The House of Mapuhi by Jack London
This novel is a historical romance set in the Pacific Islands during the late 19th century. It tells the story of a young woman who becomes embroiled in a struggle for power and survival on a remote island. The narrative explores themes of colonialism, cultural identity, and the clash between traditional ways of life and modernity.
By Jack London · First published 1906 · Genre: Adventure, Drama, Naturalism · 10,396 words
First lines
Despite the heavy clumsiness of her lines, the Aorai handled easily in the light breeze, and her captain ran her well in before he hove to just outside the suck of the surf. The atoll of Hikueru lay low on the water, a circle of pounded coral sand a hundred yards wide, twenty miles in circumference, and from three to five feet above high-water mark. On the bottom of the huge and glassy lagoon was much pearl shell, and from the deck of the schooner, across the slender ring of the atoll, the divers could be seen at work. But the lagoon had no entrance for even a trading schooner. With a favoring breeze cutters could win in through the tortuous and shallow channel, but the schooners lay off and on outside and sent in their small boats.
What this Textopian page supports
The House of Mapuhi is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jack London, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Jack London
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Drama, Naturalism, Realism, Tragedy
- Length: 10,396 words
- Structure: 1 section, 164 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The House of Mapuhi by Jack London
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The House of Mapuhi?
- How does this novel by Jack London fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Adventure — The narrative is driven by the pursuit of a valuable pearl, involving perilous sea voyages and survival against natural disasters.
- Drama — The story explores human emotions and relationships, particularly through the characters' desires, conflicts, and the impact of the hurricane.
- Naturalism — The depiction of the environment's overwhelming power over human life and the characters' struggle for survival reflects naturalistic themes.
- Realism — The detailed portrayal of the characters' lives and the socio-economic conditions they face provides a realistic depiction of their world.
Tags
Fiction · Adventure · Novel · Literary Fiction · Classic Literature · 19th Century Literature · American Literature · Pacific Island Setting · Colonialism · Imperialism · Cultural Clash · Coming of Age