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Lost Face
Lost Face is a collection of seven short stories by Jack London. It takes its named from the first short story in the book, about a European adventurer in the Yukon who outwits his Indian captors' plans to torture him. This collection includes London's best-known short story, To Build a Fire. It tells the story of a new traveler in the Klondike who ignores warnings about traveling alone and whose life depends on the ability to build a fire. Also included are Trust, That Spot, Flush of Gold, The Passing of Marcus O'Brien, and The Wit of Porportuk.
108 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1910
50 people are currently reading
475 people want to read
About the author
Jack London
7,634 books7,684 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 35 reviews
July 17, 2017
آبرو باخته داستان کوتاهی از جک لندن است، نبوغ جک لندن در این داستان بهشدت نمایان است، شاید از روی این داستان در روایتهای دیگر اقتباسهایی شده باشد اما تصویری که لندن از خون و وحشیگری میسازد منحصر است، سرما و خون ویژگیهای عمده کارهای لندن و مخصوصاً این داستان کوتاه عالی است.
May 10, 2020
Jack London's short stories about the people trying to carve out a living in the frozen lands of North America are always often always so poignant. He writes such a wonderful descriptions of the severity of the landscape and lifestyle. With the exception of 'The Wit of Porportuk' and some others, overall I didn't seem to enjoy this collection as much as his others.
Lost Face - A story about how a criminal outwitted an Native American chief to avoid death by torture and gain a swift execution instead. If Subienkow had been a morally good character, I would have enjoyed this story a lot more. 4*
Trust - A man commits a feet of incredible physical endurance for seemingly nothing. 2*
To Build a Fire - I can't imagine the amount of people who ventured into Canada/Alaska and vastly underestimated the cold in the late 19th century. 3*
That Spot - A pair of men being "haunted" by a nuisance dog makes for a surprisingly amusing story. 3*
Flush of Gold - Karma at its finest, but I did feel sorry for Marie. 4*
The Passing of Marcus O'Brien - A prank has an entirely unforeseen consequence. 3*
The Wit of Porportuk - A brilliant story about a woman out-witting a man wanting to take her for his wife against her will, but though she does not become his wife he still has the last laugh. This one hit me right in the feels. I was not expecting that ending! 5*
Lost Face - A story about how a criminal outwitted an Native American chief to avoid death by torture and gain a swift execution instead. If Subienkow had been a morally good character, I would have enjoyed this story a lot more. 4*
Trust - A man commits a feet of incredible physical endurance for seemingly nothing. 2*
To Build a Fire - I can't imagine the amount of people who ventured into Canada/Alaska and vastly underestimated the cold in the late 19th century. 3*
That Spot - A pair of men being "haunted" by a nuisance dog makes for a surprisingly amusing story. 3*
Flush of Gold - Karma at its finest, but I did feel sorry for Marie. 4*
The Passing of Marcus O'Brien - A prank has an entirely unforeseen consequence. 3*
The Wit of Porportuk - A brilliant story about a woman out-witting a man wanting to take her for his wife against her will, but though she does not become his wife he still has the last laugh. This one hit me right in the feels. I was not expecting that ending! 5*
January 25, 2023
I got this volume just because of one short story: TO BUILD A FIRE. A man travels alone in the Yukon wilderness at minus 59° C and steps into a puddle. He has to start a fire or his feet will freeze of and he'll die. . It's a fascinating story of a desparate fight against nature and London's very reduced language really elevates the experience. I loved it.
Alas, the other stories didn't catch me in the same way. They are all about people on the frontier of the Yukon territory at the turn of the century. It's about living in a grim world where every day is a fight. On the one hand that is interesting, because it is a world that is very different from mine. But in the end, it was too often about hard men (and occasional hard women) being hard and therefore win (in one or the other way). And the barebone language made them even more hard. The stories where not bad, but there was way to little variation for my taste - except in TO START A FIRE. There the hardness is the reason the character ends up in the desparate situation. It's a breath of fresh air that provides a different perspective and is the main reason why I can still recommend to pick this volume up even if the rest sounds rather meh to you.
