VictoryAxel Heyst, a dreamer and a restless drifter, believes he can avoid suffering by cutting himself off from others. Then he becomes involved in the operation of a coal company on a remote island in the Malay Archipelago, and when it fails he turns his back on humanity once more. But his life alters when he rescues a young English girl, Lena, from Zangiacomo's Ladies' Orchestra and the evil innkeeper Schomberg, taking her to his island retreat. The affair between Heyst and Lena begins with her release, but the relationship shifts as Lena struggles to save Heyst from the detachment and isolation that have inhibited and influenced his life. Marked by a violent and tragic conclusion, Victory is both a tale of rescue and adventure and a perceptive study of a complex relationship and of the power of love. |
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Page xii
... chairs , all alone in the loud buzzing of flies to which his immobility and his cadaverous aspect gave a most gruesome significance . Our invasion must have displeased him because he got off the chairs brusquely and walked out leaving ...
... chairs , all alone in the loud buzzing of flies to which his immobility and his cadaverous aspect gave a most gruesome significance . Our invasion must have displeased him because he got off the chairs brusquely and walked out leaving ...
Page 32
... chairs and tables ? " Davidson asked with unconcealed astonishment . Heyst did mean that . " My poor father died in London . It has been all stored there ever since , " he explained . " For all these years ? " exclaimed Davidson ...
... chairs and tables ? " Davidson asked with unconcealed astonishment . Heyst did mean that . " My poor father died in London . It has been all stored there ever since , " he explained . " For all these years ? " exclaimed Davidson ...
Page 35
... chairs and tables . Solitude , shade , and gloomy silence and a faint , treacherous breeze which came from under the trees and quite unexpectedly caused the melting Davidson to shiver slightly — the little shiver of the tropics which in ...
... chairs and tables . Solitude , shade , and gloomy silence and a faint , treacherous breeze which came from under the trees and quite unexpectedly caused the melting Davidson to shiver slightly — the little shiver of the tropics which in ...
Page 45
... chairs , the ping of a smitten bell . Customers were turn- ing up . Mrs. Schomberg was begging Davidson hurriedly , but without looking at him , to say nothing to any one , when on a half - uttered word her nervous whisper was cut short ...
... chairs , the ping of a smitten bell . Customers were turn- ing up . Mrs. Schomberg was begging Davidson hurriedly , but without looking at him , to say nothing to any one , when on a half - uttered word her nervous whisper was cut short ...
Page 59
... chair near him , and with no more than a mutter " This is something of yours " -he rammed it swiftly into a recess in the counter , at her feet . There ! The rest was her affair . And just in time , too . Schomberg turned up , yawning ...
... chair near him , and with no more than a mutter " This is something of yours " -he rammed it swiftly into a recess in the counter , at her feet . There ! The rest was her affair . And just in time , too . Schomberg turned up , yawning ...
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Common terms and phrases
ain't Alfuro arms asked believe boat breath brig bungalow chair cheroot chimæras Chinaman clairvoyance course dark Davidson door doorway eyes face faint feeling fellow felt frightened gaze gentleman gharry girl glance gleam gone governor gunwale hand hanging head heard Heyst hotel-keeper island Java Sea jetty Jones knew Lena light lips looked Malay Martin matter mean mind Morrison moustaches moved movement murmured mysterious never night Number once paused Pedro perhaps physiognomy quiet Ricardo round Samburan sarong sauceboat Schom Schomberg schooner seemed shadow shoulders side sight silence smile sort sound Sourabaya speak staring stood strange suddenly surprised Swede table d'hôte talk tell Tesmans There's thing thought tion told tone Tropical Belt Coal trouble turned understand verandah voice walked Wang watched wharf What's whispered woman wonder words Zangiacomo