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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 19
Page xi
... waited for him in a world which he persisted in look- ing upon as a malevolent shadow spinning in the sunlight . Often in the course of years an expressed sentiment , the particular sense of a phrase heard casually , would re- call him ...
... waited for him in a world which he persisted in look- ing upon as a malevolent shadow spinning in the sunlight . Often in the course of years an expressed sentiment , the particular sense of a phrase heard casually , would re- call him ...
Page 58
... waited , ringing the bell again and again , and swallowing two or three iced drinks which he did not want . Presently , as he hoped it would happen , Mrs. Schomberg came in , silk dress , long neck , ringlets , scared eyes , and silly ...
... waited , ringing the bell again and again , and swallowing two or three iced drinks which he did not want . Presently , as he hoped it would happen , Mrs. Schomberg came in , silk dress , long neck , ringlets , scared eyes , and silly ...
Page 89
... felt her lips touch his lightly , and the next mo- ment she was gone . Her white dress gleamed in the distance , and then the opaque darkness of the house seemed to swallow it . Heyst waited a little before VICTORY 89.
... felt her lips touch his lightly , and the next mo- ment she was gone . Her white dress gleamed in the distance , and then the opaque darkness of the house seemed to swallow it . Heyst waited a little before VICTORY 89.
Page 90
Joseph Conrad. seemed to swallow it . Heyst waited a little before he went the same way , round the corner , up the steps of the verandah , and into his room , where he lay down at last - not to sleep , but to go over in his mind all ...
Joseph Conrad. seemed to swallow it . Heyst waited a little before he went the same way , round the corner , up the steps of the verandah , and into his room , where he lay down at last - not to sleep , but to go over in his mind all ...
Page 119
... waited for him— no fit companion for a man of his ability and “ in the prime of life . " But that life , alas , was blighted . He felt it ; and never with such force as when on opening the door he perceived that woman sitting patiently ...
... waited for him— no fit companion for a man of his ability and “ in the prime of life . " But that life , alas , was blighted . He felt it ; and never with such force as when on opening the door he perceived that woman sitting patiently ...
Other editions - View all
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