The Jacket
Gelesen von Barry Eads
Jack London
(4,536 Sterne; 96 Bewertungen)
A framing story is told in the first person by Darrell Standing, a university professor serving life imprisonment in San Quentin State Prison for murder. Prison officials try to break his spirit by means of a torture device called "the jacket," a canvas jacket which can be tightly laced so as to compress the whole body, inducing angina. Standing discovers how to withstand the torture by entering a kind of trance state, in which he walks among the stars and experiences portions of past lives.
The jacket itself was actually used at San Quentin at the time and Jack London's descriptions of it were based on interviews with a former convict named Ed Morrell, which is also the name of a character in the novel. For his role in the Sontag and Evans gang which robbed the Southern Pacific Railroad in the 1890s, Morrell spent fourteen years in California prisons (1894-1908), five of them in solitary confinement. London championed his pardon. After his release, Morrell was a frequent guest at London's Beauty Ranch. (Introduction by Wikipedia) (10 hr 7 min)
Chapters
Bewertungen
Wow, what a journey!!
Oli
(5 Sterne)
From a massacre of settlers by Native Americans supported by mischievous Mormons... right to a personal acquaintance of Pontius Pilatus etc. this story works on so many levels! Sometimes the tales are cruel or sad. But there is a great sense of humor in this book. It is very fascinating for anyone interested in past-life experiences. Also if one wants to look at prison life in general or specifically San Quentin, in the early 20 th century . One is reminded of the current US law called '3 strikes - you're out' which passed in the Nineties and allows judges in California and several other States for people to get life in prison for 3 felonies of any kind. This also including offenses committed long before the law existed! To me one of Jack London's most fascinating books and also an excellent reading. Thanks for the good quality of recording too.
Wow! Jack sure knew how to spin a yarn!
Paul Busman
(5 Sterne)
I wasn't prepared for how excellent this book is, although I should have been. I've never really been disappointed by Jack London. This is unlike anything I've ever read, on so many levels. I don't really buy into the whole past lives idea, but was more than willing to suspend disbelief for the sake of the story. All of the "lives" that the main character experiences are fascinating. This book will stick with me for a long time. Just read it!
Enjoyed this
May
(4 Sterne)
Admittedly I was just about to give up when the story became much more interesting. I am very happy to have stuck with it. The premise interested me. I was not disappointed. There were a few tech glitches, one at a huge plot point! And i wish i could have slowed the narration down. But overall I do recommend this book.
WOW!!!
Sunny
(5 Sterne)
Wow! I have passed by this book so many times! I can't believe what I've been missing out all this time… What a great story. I can't believe all the scenarios that occurred and the reader was awesome. One of my favorites for sure. I would highly recommend you read this book!
good quality audio book thanks
Bengunur
(5 Sterne)
the subject and the manner of telling in the book was astonishing with the audio book reading it was very enjoyable I recommend it to everyone
amazing
sharla
(5 Sterne)
I think if the right writer and director got ahold of this it would make an amazing movie
great book with great narration
anon
(5 Sterne)
Loved this book. Very interesting storyline. Wish it was longer. Favorite Jack London book.
Underrated Classic
Cullen Hartley
(5 Sterne)
Few books from a secular standpoint have as much to say about the human condition!