaz toplumda ancak “hizmetkâr” ve ikinci sınıf vatandaş rollerini kabul ettikleri sürece bu toplum içinde varlıkları “hoşgörülerek” yaşamlarını sürdürebilirler. Bu tipte “hizmetkar” ruhlu fakat beyaz adamın derdinden dilinden anlayan kısmen “medenileşmiş” yerli karakterlerine bu romanda rastlamak mümkün. Diğerleri zaten toplum dışı, vahşi ve tahakküme müstehaklar.
Romandaki güçlü/ übermensch karakterlerinin bir temel özelliği de aşırı düzeyde bireyci olmaları ki yine bu yaklaşımda da Nietzche izleri var. London, 30 yaşından sonra yani sosyalizmle tanıştıktan sonra yazdığı eserlerde çizdiği bireyci karakterlerin başına mutlaka kötü işler getirir. Ne kadar güçlü olurlarsa olsunlar, toplumdan umudunu kesen, toplumu daha iyi bir noktaya getirmek için bir şeyler yapmaya hiç bir motivasyon duymayan insanlara, tüm fiziksel ve entellektüel güçlerine rağmen kötü bir şeyler olur. Sosyalizmi reddeden Martin Eden intihar eder mesela, The Seawolf’ta Wolf Larsen biraz da Nietzche gibi delirerek, hem de felçli ve kör olarak ölür. Bu romanda ise bireycilikleri ile güçlü karakterlere hiç bir şey olmadığı gibi, bu yönleri onları üstün kılan niteliklerinden biri. Bu romanı yazan Jack London, gerçekten Martin Eden’a çok benziyor.
Jack London’ın sonraki eselerinin temel özelliklerinin daha bu ilk romanında kendini belli ettiğini görebilirsiniz. Alaska soğunu romanın başından sonuna hissedeceksiniz. Buz tutmuş nehir üstünde buz kırılırken yüreğiniz ağzınıza gelecek mesela :)
İlaveten Jack London, kuşağının hatta kendisinden sonraki kuşaklardaki erkek romancıların çok ötesine geçerek romanlarında daima güçlü kadın karakterler yaratır. Bu romandaki Frona da Zeyna gibi karakter maşallah fiziksel olarak, üstüne bir de Standford mezunu 1900lerin başında! Son derece de zeki ve ilkeli bir karakter. Tek kusuru dört dörtlük ırkçı olması ama, besbelli 1902 yılında bu durum Jack London’ı çok bozmuyordu.
Velhasıl Amerikan ırkçılığı ile ilgili metin okumak isteyenlere ve bencileyin iflah olmaz Jack London hayranlarına yazarın entellektüel gelişimini anlamaları açısından bu romanı önerebilirim. Ama kafanızda bir kaç Jack London romanı okuma fikri varsa, bunu atlasanız da olur.
Öte yandan, yarı otobiyografik öğeler içeren Martin Eden’de anlatısını bulan yazarın entellektüel gelişimini açısından bu kitapta Jack London’ın henüz yolun başında olduğunu anlıyoruz. Kitaplarında sıklıkla referans verdiği Nietzsche ve Ubermensch kavramıyla, Spencer ve sosyal Darwinizm ile bu kitabı yazdığı dönemde henüz tanıştığı anlaşılıyor. Sonraki yıllarda sosyalizm ve Marx ile bu okumalarını harmanladığında ortaya koyduğu insan ve doğadaki tüm canlıların toplumsal, biyolojik ve ruhsal gelişimlerine dair ortaya koyduğu çok katmanlı ve olgun yorumlarının bu kitapta izi yok henüz. Dahası, kitabın ana karakterlerinin dilinden düpedüz ırkçı görüşler savunuluyor. Jack London’ın bütün eserlerini bitirmeye yaklaştığım şu günlerde, yazarın diğer eserlerinde böyle bir özelliğe rastlanmadığı, dahası bence Martin Eden’le birlikte en muhteşem ve son eseri olan The Star Rover (The Jacket)’da London’ın ırkçılıkla hesaplaştığını söyleyebilirim. Şükür ki çabuk kurtulmuş bu illetten.
