
A seventeen‑year‑old boy named Harry Desmond faces a sudden shift in his future when his family’s fortunes crumble. Expected to head to a prestigious college, he instead chooses to stay by his father’s side, learning the hard truths of a struggling business and the stark realities of life on the Alaskan coast. The opening scene sets a tone of quiet resolve, as Harry moves from the comforts of school to the demanding world of bookkeeping and family duty.
Soon the narrative turns northward, drawing Harry into the rugged world of Arctic ice‑whaling. Amid towering cliffs, frozen seas, and the camaraderie of seasoned whalers, he discovers a blend of danger, mystery, and unexpected mentorship. As he adapts to the harsh environment, the story explores themes of responsibility, growth, and the pull of tradition against personal ambition.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (454K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1903.
Credits
Carlos Colon, the University of California and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2022-02-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1862–1943
A New England naturalist with a reporter’s eye, he turned walks in woods, pastures, and literary landmarks into warm, observant prose. His books invite readers to slow down and notice birds, weather, and the character of a place.
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