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 35
... 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 Sourabaya , espe- cially , often means fever and the hospital ...
... 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 Sourabaya , espe- cially , often means fever and the hospital ...
Page 41
... faint voice . Mrs. Schomberg never moved her head the least bit . Davidson , after the shock which made him sit up , went slack all over . " Heyst ! Such a perfect gentleman ! " he exclaimed weakly . Mrs. Schomberg did not seem to have ...
... faint voice . Mrs. Schomberg never moved her head the least bit . Davidson , after the shock which made him sit up , went slack all over . " Heyst ! Such a perfect gentleman ! " he exclaimed weakly . Mrs. Schomberg did not seem to have ...
Page 54
... faint ring of playfulness in the cultivated tones of his voice . " He's gone mad , " Davidson thought to himself . But , looking at the physiognomy above him on the wharf , he was obliged to dismiss the notion of common , crude lunacy ...
... faint ring of playfulness in the cultivated tones of his voice . " He's gone mad , " Davidson thought to himself . But , looking at the physiognomy above him on the wharf , he was obliged to dismiss the notion of common , crude lunacy ...
Page 73
... faint , remote playful- ness in his tone which had not been heard in it lately , and which seemed to catch her ear pleasantly . " I am grieved to say that I don't know . But can I do any- thing ? What would you wish me to do ? Pray com ...
... faint , remote playful- ness in his tone which had not been heard in it lately , and which seemed to catch her ear pleasantly . " I am grieved to say that I don't know . But can I do any- thing ? What would you wish me to do ? Pray com ...
Page 75
... faint smile . Heyst's smiles were rather melancholy , and ac- corded badly with his great moustaches , under which his mere playfulness lurked as comfortably as a shy bird in its native thicket . " Much too long . How did you get ...
... faint smile . Heyst's smiles were rather melancholy , and ac- corded badly with his great moustaches , under which his mere playfulness lurked as comfortably as a shy bird in its native thicket . " Much too long . How did you get ...
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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