South Sea Tales

by London, Jack, 1876-1916

"South Sea Tales" by Jack London is a collection of short stories written during the early 20th century. The book explores the lives and adventures of various characters inhabiting the islands of the South Pacific, showcasing themes of survival, cultural clashes, and human resilience against nature's forces. The opening of "South Sea Tales" introduces the story "The House of Mapuhi," focusing on young Alexandre Raoul, who is on a trading expedition in the lagoon of Hikueru. Here, he encounters Mapuhi, a native who has found a remarkable pearl and desires a house in exchange for it. As Raoul struggles with the economic and personal implications of this negotiation—compounded by his concerns about a looming storm—audiences witness a rich exploration of character relationships and the societal dynamics of trade and desire. Amid the tension, Mapuhi's insistence on exacting a specific price for the pearl reveals the complexities of value in a world torn between tradition and commerce. The story sets the stage for the ensuing turmoil as the forces of nature threaten to disrupt the lives of all involved. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Language

English

Format

EPUB

Publisher

Not specified

Publication year

Not specified

License

Project Gutenberg License; edition rights require review

Automated conservative edition review 2026-10-20T06:22:02.401Z (historical-original-en-v2), Philippines scope. English historical author London, Jack, died 1916; original-language author allowlist, matching sole EPUB/catalog creator, no credited contributors, no extra artwork, no flagged editorial/translation/copyright cues in isolated text. US public-domain source label and retained Gutenberg license; EPUB CRC passed. This is rule-based screening, not a worldwide rights opinion or a claim of manual review. Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1208; Philippine term reference https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/copyright/. EPUB SHA256 6935041c86fa63b537c8bbbe95ea8f90e0b0c5f4dfee9ba72477d975e2a85e77; RDF SHA256 59a5e103e2f23686e503221a9e678f674044e59bf87f2ef02d0e0fbcca833996. Author identity/date reference checked 2026-09-28: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/910.