Jack London, "Hearts of Three": summary, main characters, reviews

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The novel "The Hearts of Three", a summary of which is presented in the article, was the last work of Jack London. The American writer and socialist is an iconic figure in literature. His difficult life path is reflected in his work. The novel that will be discussed is different from other works of London. Atypical features for the literary work of the American writer, present in the work "Hearts of Three", a summary and the history of writing the novel is the topic of this article.

About the author

About who the prose writer was in life, his books say. Jack London is the successor of the humanistic traditions of American literature. The class struggle is one of the main themes in his work. The revolutionary protest that many of his heroes suffer is by no means accidental. The theme through whichSoviet times, the American writer became extremely popular in our country, covered on the pages of London novels due to the historical events of the early 20th century and certain facts in the author's biography.

Adventure novel

Along with the works in which there are social motives, London has created several novels of an entertaining nature. Among them are "Adventure", "Little Mistress of a Big House". The novel “The Hearts of Three” also became a work that did not touch on any significant problems. The summary of the work is known in Russia, perhaps, to everyone. In 1992, a Russian-made film of the same name was released. But, as happens in most cases, the writers modified the plot to some extent.

It is worth saying a few words about why the author of fifty works, most of which raises acute social issues, wrote an adventure, light novel at the end of his life. Has Jack London, a fighter for social equality, come to terms with the injustice that reigned in the world in recent years?

History of writing

In the preface to the novel "The Hearts of Three", a summary of which we will consider, the author speaks enthusiastically about the work he created. It is hard to believe that it was during this period that Jack London was in the deepest creative crisis. In search of new ideas, the classic of American literature resorted to all sorts of means. Like many of his fellow writers, London has become addicted to alcohol.

But one can hardly detect pessimistic moods inPreface to the book "Hearts of Three". The author's reviews of his novel are extremely positive. Jack London calls the work a new achievement in creativity. He assures his readers that he has never written anything like this. And the success of the American prose writer, in his opinion, is due to the cinema.

Literature and cinema

“Hearts of Three” is a novel by Jack London, created at a time when truly revolutionary events were taking place in world culture. Cinema came to the fore. Large companies were at the stage of development. Leading cultural figures and enterprising businessmen realized that the works of world literature can bring considerable profit. One has only to recreate famous scenes on the screen.

The film company, which has twenty directors on its staff, filmed the famous works of Tolstoy, Zola, Scott and Dickens in just a year. Literary material, not protected by copyright, was embodied on the screens in a matter of months. And as film companies grew in number, stories quickly dried up. I had to turn to well-known authors for help. One of them was Jack London.

A certain Charles Goddard turned to the author of "Martin Eden" and other famous works with a proposal for cooperation. It was necessary to create an adventure story that would fit perfectly on film. The eminent author agreed. Collaboration with a film company can bring you out of a creative crisis. At least that's what the writer thought. Perhaps that is why Jack London wrote Hearts of Three.

Summary of biographyAmerican prose writer - a sad story. In the life of London there were many ups, but by the end of life - only downs. A few months before his death, Jack London completed The Hearts of Three. Whether he was so satisfied with his work, as he assures in the preface to the novel, is unknown. The work was published in 1920, four years after a modest gravestone with the inscription - Jack London appeared in a small cemetery in the Californian village of Glen Ellen, a few kilometers from San Francisco.

"Hearts of Three": main characters

A feature of the American author's prose was that the portraits of the characters were created with the help of dialogues. London did not bother to describe the biography, character and habits of this or that hero. The writer gave the reader the opportunity to independently form an opinion about the characters in the novel.

What can you say about the characters of the novel that Jack London created in the last year of his life? "Hearts of Three" is a story of love and friendship. The heroes of the novel are Francis, Henry and Leoncia. The protagonist of the novel is the heir of a rich man, the owner of large enterprises. Francis Morgan spends most of his time in idleness.

The man from whom he inherited a huge fortune was called Richard Henry Morgan. And he, like all we althy people, had a sworn enemy - Alvarez Torres.

A love triangle is at the center of the story. Adventures, mortal danger, unexpected denouement are the features of the novel, which he created as material formotion picture Jack London.

"Hearts of Three": a summary of the first chapter

Former rival of the late Richard Morgan accidentally learns about a treasure whose location is known only to a man named Alvarez Torres. Treasures are hidden by the ancestor of the protagonist's family. The late Morgan's competitor is named Thomas Regan.

This insidious and cunning man made more than once attempts to ruin Father Francis. But they were all unsuccessful. Now Regan is driven by an inexorable desire to deal with the son of a sworn enemy. He does not believe in the existence of the treasure. But he accepts Torres' offer to organize an expedition. And Francis must certainly take part in it.

Travel represents a journey full of dangers. This is exactly what Thomas Regan needs to get even with Francis. The heir of a successful businessman himself in no way suspects the true motives of his father's rival. The young man is sure of Regan's good disposition.

Preparing for the trip

Francis, not without enthusiasm, accepts the offer to go in search of a treasure, the existence of which is only speculation. He is unaware that his enemy, so skillfully portraying a benefactor, gives the idea of \u200b\u200btravel, guided by an insidious plan. Alvarez Torres plans during the absence of Francis to finally undermine his material well-being. And if the young heir does not return alive from the expedition, the enemy of the Morgan family will only be happy.

Jack London provided intrigue and secrets"Hearts of Three". What is the book about, created by the classic of world literature at the end of his life? The novel does not address issues such as social inequality or the plight of the artist. "Hearts of Three" is a work created in the best traditions of adventure prose. There is no tragic denouement in it, the images of the characters are simple and unpretentious. Perhaps that is why the novel was not included in the list of the best works of London.

Beautiful stranger

Francis leaves for San Antonio. From there to Panama. Here begins the extraordinary adventures of the hero. On the island, he meets a girl who takes him for her friend. She hugs, scolds, instructs Francis. And most importantly, the young woman insists that Francis must immediately leave the island.

Who is this girl, the hero is unknown. But for some reason he decides to follow her advice and returns home. Rather, he is making an attempt to return to New York.

Henry

Francis Morgan fails to leave Panama. On the way of the hero there is another unexpected meeting. This time, Francis meets a man who does not take him very kindly. The stranger also assures the traveler of the need to return home. However, he is not as soft as the girl who met Francis shortly before. The squabble turns into hand-to-hand combat. The pampered Francis, unaccustomed to physical competition, is defeated in this battle.

The belittled heir to the Morgan fortune is on his way home. But suddenly a strangercalls his name. The name of the Francis winner is Henry Morgan. Therefore, he is a distant relative of the protagonist.

The story of Henry and Leoncia

Young people get to know each other, each tells his own story. It turns out that they both arrived in Panama in order to find a treasure once left by their common ancestor. And the girl who so persistently dissuaded Francis from leaving dangerous places is the bride of his new friend. Henry and Leoncia are engaged. But their happiness was destroyed by a ridiculous accident.

Leoncia's uncle is Alfaro Salano. The old man was killed, and by coincidence, Henry was at the crime scene. There he was caught by the gendarmes. Henry Morgan was sent to prison and sentenced to death. The young man managed to escape, but now there was no talk of a wedding. At least until justice is served and the real killer is punished. The name of the person responsible for the death of Alfaro Salano is still unknown to the heroes.

Mayan Treasures

The hero of the novel is a noble and honest person. Francis is ready to help even a stranger. He saves a young Indian from death, but his father, in gratitude, promises to take Morgan to the places where the treasures of the Mayan tribe are stored.

He can't forget meeting the beautiful Leoncia. And when the niece of the deceased Solano joins the expedition, the young man is already sure for sure: he will always love this girl. But Francis will never betray a friend. Leoncia, meanwhile, suffers: herheart breaking for both Morgans.

Francis, Henry and their companion find themselves in an uncharted valley, where, according to the old Indian, there are treasures. Here travelers are captured by representatives of a wild tribe.

Queen

A young woman rules over the savages. On her head is a golden tiara. The queen does not want to release the captives. She does not have a husband, and the unenviable position of the "guests" for her is an excellent opportunity to change her marital status. The sovereign announces to the unlucky travelers that they will be released only after one of the young people becomes her husband.

Neither Henry nor Francis is willing to marry the savage queen. And so the decision was made to draw lots. However, Francis takes the hit. A young man at the last moment expresses a desire to connect his life with a savage.

In New York

Alvarez Torres invariably haunts Francis. If at the beginning of the novel he does not believe in the existence of treasures that the ancestor of the Morgans once hid, then in the future greed conquers all doubts. He follows on the heels of travelers and once even finds himself on the verge of death. But, like all villains, Torres is tenacious and almost invincible.

Francis receives news from New York. His business is on the brink of disaster. And Francis Morgan is coming home. Along with him is his unloved wife. The former ruler of the savages is trying to join civilization, which she hardly succeeds. And soon she accidentally hears the conversation of her young husband, from whichit becomes known: Francis loves Leoncia.

New Journey

After Miss Morgan has no doubt that her husband does not love her, she decides to get even with her rival. But the jealous woman dies, as does the nemesis of the Morgans.

Henry and Leoncia embark on a new journey, from which they return fabulously we althy. Meanwhile, it turns out that the girl is not Solano's daughter at all. Leoncia is Henry's sister. Under such circumstances, the marriage cannot take place. Leoncia becomes Francis' wife.

Reviews

Readers loved the novel. The product received positive reviews thanks to the intriguing and exciting plot that Jack London endowed with “Hearts of Three”. The main idea of the novel, however, is difficult to grasp. According to the opinion of the admirers of the writer's work, the last work differs significantly from the others both in genre and style. Probably a true work of literature cannot be commissioned.