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The Abysmal Brute by Jack London: The Abysmal Brute by Jack London
The Abysmal Brute is a novel by American writer Jack London, first published in book form in 1913. It is a short novel, and could be regarded as a novelette. It first appeared in September 1911 in Popular Magazine. In the story, a successful boxer, who was brought up in a log cabin and knows little of the real world, begins to realize the corrupt practices in the game of boxing.
88 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1911
18 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Jack London
7,710 books7,712 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 24, 2019
Of course I knew Jack London wrote about the North.
And I also knew he had written about the South Seas, and at least one hilarious play, a journal of his own ocean voyage with his wife, a science fiction novella, and many social commentaries disguised as entertaining stories.
But when I was looking for a London piece to add to my Spinner's Wheel reading list and saw this title, I was surprised to see that the subject was the sport of boxing.
Boxing?! Jack London wrote about boxing?! And here I thought I knew all about this author!
A manager receives a letter from an old-time boxer, asking him to come see the young son who the old-timer had trained and knew for certain could knockout anyone at any time. Old Pat Glendon had raised his boy in the wild woods, kept him innocent of nearly everything, but also trained him in his own sport, perhaps hoping to change the hard-luck legacy of his own career.
Old Pat and the manager make a deal, signed a contract, and Young Pat gets taken to San Francisco; with the manager's assurances to Old Pat that the youngster will be completely protected and insulated from the dirty, corrupted underbelly of the sport. Would that be possible in a sport as crooked as boxing was at the time? (On a side note, I wonder how much of what is told about here still goes on today?)
Meanwhile, how will Young Pat deal with his new life's work? Will he ever realize what is going on around him? Or will he remain the almost ridiculously naive country bumpkin who never speaks to reporters, is too shy to talk to women, and at first glance seems to be nothing more than an overgrown country boy with nothing but cotton wool between his ears? Did the nickname the reporters tacked onto him describe him accurately? Was he "The Abysmal Brute", or was he actually much much more?
This 1913 story started swinging in the first chapter and ended with a knockout punch that was slightly unbelievable and yet fit the plot and the character completely. Great stuff, and I think I will go explore London's author pages at Gutenberg and make a list of the other titles where he writes about topics that I don't usually associate with him. I can see now that I still have a lot to learn about one of my favorite authors!
And I also knew he had written about the South Seas, and at least one hilarious play, a journal of his own ocean voyage with his wife, a science fiction novella, and many social commentaries disguised as entertaining stories.
But when I was looking for a London piece to add to my Spinner's Wheel reading list and saw this title, I was surprised to see that the subject was the sport of boxing.
Boxing?! Jack London wrote about boxing?! And here I thought I knew all about this author!
A manager receives a letter from an old-time boxer, asking him to come see the young son who the old-timer had trained and knew for certain could knockout anyone at any time. Old Pat Glendon had raised his boy in the wild woods, kept him innocent of nearly everything, but also trained him in his own sport, perhaps hoping to change the hard-luck legacy of his own career.
Old Pat and the manager make a deal, signed a contract, and Young Pat gets taken to San Francisco; with the manager's assurances to Old Pat that the youngster will be completely protected and insulated from the dirty, corrupted underbelly of the sport. Would that be possible in a sport as crooked as boxing was at the time? (On a side note, I wonder how much of what is told about here still goes on today?)
Meanwhile, how will Young Pat deal with his new life's work? Will he ever realize what is going on around him? Or will he remain the almost ridiculously naive country bumpkin who never speaks to reporters, is too shy to talk to women, and at first glance seems to be nothing more than an overgrown country boy with nothing but cotton wool between his ears? Did the nickname the reporters tacked onto him describe him accurately? Was he "The Abysmal Brute", or was he actually much much more?
This 1913 story started swinging in the first chapter and ended with a knockout punch that was slightly unbelievable and yet fit the plot and the character completely. Great stuff, and I think I will go explore London's author pages at Gutenberg and make a list of the other titles where he writes about topics that I don't usually associate with him. I can see now that I still have a lot to learn about one of my favorite authors!
September 23, 2022
It’s about an innocent, honest, ridiculously strong and skilled boxer who was raised in the woods and trained by his father, who was himself a pro boxer once. The upcoming young boxer just wants to fight and win with honor. But will the corruption in the boxing world allow him to do so?
