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
... Island of St. Thomas in the West Indies ( in the year '75 ) where we found him one hot afternoon extended on three chairs , all alone in the loud buzzing of flies to which his immobility and his cadaverous aspect gave a most gruesome ...
... Island of St. Thomas in the West Indies ( in the year '75 ) where we found him one hot afternoon extended on three chairs , all alone in the loud buzzing of flies to which his immobility and his cadaverous aspect gave a most gruesome ...
Page 4
... island . An island is but the top of a mountain . Axel Heyst , perched on it immovably , was surrounded , instead of the impon- derable stormy and transparent ocean of air merging into infinity , by a tepid , shallow sea ; a passionless ...
... island . An island is but the top of a mountain . Axel Heyst , perched on it immovably , was surrounded , instead of the impon- derable stormy and transparent ocean of air merging into infinity , by a tepid , shallow sea ; a passionless ...
Page 5
... Island " of the charts - was daz- zling ; and in the flood of cold light Heyst could see his immediate surroundings ... islands and exploit them locally . And , Lord knows , there were any amount of outcrops . It was Heyst who had ...
... Island " of the charts - was daz- zling ; and in the flood of cold light Heyst could see his immediate surroundings ... islands and exploit them locally . And , Lord knows , there were any amount of outcrops . It was Heyst who had ...
Page 6
... islands talking of a " great stride forward for these regions . " The convinced wave of the hand which accompanied the phrase suggested tropical distances being impelled onward . In connection with the fin- ished courtesy of his manner ...
... islands talking of a " great stride forward for these regions . " The convinced wave of the hand which accompanied the phrase suggested tropical distances being impelled onward . In connection with the fin- ished courtesy of his manner ...
Page 7
... islands as pleasant as possible , and that they were ready to assist him in his plans , and so on , and after receiving Heyst's thanks - you know the usual kind of conversation - he proceeded to query in a slow , paternal tone : " And ...
... islands as pleasant as possible , and that they were ready to assist him in his plans , and so on , and after receiving Heyst's thanks - you know the usual kind of conversation - he proceeded to query in a slow , paternal tone : " And ...
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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