Ancak romanın anlatısı ABD’nin hakim WASP sınıfı tarafından beyaz ırk üstünlüğünün nasıl rasyonalize edildiğini okumak için ideal. Özellikle ırkçı fikirlerin “bilimsellik”in otoritesi ardına alarak 20.yy. başı ABD’de nasıl savunulduğunu, Amerikan yerlilerinin zaaflar içinde, siyahlarında hizmetkârlığa meyilli doğaları olduğu iddiasının beyaz adamın kolonyal dünyadaki bariz hakimiyetine dayandırılarak nasıl açıklandığını bu romanda okuyabilirsiniz. Romanda öne çıkan karakterler hem fiziksel hem entellektüel yönleriyle güçlü, en çetin doğa şartlarında ayakta kalabilmeyi başaran insanlar ki Jack London öykü romanlarında bol bol çizilir bu übermensch karakteri. Ancak yalnız bu romanda bu üstün nitelikteki insanların bu özellikleri ırklarından getirdikleri iddiası mevcut.
Roman karakterlerinin ırkçı fikirlerinde Amerikan ırkçılığı ile ilgili bir yön özellikle dikkatimi çekti. Tüm dünyayı milliyetçi hareketlerin kasıp kavurduğu 20.yy başında Amerikan toplumu için milliyetçi değerleri kurgulayabilecekleri tarihsel alt yapı yok. Anglosaxon ve Alman göçmenlerden bir toplum yaratma çabasındalar, ancak bu toplumu oluşturacak ortak, üstünde uzlaşılmış etik değerlerin zemini henüz çok zayıf ve kırılgan. Dolayısıyla bu “beyaz” toplumun daha oluşum sürecinin başında, ırkçılığın ve beyaz adamın üstünlüğünde uzlaşının bu toplumun en temel birleştirici öğesi olarak ortaya çıktığını bu romanda net olarak görmek mümkün. Siyahlar, sarılar, Amerikan yerlileri ve Latinolar bu beyaz toplumda ancak “hizmetkâr” ve ikinci sınıf vatandaş rollerini kabul ettikleri sürece bu toplum içinde varlıkları “hoşgörülerek” yaşamlarını sürdürebilirler. Bu tipte “hizmetkar” ruhlu fakat beyaz adamın derdinden dilinden anlayan kısmen “medenileşmiş” yerli karakterlerine bu romanda rastlamak mümkün. Diğerleri zaten toplum dışı, vahşi ve tahakküme müstehaklar.
Romandaki güçlü/ übermensch karakterlerinin bir temel özelliği de aşırı düzeyde bireyci olmaları ki yine bu yaklaşımda da Nietzche izleri var. London, 30 yaşından sonra yani sosyalizmle tanıştıktan sonra yazdığı eserlerde çizdiği bireyci karakterlerin başına mutlaka kötü işler getirir. Ne kadar güçlü olurlarsa olsunlar, toplumdan umudunu kesen, toplumu daha iyi bir noktaya getirmek için bir şeyler yapmaya hiç bir motivasyon duymayan insanlara, tüm fiziksel ve entellektüel güçlerine rağmen kötü bir şeyler olur. Sosyalizmi reddeden Martin Eden intihar eder mesela, The Seawolf’ta Wolf Larsen biraz da Nietzche gibi delirerek, hem de felçli ve kör olarak ölür. Bu romanda ise bireycilikleri ile güçlü karakterlere hiç bir şey olmadığı gibi, bu yönleri onları üstün kılan niteliklerinden biri. Bu romanı yazan Jack London, gerçekten Martin Eden’a çok benziyor.
Jack London’ın sonraki eselerinin temel özelliklerinin daha bu ilk romanında kendini belli ettiğini görebilirsiniz. Alaska soğunu romanın başından sonuna hissedeceksiniz. Buz tutmuş nehir üstünde buz kırılırken yüreğiniz ağzınıza gelecek mesela :)
İlaveten Jack London, kuşağının hatta kendisinden sonraki kuşaklardaki erkek romancıların çok ötesine geçerek romanlarında daima güçlü kadın karakterler yaratır. Bu romandaki Frona da Zeyna gibi karakter maşallah fiziksel olarak, üstüne bir de Standford mezunu 1900lerin başında! Son derece de zeki ve ilkeli bir karakter. Tek kusuru dört dörtlük ırkçı olması ama, besbelli 1902 yılında bu durum Jack London’ı çok bozmuyordu.