If you’re a fan of boxing, you might think it’s a little bit over the top in the way the upcoming boxer manages to win so many fights. But it fits the story like a boxing glove. And it really tries to rub it in that whether or not this young upcoming boxer makes it to the top in the boxing world, it’s not a question of skills, it’s about politics and money.
An interesting, entertaining and rather exciting novella that critiques the corruption in boxing during the time this was written in.
If you’re a fan of boxing, you might think it’s a little bit over the top in the way the upcoming boxer manages to win so many fights. But it fits the story like a boxing glove. And it really tries to rub it in that whether or not this young upcoming boxer makes it to the top in the boxing world, it’s not a question of skills, it’s about politics and money.
An interesting, entertaining and rather exciting novella that critiques the corruption in boxing during the time this was written in.
December 5, 2025
Okkkkk, it’s an engaging little novella such a fun read??
I love how honestly it looks at the boxing world’s corruption back in the day. I mean, I’m not even sure how different things are now but Jack London’s forward-thinking take on it just cracks me up every single time; his perspective feels so sharp and surprisingly fun zaa.
I love how honestly it looks at the boxing world’s corruption back in the day. I mean, I’m not even sure how different things are now but Jack London’s forward-thinking take on it just cracks me up every single time; his perspective feels so sharp and surprisingly fun zaa.
June 2, 2011
I found this book on the sidewalk on my way home from work. It's a super quick read. It's a magnificent story. I kept waiting for some sort of grand tragedy or other complete nonsense to ruin the whole thing, but it never happened. Good to the end. Loved it! High school English teachers, why don't you make the kiddies read this one? So good!
January 16, 2023
Romanzo minore (?) di London, magnifico sul mondo della boxe e sull’avidità umana. Fa impressione sapere che sia stato pubblicato nel 1913. Ottimo lavoro di traduzione di Davide Sapienza in questa prima edizione TransEuropa (2014).
September 25, 2025
Leí esta novela hace muchos años, y me impresionó tanto que hasta el día de hoy sigo recordando la mayor parte de de la trama.
Un argumento muy simple: un joven, criado por su padre (ex campeón de boxeo) en la soledad de las montañas, tiene un talento único para el boxeo. Pero también es dueño de una inocencia absoluta, por lo que que su entrenador deberá esforzarse para hacerlo ingresar en el corrupto mundo del boxeo profesional, dominado por la mafia de las apuestas. Obviamente, también hay una historia de amor.
Hoy me doy cuenta de que es una novela muy simple, pero en su momento supo convertirse en una de mis novelas favoritas de uno de mis escritores favoritos. Si tuviera que hacer un ranking de mis obras favoritas de London, inmediatamente después de Martin Eden vendría El bruto abismal (quizás cabeza a cabeza con Antes de Adán, otro de sus libros menos conocidos). Posiblemente mi valoración de esos años haya sido exagerada: tenía 14 o 15 años, era patológicamente tímido (sobre todo con las chicas) y recibía bulling a mansalva... cualquier historia sobre un tipo tímido y bonachón que sabía golpear a los malos y se quedaba con la chica al final sería más que bien recibida.
Una novela tierna y triste a la vez, que está entre las más breves y las más emotivas de London. Hay que decir, además, que el mundo del boxeo no le era desconocido al autor de Colmillo blanco y El llamado de la selva, quién, como periodista, había cubierto numerosos encuentros.
Un argumento muy simple: un joven, criado por su padre (ex campeón de boxeo) en la soledad de las montañas, tiene un talento único para el boxeo. Pero también es dueño de una inocencia absoluta, por lo que que su entrenador deberá esforzarse para hacerlo ingresar en el corrupto mundo del boxeo profesional, dominado por la mafia de las apuestas. Obviamente, también hay una historia de amor.
