The Abysmal Brute by London, Jack - 1913

Toronto: Bell & Cockburn, 1913. SCARCE CANADIAN EDITION IN DUST JACKET. Octavo (17 x 11.5 cm.), pp. [iv], 169, [1] (Century Co. adverts.), frontispiece by Gordon Grant with tissue guard; olive cloth stamped in yellow and black on front cover and spine; brown dust jacket with illustration in black and green on front panel, black spine lettering, unlike U.S. edition the inside flaps are blank; 'Bell & Cockburn' at foot of both book and d.j.. Dust jacket chipped along extremities and folds, front cover parted from spine, some loss at head and foot of spine involving first letter and a half of 'Cockburn'; tiny bit of shelf wear to spine ends and tips, book edges lightly tanned; minor stains else contents very good. Corresponds to the first issue binding and dust jacket of the first U.S. edition, however with the addition of the Canadian publisher's name at the foot of both spines. Printed from the U.S. plates, cancelled title-page with the Canadian publisher and date printed on the title-page, but with "Copyright, 1913 by The Century Co., Copyright 1911, by Street & Smith. New York, Published May, 1913" on the verso of the title-page (or Copyright page). (Ref: Woodbridge #109; BAL 11945.) "Before anyone knew there was such a thing, Jack London gave us the natural: Young Pat Glendon has never drunk alcohol nor tasted tobacco. He loves nature, is afraid of cities, and is shy of women. And he is a perfect fighter. Summoned from the city to consider such a prospect, cynical Sam Stubener, manager of prize-fighters, is struck by the boy’s extraordinary athletic grace—and soon man and boy are off to San Francisco to take on the heavyweight world. The Abysmal Brute is the story of natural grace pitted against worldly brutishness. A subtle social drama played out in the arena of sport—in a day long before sport moved to the center of American culture—it is also a rousing romantic tale in the tradition of one of our great storytellers. As Pat hones his skill—and his curious style—on one champion fighter after another, he contends for the heart of a lovely admirer and for the soul of professional boxing, whose rampant corruption his blows expose. Jack London (1876-1916) wrote such classics as Call of the Wild, White Fang, and The Sea-Wolf." - from the jacket of a modern trade paperback. . First Canadian Edition. Hardcover.