Velhasıl Amerikan ırkçılığı ile ilgili metin okumak isteyenlere ve bencileyin iflah olmaz Jack London hayranlarına yazarın entellektüel gelişimini anlamaları açısından bu romanı önerebilirim. Ama kafanızda bir kaç Jack London romanı okuma fikri varsa, bunu atlasanız da olur.
December 22, 2018
3.5 stars
February 19, 2013
I am a huge fan of Jack London. This is definitely not one of his better works, but I think it's accepted that his first full novel is lacking in quality, especially as compared to his earlier short stories and some of his later classic novels. The novel is bit purple in prose and drags in many spots. The central love-triangle story took up too much of the narrative, while the adventure-in-the-Klondike passages do not take up enough. Many characters are a bit one-dimensional and over-the-top as well. Still, as every review points out, Frona herself is fascinating and ahead of her time (and I can't be the only one who saw more than a hint of modern bohemian erotic attraction between Frona and Lucile when they first meet on the riverbank), much to London's credit. Many of London's major themes (atavism, the Superman, the debilitating effects of civilization, etc) are fully present. For no other reason, a Daughter of the Snows is worth reading to see who London was as a writer before Call of the Wild, White Fang, The Sea Wolf, Martin Eden, et al.
January 24, 2023
Фрона Уелс, дъщеря на снеговете, е идеалът за жена на Джек Лондон. Образована, смела, силна и красива, Фрона със сигурност е жена, която в днешно време, бихме нарекли феминистка. Но определено не от натрапчивите феминистки, а от онези, които изразяват своя феминизъм по-скоро с действията отколкото с думите си. Не липсват и убедително изградени мъжки персонажи. Джек Лондон пише за силата на човешкия дух. Той не обича застоя, пасивното стоене на едно място в буквалния и в преносния смисъл, израз на което е и че героите му почти винаги са в движение. Фрона излиза навън със своите кучета, въпреки че температурата е -65 градуса. Мога да разбера защо това не е един от популярните романи на Джек Лондон. Дори се изненадвам, че не е забранен със своите възгледи за превъзходството на бялата раса. Въпреки това смятам, че романът му е особено сполучлив, ако не и най-сполучливият. Не бива да забравяме, че всяка книга се пише в контекста на определено време и изразява възгледи, считани за ценности тогава. Но на нас се пада да решим кое е вечно и кое - преходно.
August 17, 2015
200 pages of not much happening, then a pretty exciting rescue scene that makes the book worth reading, followed by a mini murder mystery that feels tacked on. All infused with weird treatises about the "superior Anglo Saxon race" and distracting dialects. There are flashes of London's brilliance, the reasons why I wanted to dig deeper into his bibliography, but mostly this is kind of a mess of a novel. But, oh, that rescue.
August 23, 2020
"Is the story about a rebellious girl who is not afraid to challenge a traditional society where females are expected to be obedient. Frona Weise, born into a wealthy family and educated at Stanford, is a strong and courageous woman fought by men. After upsetting her community by her forthright manner and befriending the town's prostitute she joins the Klondike Gold Rush."
I didn't know Jack London wrote stories like this and am enjoying them muchly! Nicely written - a bit of history!
I didn't know Jack London wrote stories like this and am enjoying them muchly! Nicely written - a bit of history!
January 5, 2021
This is a mediocre story about a woman in the North during the Klondike Gold Rush and her adventures. The reading is moderate in size - around 79k words.
The story tells us about Frona Welse, a young woman who comes to see her wealthy and famous father in the North. On her road, she encounters a good but controversial in philosophical views person - Vance Corliss. Later, in the city where she arrives at the start of the novel, she grows fond of another man - a journalist Gregory St Vincent who is rather cowardly in nature.
If you expected travels and real adventures - lo and behold, there are only two. The first is about how Frona reaches the city, the second is about her, Vance and another man rowing upriver to save a man. All other events are set in a friendly, totally safe environment in the city or in a village nearby.
The novel is strikingly boring for that matter, as not many things happen in general and the plot of the story can be summarized in twoo or three sentences. The only positive side of the story is its good humour and a certain degree of psychology in it.