Hoy me doy cuenta de que es una novela muy simple, pero en su momento supo convertirse en una de mis novelas favoritas de uno de mis escritores favoritos. Si tuviera que hacer un ranking de mis obras favoritas de London, inmediatamente después de Martin Eden vendría El bruto abismal (quizás cabeza a cabeza con Antes de Adán, otro de sus libros menos conocidos). Posiblemente mi valoración de esos años haya sido exagerada: tenía 14 o 15 años, era patológicamente tímido (sobre todo con las chicas) y recibía bulling a mansalva... cualquier historia sobre un tipo tímido y bonachón que sabía golpear a los malos y se quedaba con la chica al final sería más que bien recibida.
Una novela tierna y triste a la vez, que está entre las más breves y las más emotivas de London. Hay que decir, además, que el mundo del boxeo no le era desconocido al autor de Colmillo blanco y El llamado de la selva, quién, como periodista, había cubierto numerosos encuentros.
October 21, 2020
Традиционно сильная проза. Из этой книги понятно почему Ленин любил этого автора.
March 27, 2021
Genç Boksör, London'un 20. yy başındaki Amerika'da geçen kısa ama etkileyici hikayesi. Yazarı ne kadar çok sevdiğimi biliyorsunuz. Bu kısa hikayeyi de büyük bir keyifle, bir oturuşta okudum.
▪️
Genç Pat Glendon, babası tarafından modern toplumdan tamamen kopuk bir şekilde yetiştirilmiş büyük bir yetenektir. Vakti geldiğinde, babasının isteği üzerine menajer Sam Stubener'in yanında şehre gelir ve ringlerde adeta destan yazar. Pat, kendini spora adamış ve dürüst, ideal, adil bir dünyada mücadele ettiğini zannederken etrafında dönen oyunlardan habersizdir.
▪️
Jack London, 86 sayfada paranın sporun doğasını nasıl kirlettiğini etkileyici bir şekilde anlatmış. Kırmızı Kedi Klasikler'den okuduğum Genç Boksör'ü gönül rahatlığıyla tavsiye ediyorum.
▪️
Genç Pat Glendon, babası tarafından modern toplumdan tamamen kopuk bir şekilde yetiştirilmiş büyük bir yetenektir. Vakti geldiğinde, babasının isteği üzerine menajer Sam Stubener'in yanında şehre gelir ve ringlerde adeta destan yazar. Pat, kendini spora adamış ve dürüst, ideal, adil bir dünyada mücadele ettiğini zannederken etrafında dönen oyunlardan habersizdir.
▪️
Jack London, 86 sayfada paranın sporun doğasını nasıl kirlettiğini etkileyici bir şekilde anlatmış. Kırmızı Kedi Klasikler'den okuduğum Genç Boksör'ü gönül rahatlığıyla tavsiye ediyorum.
July 19, 2011
SIX WORD REVIEW: Boxing corruption in the early 1900s?
February 3, 2025
Another absolute knock-out from a brilliant author.
We have the perfect boxer. He was almost made in a lab. He is the real deal. He is taken in by a manager and forced to play the game. Then he realises that the game may not be fair.
We get a nice love story as well (a rare one for Jack London) and Young Pat Glendon is the most heroic of heroes.
Fantastic.
We have the perfect boxer. He was almost made in a lab. He is the real deal. He is taken in by a manager and forced to play the game. Then he realises that the game may not be fair.
We get a nice love story as well (a rare one for Jack London) and Young Pat Glendon is the most heroic of heroes.
Fantastic.
June 1, 2025
Goeie titel.
February 25, 2014
As a fight fan, I really enjoyed this tale of an honest man in a corrupt world. The ending was a little too predictable and "happily ever after," but overall a worthwhile read.
April 1, 2023
Not his best work and quite predictable but reads very well and keeps you going. Good choice for a long bus/train ride or a flight.
