Jack London, “Hearts of Three”: summary, protagonists, reviews

The novel "Hearts of Three," a summary of which is set out 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 the work. The novel, which will be discussed, differs from other works of London. The atypical features for the literary work of the American writer, present in the work “Hearts of Three,” a brief summary and the history of writing the novel are the subject of this article.

about the author

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

Adventure novel

Along with works in which there are social motives, London has created several novels of an entertaining nature. Among them - "Adventure", "Little mistress of a big house." The novel, without touching any significant problems, was the novel “Hearts of Three”. Perhaps a summary of the work is known in Russia to everyone. In 1992, the self-titled film of Russian production was released. But, as happens in most cases, the scriptwriters to some extent modified the plot.

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. Was Jack London, a fighter for social equality, reconciled in recent years to the injustices in the world?

Writing history

In the preface to the novel “Hearts of Three,” a brief summary of which we will consider, the author enthusiastically responds to the work he created. It is hard to believe that it was during this period that Jack London was in a deep creative crisis. In the search for new ideas, the classic of American literature resorted to all sorts of means. Like many of its colleagues in the literary workshop, London is addicted to alcohol.

But one can hardly find pessimistic sentiments in the preface to the book “Hearts of Three”. The author’s reviews about his novel are extremely positive. Jack London calls the work a new achievement in creativity. He assures his readers that he never wrote anything like this. And the American prose writer, in his opinion, owes his success to cinema.

Literature and cinema

“Hearts of Three” is Jack London’s novel, created at a time when truly revolutionary events took place in world culture. Cinema came to the fore. Large companies were under development. Leading cultural figures and enterprising businessmen realized that the works of world literature can bring considerable profit. One has only to recreate the famous stories 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 became more and more, stories quickly ran out. I had to turn to famous 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 the film company can lead out of the creative crisis. At least that's what the writer thought. Perhaps that is why Jack London wrote “Hearts of Three.”

A summary of the biography of the American prose writer - a sad story. There have been many ups in the life of London, but by the end of their lives there have been only downs. A few months before his death, Jack London completed 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 tombstone with the inscription Jack London appeared in a small cemetery in the California village of Glen Ellen a few kilometers from San Francisco.

"Hearts of three": the main characters

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

What can be said about the heroes 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 to a wealthy man, the owner of large enterprises. Francis Morgan spends most of his time idle.

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

At the center of the story is a love triangle. Adventures, mortal danger, unexpected denouement - features of the novel that Jack London created as a material for the movie.

Hearts of Three: A Summary of the First Chapter

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

This insidious and cunning man has repeatedly made attempts to ruin Father Francis. But all of them were unsuccessful. Now Regan is governed by an inexorable desire to crack down on the son of a sworn enemy. He does not believe in the existence of a treasure. But he accepts the offer of Torres to organize an expedition. Moreover, Francis must certainly take part in it.

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

Travel preparation

Francis, not without enthusiasm, accepts the proposal to go in search of a treasure, the existence of which is only indicated by assumptions. He is not aware that his enemy, so skillfully depicting a benefactor, gives the idea of ​​travel, 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 glad.

Jack London supplied Hearts of Three with intrigue and secrets. What is the book about, created by the classic of world literature at the sunset of life? The novel does not address issues such as social inequality or the difficult fate 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 heroes are simple and unpretentious. Perhaps that is why the novel was not included in the list of the best works of London.

A beautiful stranger

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

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

Henry

Francis Morgan fails to leave Panama. On the way of the hero, another unexpected meeting takes place. This time, Francis meets a man who does not accept him very cordially. The stranger also assures the traveler of the need to return home. However, he is not as gentle as the girl who met Francis shortly before. The skirmish goes into hand-to-hand combat. Pampered Francis, not used to physical contests, is defeated in this battle.

The humiliated heir to the state of the Morgans is in a hurry to go home. But suddenly the stranger calls his name. The winner of Francis is Henry Morgan. Therefore, he is a distant relative of the protagonist.

The History of Henry and Leoncia

Young people get acquainted, each tells his own story. It turns out that they both arrived in Panama with the goal of finding a treasure once abandoned by their common ancestor. And the girl who so persistently dissuaded Francis from leaving the dangerous places is the bride of his new friend. Henry and Leoncia are engaged. But their happiness was destroyed by an absurd incident.

Uncle Leoncia - Alfaro Salano. The old man was killed, and, by coincidence, Henry was at the scene of the crime. There he was caught by the gendarmes. Henry Morgan was sent to prison, sentenced to death. The young man managed to escape, but now there was no question of a wedding. At least until justice prevails and the real killer is punished. The name of the person responsible for the death of Alfaro Salano, while the heroes are not known.

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, while his father, in gratitude, promises to lead Morgan to places where the Mayan treasures are kept.

He cannot forget to meet the beautiful Leoncia. And when the niece of the deceased Solano adjoins the expedition, the young man is already certain: he will always love this girl. But Francis will never betray a friend. Leoncia, meanwhile, is suffering: her heart is breaking with love for both Morgan.

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

Queen

The savages are dominated by a young woman. On her head is a golden tiara. The queen does not want to let the captives go. She does not have a husband, and the unenviable position of the “guests” seems to her a great opportunity to change her marital status. The ruler announces to the unlucky travelers that they will only be released after one of the young people becomes her husband.

Neither Henry nor Francis express a desire to marry the savage queen. Therefore, it was decided to draw lots. However, Francis takes a hit on himself. The young man at the last moment expresses a desire to connect his life with a savage.

In NYC

Alvarez Torres invariably pursues Francis. If at the beginning of the novel he does not believe in the existence of treasures that the ancestor of the Morgans had once hidden, then in the future greed defeats all doubts. He is on the heels of travelers and once even finds himself on the brink of death. But, like all the negative characters, Torres is tenacious and almost invincible.

Francis receives news from New York. The state of his business is on the verge of disaster. And Francis Morgan returns home. Together with him, his unloved wife. The former ruler of the savages is trying to join the civilization, which she hardly succeeds. And soon she accidentally hears the conversation of her young husband, from which it becomes known: Francis loves Leoncion.

New journey

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

Henry and Leoncia are recovering on a new journey from which they return fabulously wealthy. Meanwhile, it turns out that the girl is not Solano's daughter at all. Leoncia is the sister of Henry. Under such circumstances, a wedding cannot be accomplished. Leoncia becomes the wife of Francis.

Reviews

Readers loved the novel. The work gained positive feedback 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 perceive. According to the admirers of the writer's work, the last essay differs significantly from the others in both genre and style. Probably a real work of literature cannot be written to order.