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 vii
... doors of the Temple of Janus flying open with a crash shook the minds , the hearts , the consciences of men all over the world . Such coincidence could not be treated lightly . And I made up my mind to let the word stand , in the same ...
... doors of the Temple of Janus flying open with a crash shook the minds , the hearts , the consciences of men all over the world . Such coincidence could not be treated lightly . And I made up my mind to let the word stand , in the same ...
Page 35
... doors opened on to it , but all the screens were down . Not a soul was in sight , not even a China boy - nothing but a lot of painted iron chairs and tables . Solitude , shade , and gloomy silence and a faint , treacherous breeze which ...
... doors opened on to it , but all the screens were down . Not a soul was in sight , not even a China boy - nothing but a lot of painted iron chairs and tables . Solitude , shade , and gloomy silence and a faint , treacherous breeze which ...
Page 37
... door , looking out , affected perfect indifference . He could not keep it up , though . Sud- denly he turned inward and asked with brusque rage : " You wanted to see him ? " " Why , yes , " said Davidson . " We agreed to meet— ” " Don't ...
... door , looking out , affected perfect indifference . He could not keep it up , though . Sud- denly he turned inward and asked with brusque rage : " You wanted to see him ? " " Why , yes , " said Davidson . " We agreed to meet— ” " Don't ...
Page 38
... door somewhere at his back opened , and a woman came in who was looked upon as Schomberg's wife , no doubt with truth . As somebody remarked cynically once , she was too unattractive to be anything else . The opinion that he treated her ...
... door somewhere at his back opened , and a woman came in who was looked upon as Schomberg's wife , no doubt with truth . As somebody remarked cynically once , she was too unattractive to be anything else . The opinion that he treated her ...
Page 40
... door open- ing on to the " piazza . " It paused , then went on in the same low pitch : " There was even one English girl . " " Poor devil ! " said Davidson . " I suppose these women are not much better than slaves really . Was that ...
... door open- ing on to the " piazza . " It paused , then went on in the same low pitch : " There was even one English girl . " " Poor devil ! " said Davidson . " I suppose these women are not much better than slaves really . Was that ...
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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