February 13, 2021
This short novel (or novella) highlights one of the strengths along with the unfortunate sameness that London’s stories often possess. As always, there is a wonderful specimen of a man, stronger and smarter than anyone else, filled with a radiant vitality (a juvenile power fantasy that London was fond of and why so much of his work targeting a young audience has always been so popular). There is a remarkable woman who has never found a man worthy of her—until she is mesmerized and enlivened by the vitality of this man. There are immediate sparks between them as they recognize that they are meant to be together. The title comes from the incongruous nickname that the main character is tagged with by the newspapers as he emerges as a naïve babe in the woods (literally from the mountains of California) to become a boxing sensation in San Francisco. The nickname is incongruous because he is a sensitive soul who reads poetry and finds his joy in nature, although his joy in nature is in the manly pursuits of hunting and fishing. London wrote a small number of novels and stories about Boxing as a sport, and this is the first one I have read. London’s strength does not come from his description of boxing because, once again, this magnificent specimen of a man is too much for anyone currently in the sport. London’s strength comes from the sense of moral outrage that he manages to convey at the corruption in the sport, with attempts to fix matches and with everyone involved being on the “graft” on one level or another, from the ushers selling extra seats at the matches to our hero’s manager slyly convincing him to reserve his strength in the first few rounds and then to bring his full strength forward in a specific round, which the manager then passes on to the bookies and others in the syndicate. Nothing new is learned, as corruption in boxing is a long and ongoing trope (at least since London's work; I do not know if someone worked on the idea before him), but it is still the most interesting part of the novella.
July 27, 2025
Aahh, yes. I recall this tale. It was quite some time ago that I read this. As great stories written or told by great bards will, this one has accompanied me throughout my journey in this life. This is why it is such a pleasure to read. Those of you who, like one of my favorite authors, Mr. London, are able to spin yarns and craft these tales for, not only entertainment, but for the reader, or listener, being able to relate to a given story, therein also lies a way in which all of us, individually, are recognized and celebrated.
So, whenever it is that, in my near fifty-sixth year, and I am at my station of work, ( which is and has always been, like the protagonist of this story, by London, hard, mind- numbing, man killing labor; instead of despair, when my body starts to tell me my time is slowly waning, I am reminded of this yarn and instead of self-pity I am sort comforted in knowing that there are those who celebrate those of us who , as I always say, " ...are of strong back and weak mind."
So, whenever it is that, in my near fifty-sixth year, and I am at my station of work, ( which is and has always been, like the protagonist of this story, by London, hard, mind- numbing, man killing labor; instead of despair, when my body starts to tell me my time is slowly waning, I am reminded of this yarn and instead of self-pity I am sort comforted in knowing that there are those who celebrate those of us who , as I always say, " ...are of strong back and weak mind."
February 12, 2020
A clever twist on the more predictable story arc of an ingenue being chewed up and spat out by a cruel sport and an unscrupulous manager. In this story, the innocent country boy is the one who spits out the sport his boxer father trained him up for. Throughout the tale, there is a curious passivity about the hero who just goes along with whatever other people want of him. It is only when he reaches the higher levels of boxing and has to make an actual effort in the ring that he also begins to take control of his life outside of it. The plot and characterization may read a little thin, but this is Jack London and should be read as a fast-moving, fun-to-read tale. It’s also enjoyable to let the language flow over you as you sink into the atmosphere of early 20th century boxing.
January 23, 2020
I knew nothing of this book. London was a strange character. Boxing is a different game today, in terms of preparation and presentation, from the game that London describes 100 years ago. I am in no position to determine if London's claims then were true or if they still hold today.
This is little more than an outline though. The story arc is not really completed. More a sketch than a novel. Still, there is a readability of London that is refreshing.
A Gutenberg online copy was my source. I read this on a Kindle. That is the way I am going if there exists copies for what i want to read.
Worth a look.
This is little more than an outline though. The story arc is not really completed. More a sketch than a novel. Still, there is a readability of London that is refreshing.
A Gutenberg online copy was my source. I read this on a Kindle. That is the way I am going if there exists copies for what i want to read.
Worth a look.
February 28, 2024
Naast de novelle De ongelikte beer, bevat dit werk ook de korte verhalen Jacht op een Mammouth en Een drank uit de Poolstreken.
De ongelikte beer heb ik met veel plezier gelezen. Een bijzondere bokser wordt puur gehouden, maar dit blijkt op een gegeven moment niet houdbaar.
Ook De jacht op een mammoet was prettig lezen. Een verhaal vol humor en overdrijvingen.
Een drank uit de poolstreken vond ik echt minder. Ook al is het een verhaal dat verteld wordt door een personage doet het toch wel pijn om te lezen hoe deze witte man zich tegenover de Inuit gedraagd. Ik las met kromme tenen.
