Book Notes: "Martin Eden" by Jack London

Martin Eden by Jack London

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If Martin Eden is indeed autobiographical, it demonstrates the extraordinarily perceptive intellect and much-tortured soul of Jack London. The book is riveting. At first, somewhat banal in its celebration of the typical hard man, then academic in its treatment of the philosophers of its time, then ending in a way that Hemingway would have been proud. London's own story of intellect and physical rigour are captured in the work. While White Fang and Call of the Wild may have been his more popular works, and I found The Assassination Bureau fascinating, here London is at his best. Much like George Bernard Shaw's Back to Methuselah, which Shaw considered to be his masterpiece, I cannot help but think that this was London's masterpiece, although the purchasing public may not have agreed.



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Book Notes: "Grand Prix Reflections: : From the 2.5 Litre Formula 1 Era, 1954-60" by Anthony Pritchard

Grand Prix Reflections: From the 2.5 Litre Formula 1 Era, 1954-60 by Anthony Pritchard

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I was shocked that Pritchard included a foreword by Jack Brabham, then went on to say that Stirling Moss was a better driver! Of course, Brabham was the whole package, from driver, to engineer, to mechanic, to producer. The list of his victories, which eclipses that of Moss, prove my point. Pritchard even states that Brabham won so often it became "boring"! I suspect he was referring to Stirling Moss's almost madness behind the wheel - a tenacious and courageous driver if ever there was one who survived driving in such a manner. But I am still shocked that Brabham was humble enough to write a foreword in a book which stuck him in with the "colonials"!



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Book Notes: "A Man for All Seasons" by Robert Bolt

A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I used a quote from this play in my first academic publication. I first read this play in high school and I would enjoying seeing it performed. Sir Thomas More's integrity is admirable and appealing, yet I cannot help but think it is futile. Bolt captures many themes in a short play that is very clever. While More's lack of political "ability" seems outdated, former Prime Minister the late Gough Whitlam suffered the same fate by believing that the Governor General would follow convention and only act on the advice of the Prime Minister. More thought he cold keep his conscience and placate King Henry VIII. They were both wrong. Honourable, yet in the grand scheme of history, rather pointless. Better to be the Common Man and die in one's bed, methinks.



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