Alas, the other stories didn't catch me in the same way. They are all about people on the frontier of the Yukon territory at the turn of the century. It's about living in a grim world where every day is a fight. On the one hand that is interesting, because it is a world that is very different from mine. But in the end, it was too often about hard men (and occasional hard women) being hard and therefore win (in one or the other way). And the barebone language made them even more hard. The stories where not bad, but there was way to little variation for my taste - except in TO START A FIRE. There the hardness is the reason the character ends up in the desparate situation. It's a breath of fresh air that provides a different perspective and is the main reason why I can still recommend to pick this volume up even if the rest sounds rather meh to you.
August 3, 2024
A mixed bag of short stories some much better than others of people carving a living out of a harsh environment! The contrast between the really great stories and the less captivating one is so extreme I found it quite jarring! The final tale being, in my opinion, the best ends the book well.
September 23, 2013
Story 1: Lost face is a gruesome tale about this guy, a fur thief who claimed to have some medicine that makes skin stone hard, unfourtanly for the Indian who had to try to cut his head off was successful and so his name was changed to lost face for beheading someone
Story 2: Trust involves a man named Churchill who has an adventure near Crater Lake
Story 3: To Build a fire is a story from the viewpoint of someone who didn't cover himself for the cold properly, and the outcome from that.
Story 4: That Spot is about a mutt that cost $110 worth of 1890's money. It talks about how Spot was really intelligent, but would rather steal from those not looking. As he did everything but work, lots of funny things happened
Story 5 : Flush of Gold is basically a love story gone wrong, her lover died similar to the main charter of To Build a fire, but he didn't have any matches.
Story 6: The Passing of Marcus O' Brien has to with Marcus O' Brien, but before it got to his death, there was a lot of crude language
Story 7: The wit of Porportuk, it talks about this Indian girl, then it talks about Porportuk who was in a lot of debt. One of the things that caused this was a ship that sunk from arctic ice. The rest is quite interesting.
Basically all the stories in this book have something to with a dog, or figuratively like in The wit of Porportuk for an example
Story 2: Trust involves a man named Churchill who has an adventure near Crater Lake
Story 3: To Build a fire is a story from the viewpoint of someone who didn't cover himself for the cold properly, and the outcome from that.
Story 4: That Spot is about a mutt that cost $110 worth of 1890's money. It talks about how Spot was really intelligent, but would rather steal from those not looking. As he did everything but work, lots of funny things happened
Story 5 : Flush of Gold is basically a love story gone wrong, her lover died similar to the main charter of To Build a fire, but he didn't have any matches.
Story 6: The Passing of Marcus O' Brien has to with Marcus O' Brien, but before it got to his death, there was a lot of crude language
Story 7: The wit of Porportuk, it talks about this Indian girl, then it talks about Porportuk who was in a lot of debt. One of the things that caused this was a ship that sunk from arctic ice. The rest is quite interesting.
Basically all the stories in this book have something to with a dog, or figuratively like in The wit of Porportuk for an example
September 13, 2022
Рецензия была написана: 02.12.2015
Прекрасный рассказ о том, на что способен человеческий ум в самые критические моменты.
Казалось бы, выхода из сложившейся ситуации нет, и судьба главного героя предрешена. Страшная, ужасающая судьба. Возможно, именно она и вела его все эти годы, постепенно приводила к тому что вот-вот должно свершиться. Но разве мужчина, прошедший через столько жестоких испытаний, позволит злому року повести себя за собой?
Конечно же нет! Он восстанет, он извернется, он докажет, чего стоит его ум и умудренный опытом характер. Вед победа над судьбой - одна из самых громогласных побед.
Этот рассказ не займет у вас больше двадцати минут, но станет хорошим открытием/дополнением творчества такого замечательного писателя, как Джек Лондон. Четкий, лаконичный, порой грубый и реалистичный мужской слог никого не оставит равнодушным. А необычная концовка уж точно заставит подивиться изобретательности автора и главного героя.
Определенно - читать!
Прекрасный рассказ о том, на что способен человеческий ум в самые критические моменты.
Казалось бы, выхода из сложившейся ситуации нет, и судьба главного героя предрешена. Страшная, ужасающая судьба. Возможно, именно она и вела его все эти годы, постепенно приводила к тому что вот-вот должно свершиться. Но разве мужчина, прошедший через столько жестоких испытаний, позволит злому року повести себя за собой?