The negative sides revolve around Frona, the main character. Firstly, she is racist, believing that white people are supreme because that`s their racial trait and there`s not much to do about it. Secondly, she is very nationalistic, as she believes that of all whites, only Anglo-Saxons are worthy of fame, riches and glory. Not that they aren`t, but these views are really revolting. I understand that it`s her character trait and it`s fine, but the problem lies in how others perceive it.
The others believe Frona is a Valkyrie, an angel, and decide to flutter around her, giving out compliments in her name and praising her superb (like, what?) qualities. Everyone, as if the city has no women, intends on making her their intended, especially Vance and Gregory, whose sufferings we can observe throughout the whole poem. And in the end she chooses a man because... not because of his qualities, but only to spite another. Not a move I would approve of.
Frona is also extremely sexist, and we can hear her defending a prostitute one day and saying ''Be a man and accept that you need to die'' to falsely accused Gregory and their rowman the other day. ''Father, take me home, I`m tired'' - says Frona after not being able to defend a falsely accused man she promised to protect to avoid watching him hanged.
All these qualities combined make it impossible to believe in the chaos in others` emotions after she arrives - why would someone want to marry or date or just seek the company of such a person? Only for her father`s approval and riches, I guess. Frona, in her eyes, though, is a legend, a hero.
This is a rather disappointing work in that and I would refrain from recommending it, although people who want to know about the saloon culture of the American North can find it enjoyable.
The story tells us about Frona Welse, a young woman who comes to see her wealthy and famous father in the North. On her road, she encounters a good but controversial in philosophical views person - Vance Corliss. Later, in the city where she arrives at the start of the novel, she grows fond of another man - a journalist Gregory St Vincent who is rather cowardly in nature.
If you expected travels and real adventures - lo and behold, there are only two. The first is about how Frona reaches the city, the second is about her, Vance and another man rowing upriver to save a man. All other events are set in a friendly, totally safe environment in the city or in a village nearby.
The novel is strikingly boring for that matter, as not many things happen in general and the plot of the story can be summarized in twoo or three sentences. The only positive side of the story is its good humour and a certain degree of psychology in it.
The negative sides revolve around Frona, the main character. Firstly, she is racist, believing that white people are supreme because that`s their racial trait and there`s not much to do about it. Secondly, she is very nationalistic, as she believes that of all whites, only Anglo-Saxons are worthy of fame, riches and glory. Not that they aren`t, but these views are really revolting. I understand that it`s her character trait and it`s fine, but the problem lies in how others perceive it.
The others believe Frona is a Valkyrie, an angel, and decide to flutter around her, giving out compliments in her name and praising her superb (like, what?) qualities. Everyone, as if the city has no women, intends on making her their intended, especially Vance and Gregory, whose sufferings we can observe throughout the whole poem. And in the end she chooses a man because... not because of his qualities, but only to spite another. Not a move I would approve of.
Frona is also extremely sexist, and we can hear her defending a prostitute one day and saying ''Be a man and accept that you need to die'' to falsely accused Gregory and their rowman the other day. ''Father, take me home, I`m tired'' - says Frona after not being able to defend a falsely accused man she promised to protect to avoid watching him hanged.
All these qualities combined make it impossible to believe in the chaos in others` emotions after she arrives - why would someone want to marry or date or just seek the company of such a person? Only for her father`s approval and riches, I guess. Frona, in her eyes, though, is a legend, a hero.
This is a rather disappointing work in that and I would refrain from recommending it, although people who want to know about the saloon culture of the American North can find it enjoyable.
May 29, 2025
This book was originally written in 1902 and was Jack London’s second novel. He had had some notable success in nonfiction work such as nature. I am always of two minds when revisiting books such as this that is a product of its time and judging the writing that is in place and make allowances for changes in culture, socially acceptable morays etc. On one hand anything that Jack London wrote dealing with nature, the wilderness etc. is more than some of the inherent problems elsewhere. On the other hand what was acceptable and expected in 1902 is a far cry from now—especially as it pertains to women, indigenous individuals and people of color.
