Do not, under any circumstances, buy the Microsoft Ebook version of this book since it is incomplete. It contains only the first six chapters of the twelve chapter book. Check the file length. If it still says that it is only 193K long, they haven't fixed the problem yet.

some interesting stories here. L can be sly, descriptive, philosophical, straightforward, psychological..... he shows his talents in this book. most of all, L can be interesting. it is easy to read and understand his stories, so it is never a great disappointment when he delivers a story that's not so great. there is little greatness here, though

After the success of CALL OF THE WILD and WHITE FANG, Jack London continued to capitalize on his Klondike experiences. SMOKE BELLEW is very much a boy's book. Its hero is a boy scout type who turns almost overnight from a life of urbane idleness into a buff and savvy prospector in a series of episodes that would do justice to a Horatio Alger story. We see Smoke devise a can't lose system at roulette (hah, fat chance!). Young women swoon over him with precious little effort on his part. And he even melts the heart of the half-breed daughter of his "White Indian" captor in the last episode. Alas, because she is part Indian, she must die for him so that he could hitch up with Joy Gastell, with whom he has a peek-a-boo romance throughout the book.

It sounds as if I didn't like the book, but actually, it's quite a bit of fun. Smoke Bellew is every boy's dream of mastery under romantic adversity. London's serious scenes seem a bit mawkish, but the chapters entitled "A Flutter in Eggs" and "The Town-Site of Tra-Lee" are comic gems that deserve to be anthologized. There is a good deal of fun poked at the insane stampedes and speculations of that time and place. I suspect that the reality was a good deal more gritty than London presents it, but he weaves a good tale that will insulate you from your cares for a few hours.

This is a good book! It will appeal to anyone that is a fan of fishing, or sailing or the San Francisco Bay area for that matter.In the early 1900's, young Jack pursues poachers in several short storys that are often funny and sometimes hair-raising! The characters are colorful and full of mischief. Without motors on their boats and the power of the sail only, it's easy to get caught up in the early day version of the car chase as Jack chases one criminal after another. Great adventure!

Eight good stories by Jack London, about the people and places of the south Pacific in 1908. Also a good long introduction by A. Grove Day which should (like all too many "introductions") only be read *after* reading the stories.

Most of the people in these stories are, of course, either victims or perpetrators (or both) of one of those long painful Western exploitations of a less civilized ("less civilized") part of the world. London knows that that's what's going on, and he writes with sympathy for all concerned, and without the more self-conscious bemoaning that would be expected of a XXIst century writer. To the modern reader, then, he can sometimes seem cold-blooded, but seldom disturbingly so.

The prose is fine and spare most of the time, and never gets in the way of the tale. The places and the tales are memorable. There is not a great variety of character and setting; the eight stories together could almost be a single novel. His voyage on the Snark (which inspired these stories) clearly left him with a strong and single impression of this place and these people, and he conveys that impression skillfully along to us.

Definitely worth reading.

I've read this book some years ago but I've lost it. I need a new copy or a book where the story "When gods laugh" appears. I don't want the e-version I want the paper version. This story is simply wonderful...

I read this book and found Knight's work excellent and shortly corresponded with him about this case before his death. He was preparing a following up book with additional research into this theory and it is a sad loss of an excellent writer as well as loss to the body of the Ripper works. One really needs to read his other book The Brotherhood, the Secrets of the World of Freemasonry, to get a full view of where it was moving with this study of the Ripper. Both books really work together, so to get full appreciation, you need to read both works and know the battle Knight had in having them published due to pressure from Masonic corners.
He puts forth a clear vision of what could be the real solution to the Ripper case, and if anyone doubts this sort of cover up - just look at the Watergate case or the Iran Contra Affair of the US. It is hard for people of today to understand the implications Annie Crook could have had at that period in time, so you must read both works to fully understand knights theory - based with extensive research.

"Jack the Ripper; the final solution" is a whole new approach to why and who 'Jack the Ripper' or 'Rippers' was. Thorough research on behalf of Stephen Knight has resulted in a convincing and, as far as I can tell, true tale. It is one of a painter, Walter Sickert, and what he has to say will smash any questions and disbeliefs from your mind! At the time of publication, S.Knight was way ahead of his time, gaining access to confidential Scotland Yard files...9 years before they were due to be opened. He also had access to private home files, eye witness accounts and evidence supressed from court by none other than leading police officers at the time! If you want a completely different view on the Jack the Ripper case...this is by far the most INTERESTING and CONVINCING book I have read!

This book was published in 1976 so it's hardly a new look at the subject. However, it's definitely an engrossing and convincing read, offering very good reasons why the Ripper was never caught. I remember writing to Stephen Knight at least twice about his book. Yes, he did reply.
One can only be glad that photography wasn't all that good in Victorian days. The photo of the mutilated remains of Marie Kelly is bad enough in black and white. In colour it would definitely have sent me running for the bathroom. As for my nightmares, they would most likely have been ten times as bad. My copy is in very good condition but is it really worth the prices being asked for second-hand editions on amazon.com?