Wednesday 17 January 2024

Smoke Bellew (a memory)

 I don't know if it's because the weather is finally cold and somewhat wintery (for England), but I recently remembered a book I read when I was a child. One of Jack London's, and the only novel I read for this author. Back when I was still young enough to have read all that was on my on my bookshelves, I was bored stiff and wanting to read more. I found Smoke Bellew in a pile of novels inherited from my maternal uncles (unless I'm mistaken). One of the titles published by the Bibliothèque verte and which I mentioned in this post. It was an adventure novel set in Klondike during the Gold Rush and had as a hero a dandy turned tough guy Christopher "Smoke" Bellew. I remember bits and bots of it now, mainly that it was a fitting read when it was freezing cold outside. It's a perfect winter read. I still remembered the cover, which I easily found. I find it strange that I never read Jack London again, or indeed any adventure novel, even though I liked that one and it was a genre that I was naturally inclined to go for. Maybe I should revisit Jack London one day, but I suspect he may be one of these authors that have to be enjoyed when you are a young reader.

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