Frona Welse spent her early years on or near the trading posts and gold fields of Alaska before being sent to boarding schools in Europe after her mother’s death. Now she’s coming back home. Her father has become a wealthy, powerful man so when she returns she is not only a young lady but the men and women all want something from her father. Frona is a high spirited, strong-willed independent young woman determined to learn to move around and work in the Yukon. She sets off on a journey across the Klondike alone encountering a deadly wilderness, difficulty in travel (she uses a sled and dog team), get along with the indigenous peoples, and the trappers, miners, and the British and American businessmen, mine owners, and tradesmen who have come to Alaska to carve out their fortunes. Frona soon finds herself one side of a triangle with the others being a refined, retired Englishman, Gregory St. Vincent, and Vance Corliss, a rugged yet intellectually superior American. Frona has to come to terms with the harsh realities of survival in a land of poverty and savagery, famine and abundance. She also has to come to terms with the woman she wants to be while maintaining relationships with those she cares about.
The most interesting character by far is Frona as she deals with depth of two actors, a troubled relationship with her father, and carve out a niche for herself. One thing that I found interesting was the sexual and social lines she was willing to cross. She had to constantly define and redefine herself as not a traditional wife/mother candidate and also as not a fallen woman to be taken advantage of. Surprisingly London has included language about sexual and social expectations that would not be out of place today. But we cannot be so charitable about issues of race and people of color.
All in all, it was an interesting book if for no other reason than the descriptions of the Alaskan Wilderness—just not its people. Recommend to readers of classic fiction, adventure, history of both the U.S. and Canada.
Frona Welse spent her early years on or near the trading posts and gold fields of Alaska before being sent to boarding schools in Europe after her mother’s death. Now she’s coming back home. Her father has become a wealthy, powerful man so when she returns she is not only a young lady but the men and women all want something from her father. Frona is a high spirited, strong-willed independent young woman determined to learn to move around and work in the Yukon. She sets off on a journey across the Klondike alone encountering a deadly wilderness, difficulty in travel (she uses a sled and dog team), get along with the indigenous peoples, and the trappers, miners, and the British and American businessmen, mine owners, and tradesmen who have come to Alaska to carve out their fortunes. Frona soon finds herself one side of a triangle with the others being a refined, retired Englishman, Gregory St. Vincent, and Vance Corliss, a rugged yet intellectually superior American. Frona has to come to terms with the harsh realities of survival in a land of poverty and savagery, famine and abundance. She also has to come to terms with the woman she wants to be while maintaining relationships with those she cares about.
The most interesting character by far is Frona as she deals with depth of two actors, a troubled relationship with her father, and carve out a niche for herself. One thing that I found interesting was the sexual and social lines she was willing to cross. She had to constantly define and redefine herself as not a traditional wife/mother candidate and also as not a fallen woman to be taken advantage of. Surprisingly London has included language about sexual and social expectations that would not be out of place today. But we cannot be so charitable about issues of race and people of color.
All in all, it was an interesting book if for no other reason than the descriptions of the Alaskan Wilderness—just not its people. Recommend to readers of classic fiction, adventure, history of both the U.S. and Canada.
November 29, 2025
Jack London’s "A Daughter of the Snows" follows Frona Welse as she leaves her privileged upbringing and confronts the harsh realities of Yukon. The frontier functions as a moral testing ground, stripping away social pretenses and revealing the true character of those who enter it. Frona emerges as a strong, independent figure whose virtues—and moral contradictions—are sharpened by the demands of the wilderness.
London uses the natural environment not as scenery but as a shaping force: survival requires resilience, integrity, and clarity of judgment. Romantic relationships further expose the moral fiber of the characters; love, in this setting, becomes another measure of strength or weakness. Ultimately, the novel links morality, character development, and the power of nature, using romance to highlight the ethical choices that define its heroine.
Unfortunately, I read the Greek edition, and the translation quality was disappointing.
She came out of the wood of glistening birch, and with the first fires of the sun blazoning her unbound hair raced lightly across the dew-dripping meadow. The earth was fat with excessive moisture and soft to her feet, while the dank vegetation slapped against her knees and cast off flashing sprays of liquid diamonds. The flush of the morning was in her cheek, and its fire in her eyes, and she was aglow with youth and love. For she had nursed at the breast of nature,—in forfeit of a mother,—and she loved the old trees and the creeping green things with a passionate love; and the dim murmur of growing life was a gladness to her ears, and the damp earth-smells were sweet to her nostrils.