De ongelikte beer heb ik met veel plezier gelezen. Een bijzondere bokser wordt puur gehouden, maar dit blijkt op een gegeven moment niet houdbaar.
Ook De jacht op een mammoet was prettig lezen. Een verhaal vol humor en overdrijvingen.
Een drank uit de poolstreken vond ik echt minder. Ook al is het een verhaal dat verteld wordt door een personage doet het toch wel pijn om te lezen hoe deze witte man zich tegenover de Inuit gedraagd. Ik las met kromme tenen.
June 17, 2025
"Beware the beast man for he is the Devil's pawn."—Dr. Zaius*. The preceding fits nearly every situation and would make a great T-shirt or UN motto... Back to the Abysmal Brute: "The sullenness and ferocity of a jungle beast"—or radish! Quite a compliment IMO. "Business principles" This may be the ultimate oxymoron. Good fighting fiction, but a little too much sermonizing. Excusable under the circumstances though. Jack London at his beast.
*Dr. Zaius didn't actually say it, but a chimp did so at his behest.
*Dr. Zaius didn't actually say it, but a chimp did so at his behest.
December 28, 2020
A fun boxing story by one of the best action-adventure writers. . . Jack London. I was surprised how this one ended, even though the beginning of the story telegraphed the ending. This is an easy 70 plus pages that read very nicely and would work well for a quick day read, or to bolster one's reading challenge. I would recommend this short story to anyone who likes action, fighting, sports, or rugged romance.
August 28, 2019
A short but fun read!
I’ve never been one for sports fiction, and while the romance bespeaks of a the era the book was written in, Pat is an endearing and func character to follow through his journey.
I’ve never been one for sports fiction, and while the romance bespeaks of a the era the book was written in, Pat is an endearing and func character to follow through his journey.
July 8, 2023
Read this one in my Native language.. gotta say it was nice, and short. Read it in one sitting. I admit it wasn't my type of book. But I was able to finish quickly, so I didn't mind reading it one bit.
July 1, 2024
A fast-paced, easily read book from one of my favourite authors of all time. Great for bus trips, but not very memorable in the long run.
September 12, 2024
Not London's best work, in my opinion, but still fun to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2025
kucukken ben de boks yapmıştım yani relatable
August 24, 2025
wonderful!
September 30, 2025
A fairytale of the sweet science.
April 25, 2022
This is one of Jack London's novels about boxing. Both boxing novels are short. The Abysmal Brute is not at all indicative of describing the main character in this story. This novel is about a young boxer (Pat Glendon). The father of Glendon was a heavy weight boxer just like his son; the father teaching his son all about boxing. The young boxer grows up in the deep woods of California and is described as quite a healthy ox.
I liked this story far more than "The Game". This story is more about the character of Pat Glendon and not so much about describing the brutality of boxing. In fact, Glendon seems to avoid any physical damage from his professional fights. The story focuses on Glendon's naivety concerning corruption of the boxing world. Late in the novel, Glendon meets a young female reporter (Maud Sangster) who queries him about the corruption and because of the inquiry, Glendon begins to think about that corruption. This got me thinking. In the end, Glendon falls in love with Sangster, wins the heavy weight boxing belt and lives happily ever after in the big woods of California (probably close to Sonoma Valley).
I liked this story far more than "The Game". This story is more about the character of Pat Glendon and not so much about describing the brutality of boxing. In fact, Glendon seems to avoid any physical damage from his professional fights. The story focuses on Glendon's naivety concerning corruption of the boxing world. Late in the novel, Glendon meets a young female reporter (Maud Sangster) who queries him about the corruption and because of the inquiry, Glendon begins to think about that corruption. This got me thinking. In the end, Glendon falls in love with Sangster, wins the heavy weight boxing belt and lives happily ever after in the big woods of California (probably close to Sonoma Valley).
February 5, 2011
Jack London had a handle on the boxing industry as he was a boxer from San Francisco alongside Abe Attell the Feather Weight Champion of the World. Just as the main character in this book - many boxers may be considered naive and many more may have lived lives that led them to be manipulated by promoters. Boxers suffered some of the biggest travesties and alienation in New York for the fifty years before Jacks story was written. Yes even the first boxing movie was filmed shortly before this book was published which was around the same time of the temporary relaxing of New York boxing laws...This manipulated the public into thinking that the end of the bare-knuckled boxing brought about a safe sport with the gloves.
