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
... fellow was the most desperate gambler he had ever come across . I said : " A profes- sional sharper ? " and got for answer : " He's a terror ; but I must say that up to a certain point he will play fair . I wonder what the point was . I ...
... fellow was the most desperate gambler he had ever come across . I said : " A profes- sional sharper ? " and got for answer : " He's a terror ; but I must say that up to a certain point he will play fair . I wonder what the point was . I ...
Page 7
... fellows fastened on our man . He also had other names . In his early years , long before he got so becomingly bald on the top , he went to present a letter of introduction to Mr. Tesman of Tes- man Brothers , a Sourabaya firm - tip ...
... fellows fastened on our man . He also had other names . In his early years , long before he got so becomingly bald on the top , he went to present a letter of introduction to Mr. Tesman of Tes- man Brothers , a Sourabaya firm - tip ...
Page 17
... fellow - began to talk about repayment . He knew very well his inability to lay by any sum of money . It was partly the fault of circumstances and partly of his temperament ; and it would have been very difficult to apportion the ...
... fellow - began to talk about repayment . He knew very well his inability to lay by any sum of money . It was partly the fault of circumstances and partly of his temperament ; and it would have been very difficult to apportion the ...
Page 23
... fellow . He squeezes you dry like a lemon , then chucks you out - sends you home to die . Take warning by Morrison . " Of course , we laughed at the innkeeper's suggestions of black mystery . Several of us heard that Heyst was prepared ...
... fellow . He squeezes you dry like a lemon , then chucks you out - sends you home to die . Take warning by Morrison . " Of course , we laughed at the innkeeper's suggestions of black mystery . Several of us heard that Heyst was prepared ...
Page 25
... fellow like that for manager ? Phoo ! " Was it the clairvoyance of imbecile hatred , or mere stupid tenacity of opinion , which ends sometimes by scoring against the world in a most astonishing manner ? Most of us can remember instances ...
... fellow like that for manager ? Phoo ! " Was it the clairvoyance of imbecile hatred , or mere stupid tenacity of opinion , which ends sometimes by scoring against the world in a most astonishing manner ? Most of us can remember instances ...
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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