London uses the natural environment not as scenery but as a shaping force: survival requires resilience, integrity, and clarity of judgment. Romantic relationships further expose the moral fiber of the characters; love, in this setting, becomes another measure of strength or weakness. Ultimately, the novel links morality, character development, and the power of nature, using romance to highlight the ethical choices that define its heroine.
“I am afraid, after all, that your knowledge of man is very limited. Believe me, we are not made of such clay. A comradeship? A coming in out of the cold to sit by your fire? Good. But a coming in when another man sits with you by your fire? No. Comradeship would demand that I delight in your delights, and yet, do you think for a moment that I could see you with another man’s child in your arms, a child which might have been mine; with that other man looking out at me through the child’s eyes, laughing at me through its mouth? I say, do you think I could delight in your delights? No, no; love cannot shackle itself with white friendships.”
Unfortunately, I read the Greek edition, and the translation quality was disappointing.
May 13, 2023
Мне было безумно скучно и я еле дослушала книгу и пожалуй моя оценка была поднята как раз за аудиоисполнение. Я ожидала, что здесь люди будут сплоченней, так как живут в суровом климате. Были конечно подобные моменты, но их просто душили другие, когда каждый из персонажей, которому кажется что он очень важный, пытался контролировать не свою жизнь, а жизнь человека рядом с собой. А Джейкоб Уэлз вообще обнаглевший человек, что решил покомандовать всеми и урезать питание... никак это не объясняя обычным жителям. Я не увидела подтверждения его аргументации. Все делали только для собственного обагащения.
О главной героине, Флоне Уэлз в аннотации сказали так:
"Истинная дочь этого сурового края, сильная, умная, волевая, отважная и целеустремленная, способная преодолевать любые препятствия и делить испытания наравне с мужчинами."
Это безусловно так и иногда вызывало восхищение, пока она не показала свое истинное лицо и вылезли наружу ее эгоизм, себялюбие и откровенная глупость (которая выдавалась за большой ум). Еще она просто роковая женщина, вот идет она, а за ней все мужики просто штабелями валятся и целуют землю, по которой она ходила (каждое подобное предложение вызывало у меня только закатывание глаз и мне кажется, что я уже это делаю профессионально). А попытки этой барышни контролировать всё и вся, даже не знакомых людей вызывали у меня только раздражение. И это пожалуй самая большая моя ошибка, я ожидала от нее совсем другого.
А то как она собралась замуж и за кого меня просто добило. Вот девушка не уважает мужчин, что не дерутся, а пытаются решить все мирно, но с какого-то... решила выйти за него замуж. Правда автор на конец припас возможность избавится Фроне от такого мужа. Его чуть не осудили на смерть, но ей было страшнее его поступок, не защитить человека, которого убивают рядом (здесь согласна, как можно было на подобное просто смотреть?). Но осуждать его так не следовало.
В общем, книга оставила после себя не хорошее впечатление и я даже не знаю, возьму ли я еще какую-то книгу автора в будущем.
О главной героине, Флоне Уэлз в аннотации сказали так:
"Истинная дочь этого сурового края, сильная, умная, волевая, отважная и целеустремленная, способная преодолевать любые препятствия и делить испытания наравне с мужчинами."
Это безусловно так и иногда вызывало восхищение, пока она не показала свое истинное лицо и вылезли наружу ее эгоизм, себялюбие и откровенная глупость (которая выдавалась за большой ум). Еще она просто роковая женщина, вот идет она, а за ней все мужики просто штабелями валятся и целуют землю, по которой она ходила (каждое подобное предложение вызывало у меня только закатывание глаз и мне кажется, что я уже это делаю профессионально). А попытки этой барышни контролировать всё и вся, даже не знакомых людей вызывали у меня только раздражение. И это пожалуй самая большая моя ошибка, я ожидала от нее совсем другого.
А то как она собралась замуж и за кого меня просто добило. Вот девушка не уважает мужчин, что не дерутся, а пытаются решить все мирно, но с какого-то... решила выйти за него замуж. Правда автор на конец припас возможность избавится Фроне от такого мужа. Его чуть не осудили на смерть, но ей было страшнее его поступок, не защитить человека, которого убивают рядом (здесь согласна, как можно было на подобное просто смотреть?). Но осуждать его так не следовало.
В общем, книга оставила после себя не хорошее впечатление и я даже не знаю, возьму ли я еще какую-то книгу автора в будущем.
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