Конечно же нет! Он восстанет, он извернется, он докажет, чего стоит его ум и умудренный опытом характер. Вед победа над судьбой - одна из самых громогласных побед.
Этот рассказ не займет у вас больше двадцати минут, но станет хорошим открытием/дополнением творчества такого замечательного писателя, как Джек Лондон. Четкий, лаконичный, порой грубый и реалистичный мужской слог никого не оставит равнодушным. А необычная концовка уж точно заставит подивиться изобретательности автора и главного героя.
Определенно - читать!
February 13, 2021
Dositej
Beograd, 1989.
Prevela Maja Šoljan
Ova kratka priča je sjajna.
Jezično govoreći tekst stvara dinamiku i pozornost.
Atmosferičnost se ostvaruje u relativnoj brzoj izmjeni scena te rafalnim dijalozima.
Sadržajno govoreći tekst posjeduje zasigurno brojne autobiografske podtekste; opisuje indijansko zarobljavanje u ruskoj Aljasci.
Način na koji je glavni lik sebi priskrbio brzu i u biti bezblonu smrt je sjajan, zagorski i texovski u najboljem smislu tih pridjeva.
Pročitajte svakako!
¡Hasta luego mis murcielagos!
Beograd, 1989.
Prevela Maja Šoljan
Ova kratka priča je sjajna.
Jezično govoreći tekst stvara dinamiku i pozornost.
Atmosferičnost se ostvaruje u relativnoj brzoj izmjeni scena te rafalnim dijalozima.
Sadržajno govoreći tekst posjeduje zasigurno brojne autobiografske podtekste; opisuje indijansko zarobljavanje u ruskoj Aljasci.
Način na koji je glavni lik sebi priskrbio brzu i u biti bezblonu smrt je sjajan, zagorski i texovski u najboljem smislu tih pridjeva.
Pročitajte svakako!
¡Hasta luego mis murcielagos!
May 27, 2024
1902. Jack London publie une nouvelle intitulée Construire un feu.
1908. Jack London publie une nouvelle intitulée Construire un feu.
Les deux versions de Construire un feu ont un même point de départ : un homme seul, dans le grand nord canadien, par -60 degrés. Un homme décidé à rejoindre des camarades prospecteurs et chasseurs d’élans. Un homme sachant que dans cet environnement la moindre erreur est fatale. Sachant également que le feu lui sera un indispensable allié en cas de problème. Car dans ces conditions extrêmes, le froid tue et seule une source de chaleur peut vous maintenir en vie. L’homme sait également qu’il ne doit pas exposer ses membres au gel et qu’il doit fuir toute forme d’humidité. Or, il commet l’erreur de mal évaluer l’épaisseur d’une couche de glace. Ses pieds passent au travers, jusqu’aux chevilles. A partir de ce moment, il lui faut construire un feu pour survivre. Une expérience pas si évidente à réaliser quand on a besoin de gratter une allumette avec des doigts que le froid rend insensibles…
On considère souvent que la première version de la nouvelle est davantage destinée à un jeune public. La situation dégénère mais le trappeur s’en sort miraculeusement. La seconde est par contre beaucoup plus sombre, désespérée même. Dans cette deuxième mouture de l’histoire l’homme est accompagné d’un chien. Ce dernier s’avère être le plus intelligent du duo. Disons plutôt que son instinct lui permet de sentir le danger et que son atavisme lui sauvera la vie. Contrairement à son maître.
Rarement une lecture m’aura donné aussi froid. London retranscrit à merveille les conditions incroyablement difficiles d'un périple au cœur d’une forêt glacée et les sensations qui gagnent peu à peu le marcheur. La bataille qui s’engage entre l’homme et la nature est décrite avec un réalisme sidérant, d’un seul trait, au fil d’une seule journée. Le lecteur avance au rythme et à hauteur du personnage. C’est court, intense, habité.
Au final, le message est clair : l’homme n’est pas maître de la nature, la vanité et l’orgueil n’ont pas leur place face à cette dernière.