And while it's true that boxing and storytelling have been inextricably holding each others hands into the past... I cannot assume that this will continue to be the case. What then will be the UFC's legacy. Will we have more broken and broke -- brain dead fighters -- dying horrible deaths.
This book is a central pivot point in the history of boxing and possibly influenced the way the nation reacted to the sport which was being denigrated by females pursuing temperance. How much did this story play into the hands of those wanting to control liquor and boxing and then those who became boxers because they had know other way.
Jack London even quipped that men turned to boxing at the YMCA's and KOC leagues to escape the rigid conservatism of women who wanted to control all aspects of a mans life.
If one understands that Abe Attell knew Arnold Rothstein and Jack London one should see how this important piece of work helped lead to the change of the political guard that brought prohibition. I question -- Jacks work -- when understanding it as a tool for this guard and wonder if his disillusionment of this act led to many more great stories.
And while it's true that boxing and storytelling have been inextricably holding each others hands into the past... I cannot assume that this will continue to be the case. What then will be the UFC's legacy. Will we have more broken and broke -- brain dead fighters -- dying horrible deaths.
This book is a central pivot point in the history of boxing and possibly influenced the way the nation reacted to the sport which was being denigrated by females pursuing temperance. How much did this story play into the hands of those wanting to control liquor and boxing and then those who became boxers because they had know other way.
Jack London even quipped that men turned to boxing at the YMCA's and KOC leagues to escape the rigid conservatism of women who wanted to control all aspects of a mans life.
If one understands that Abe Attell knew Arnold Rothstein and Jack London one should see how this important piece of work helped lead to the change of the political guard that brought prohibition. I question -- Jacks work -- when understanding it as a tool for this guard and wonder if his disillusionment of this act led to many more great stories.
February 21, 2011
Jack London had a handle on the boxing industry as he was a boxer from San Francisco alongside Abe Attell the Feather Weight Champion of the World. Just as the main character in this book - many boxers may be considered naive and many more may have lived lives that led them to be manipulated by promoters. Boxers suffered some of the biggest travesties and alienation in New York for the fifty years before Jacks story was written. Yes even the first boxing movie was filmed shortly before this book was published which was around the same time of the temporary relaxing of New York boxing laws...This manipulated the public into thinking that the end of the bare-knuckled boxing brought about a safe sport with the gloves.
And while it's true that boxing and storytelling have been inextricably holding each others hands into the past... I cannot assume that this will continue to be the case. What then will be the UFC's legacy. Will we have more broken and broke -- brain dead fighters -- dying horrible deaths.
This book is a central pivot point in the history of boxing and possibly influenced the way the nation reacted to the sport which was being denigrated by females pursuing temperance. How much did this story play into the hands of those wanting to control liquor and boxing and then those who became boxers because they had know other way.
Jack London even quipped that men turned to boxing at the YMCA's and KOC leagues to escape the rigid conservatism of women who wanted to control all aspects of a mans life.
If one understands that Abe Attell knew Arnold Rothstein and Jack London one should see how this important piece of work helped lead to the change of the political guard that brought prohibition. I question -- Jacks work -- when understanding it as a tool for this guard and wonder if his disillusionment of this act led to many more great stories.
And while it's true that boxing and storytelling have been inextricably holding each others hands into the past... I cannot assume that this will continue to be the case. What then will be the UFC's legacy. Will we have more broken and broke -- brain dead fighters -- dying horrible deaths.
This book is a central pivot point in the history of boxing and possibly influenced the way the nation reacted to the sport which was being denigrated by females pursuing temperance. How much did this story play into the hands of those wanting to control liquor and boxing and then those who became boxers because they had know other way.
Jack London even quipped that men turned to boxing at the YMCA's and KOC leagues to escape the rigid conservatism of women who wanted to control all aspects of a mans life.
If one understands that Abe Attell knew Arnold Rothstein and Jack London one should see how this important piece of work helped lead to the change of the political guard that brought prohibition. I question -- Jacks work -- when understanding it as a tool for this guard and wonder if his disillusionment of this act led to many more great stories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews