The Mutiny of the Elsinore

By: Jack London

Narrated by: John Bolen

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Life has lost its savor for Mr. Pathurst. New York, fame, women, the arts, have all become tedious. Searching for excitement, he books passage on a cargo vessel sailing from Baltimore to Seattle on a route that travels around the treacherous Cape Horn.

Pathurst encounters more than he ever expected in rough seas, turbulent storms, and a mutinous crew. His epic struggles aboard the sailing ship Elsinore have given him a new love for life, but will he survive in time to profit from it?

©2001 Tantor Media, Inc.

Just can't listen

This story is not bad, but I couldn't get through the first third of the book to let it finish creating the characters and building the story line. I didn't finish listening because the reader just seemed to drone on and on. With the exception of the mariner-type accent of the first mate, he just didn't give the characters any personality. My mind would drift while trying to listen. I simply ran out of patience.

Turning in his grave.

About a third of the way through The Mutiny of the Elsinore, I decided to read, rather than listen to the story, and let Jack London rest In peace. I think this narration must have him turning in his grave. As for the narrator, he should occupy himself with something else…something he doesn’t have to ruin.

Racist and misogynistic

London's narrator spews the most racist and misogynistic theories, which I fear were London's own beliefs.
The story is mostly a narrative of the voyage from Baltimore around Cape Horn. The mutiny actually takes only a small portion of the book towards the end. Its main subplot is the growing love story between the narrator and the daughter of the captain.
I suspect that this was written as a serial, paid by theword, as ideas and phrases are repeated over and over, needlessly extending the book.
The reader has an irritating sing-song. mispronounces often, and sometimes pauses in a way that shows he does not recognize the flow of the narrative.

everything was done quite well but not quite five*

it was too long even at double speed. but it did hold my interest but I did keep leaving it and coming back and it took me a month or two to listen to all of it.

Shockingly Racist, Not London’s Best

The story was terrible. The author contradicts himself. Written in a much different time, but why has Audible made a lot of this poor content free?

Impossible to listen

I just could not listen to it ! The reader is REALLY not for me ! Too bad because the story seamed awesome, but I could not do more then 2 hours of it (WITH HUGE EFFORT)

Great book, but a bit long.

The book is about a philosopher, who transformes into a man on a sea voyage. Read it.