1908. Jack London publie une nouvelle intitulée Construire un feu.
Les deux versions de Construire un feu ont un même point de départ : un homme seul, dans le grand nord canadien, par -60 degrés. Un homme décidé à rejoindre des camarades prospecteurs et chasseurs d’élans. Un homme sachant que dans cet environnement la moindre erreur est fatale. Sachant également que le feu lui sera un indispensable allié en cas de problème. Car dans ces conditions extrêmes, le froid tue et seule une source de chaleur peut vous maintenir en vie. L’homme sait également qu’il ne doit pas exposer ses membres au gel et qu’il doit fuir toute forme d’humidité. Or, il commet l’erreur de mal évaluer l’épaisseur d’une couche de glace. Ses pieds passent au travers, jusqu’aux chevilles. A partir de ce moment, il lui faut construire un feu pour survivre. Une expérience pas si évidente à réaliser quand on a besoin de gratter une allumette avec des doigts que le froid rend insensibles…
On considère souvent que la première version de la nouvelle est davantage destinée à un jeune public. La situation dégénère mais le trappeur s’en sort miraculeusement. La seconde est par contre beaucoup plus sombre, désespérée même. Dans cette deuxième mouture de l’histoire l’homme est accompagné d’un chien. Ce dernier s’avère être le plus intelligent du duo. Disons plutôt que son instinct lui permet de sentir le danger et que son atavisme lui sauvera la vie. Contrairement à son maître.
Rarement une lecture m’aura donné aussi froid. London retranscrit à merveille les conditions incroyablement difficiles d'un périple au cœur d’une forêt glacée et les sensations qui gagnent peu à peu le marcheur. La bataille qui s’engage entre l’homme et la nature est décrite avec un réalisme sidérant, d’un seul trait, au fil d’une seule journée. Le lecteur avance au rythme et à hauteur du personnage. C’est court, intense, habité.
Au final, le message est clair : l’homme n’est pas maître de la nature, la vanité et l’orgueil n’ont pas leur place face à cette dernière.
August 8, 2021
The thing about London is that unlike so many authors of the current age, his short stories give the appearance that he is not consciously seeking to plumb the depths of psychological meaning. Sometimes, he still reaches the heights of masterful impact and significance, as with the one story here which everyone knows, 'To Build a Fire', but more often than not he is simply writing to tell a very entertaining story. And at that, he never fails. In these seven Yukon stories, he is always able to provide the appropriate mix of adventure, characters that seem both mythic and yet plainly human at that same time, rhythmic pacing and plotting, and a fine ability to capture the majesty and danger of the location. This is a collection that at its worst is highly entertaining, and at its best touches upon the deepest conflicts between man and his surroundings. London remains, for me, a terrific writer that fortunately for all of us produced a large body of work in such a short lifespan, which should not be overlooked or looked down upon.
January 28, 2021
In the 1890's the highest paid and the most popular of all living writers. Because of early financial difficulties, he was largely self educated past grammar school. He spent a lot of time in the Yukon enjoying the outdoor life, and it shows in these short stories.
His descriptions of the intense cold and its urgent effect on the body are authentic. He talks of falling into overflow and the urgency of lighting a fire and the fear when that fire is quashed.
I also love his tight prose, punctuation and double -- between opposing ideas--I've nicked it.
His descriptions of the intense cold and its urgent effect on the body are authentic. He talks of falling into overflow and the urgency of lighting a fire and the fear when that fire is quashed.
I also love his tight prose, punctuation and double -- between opposing ideas--I've nicked it.
March 1, 2018
I remember the admonishment from my high school English teacher to "write what you know
!" This is what makes Jack London such a great author. He did not have a great formal education but when he writes about the Yukon you know he was there. He brings you right into the Alaskan cold and you are deeply part of the adventure. Lost Face is full of great short stories. Read it with a friend!
!" This is what makes Jack London such a great author. He did not have a great formal education but when he writes about the Yukon you know he was there. He brings you right into the Alaskan cold and you are deeply part of the adventure. Lost Face is full of great short stories. Read it with a friend!
Read
June 30, 2020Well-known for his grand tales of nature, Jack London explores the Wild West in this collection of short stories. In the titular piece “Lost Face,” an explorer of the Yukon finds himself taken captive. He must rely on his wits and sheer intrepidity in order to escape from the clutches of his captors. Also included is “To Build a Fire,” which is one of London’s best-known short stories.
February 28, 2023
First published in 1910, this collection of seven Jack London short stories recreates the hardships and customs of Alaska and the frozen Northwest … chief among these tales is “To Build a Fire,” probably the best known, which illustrates life’s fragility in this wintery portion of the globe … eye-opening, even now …
September 14, 2018
This collection reignited my long-dormant love of Jack London, and made me long for parts unknown, despite the horrors that exist there. There’s beauty and opportunity everywhere, drought with danger. A delicious read and strongly recommended.
January 16, 2021
Tough one to rate. I really enjoyed Lost Face (the story) and To Build a Fire. But some of the stories were just "stuff happens and then here's a funny/ironic ending," which was a let-down. Might give more of his stories a go, but it will be a while. Writing style is a bit of a slog.
August 13, 2020
Mixed feelings :)
September 5, 2020
To Build a Fire is a top notch short story, and Trust is also very good. No bad stories in this collection, assuming you don't hold the racism against them.
March 27, 2021
Brilliant short story. Didn't end quite the way I thought it would, but the main character was a creative and crafty fellow. Very entertaining.
June 5, 2022
Sacré Spot, Construire un feu et sont extraordinaires. Les autres tout autant, moins pour moi.
Ne lire la préface qu'en dernier pour se lancer dans le grand nord avec fraîcheur.
Ne lire la préface qu'en dernier pour se lancer dans le grand nord avec fraîcheur.
October 8, 2022
This one is my favourite short story from Jack London.
May 30, 2024
trop chouette mais une fois qu'on en a lu quelques unes on a pigé le principe l'environnement et tutti quanti et ça dépayse plus des masses
me vlà pro des affluents du yokun
me vlà pro des affluents du yokun
November 12, 2024
Set in an interesting time and place. Good twist at the end.
December 30, 2019
3.95/5
Savage and cunning short story
Savage and cunning short story
October 5, 2022
Se lit d'un coup , prouesse du style Londonien , super
May 21, 2025
Jahrhundert Challenge #1
December 22, 2014
I was motivated to re-read "To Build a Fire" by Bernd Heinrich in Winter World. After I read Call of the Wild in high school, I vowed to never read Jack London again. I am glad I did. What a writer! His prose instantly puts me in the Northwest Territories or Alaska. I can feel and smell the cold. London is a very powerful author.
Besides "To Build a Fire", I think my favorite story of these seven stories is "That Spot," which reminded me so much of O. Henry's "Ransom of Red Chief." But don't think the other stories are less than these two. All of the stories are clever and have unanticipated endings.
Read London again. Read these stories. You will be amazed at his artistry.
Besides "To Build a Fire", I think my favorite story of these seven stories is "That Spot," which reminded me so much of O. Henry's "Ransom of Red Chief." But don't think the other stories are less than these two. All of the stories are clever and have unanticipated endings.
Read London again. Read these stories. You will be amazed at his artistry.
January 26, 2014
Lost Face is a collection that was first published in 1910 and includes London's best know story, "To Build a Fire". Lost Face begins with the story of the same name, which starts with a real bang - its exciting and I like London's writing style. He conveys the desperation and urgency of a situation really well. However, I thought that the ending was quite a letdown - I don't think it has aged well. Overall I felt let down by most of the stories in the collection, with the exception of "To Build a Fire", which I loved. It's perfectly structured, hugely engaging. I was wincing with fear and anticipation towards the end, the buildup of tension is really well done.
Five stars for "To Build a Fire", two stars for the rest.
Five stars for "To Build a Fire", two stars for the rest.
August 20, 2012
Шедевр!
Так коротко, але так насичено і ємнісно. Це один з найкращих коротеньких творів, що я коли-небудь читав. Не пожалкуйте, виділить 10 хвилин, щоб отримати естетичну насолоду від прочитаного ;)
По цьому оповіданню можна було б зняти бомбовий короткометражний фільм, він би 100% взяв би золоту пальмову гілочку :)
Так коротко, але так насичено і ємнісно. Це один з найкращих коротеньких творів, що я коли-небудь читав. Не пожалкуйте, виділить 10 хвилин, щоб отримати естетичну насолоду від прочитаного ;)
По цьому оповіданню можна було б зняти бомбовий короткометражний фільм, він би 100% взяв би золоту пальмову гілочку :)
July 12, 2012
To Build a Fire is not only the best short story in this collection, it is London's best. The other stories are also worth a gander.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews