The Translation of a Savage

Translation of A Savage, Entire,
by Parker

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Parker #41 in our series by Gilbert Parker
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Title: The Translation of a Savage, Complete
Author: Gilbert Parker
Release Date: August, 2004 [EBook #6214] [Yes, we are more than

one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on September 27,
2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK
TRANSLATION OF A SAVAGE, BY PARKER ***

This eBook was produced by David Widger

[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the
file for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making
an entire meal of them. D.W.]

THE TRANSLATION OF A SAVAGE, Complete
By Gilbert Parker

CONTENTS Volume 1. I. HIS GREAT MISTAKE II. A DIFFICULT
SITUATION III. OUT OF THE NORTH IV. IN THE NAME OF THE
FAMILY V. AN AWKWARD HALF-HOUR
Volume 2. VI. THE PASSING OF THE YEARS VII. A
COURT-MARTIAL VIII. TO EVERY MAN HIS HOUR
Volume 3. IX. THE FAITH OF COMRADES X. "THOU KNOWEST
THE SECRETS OF OUR HEARTS" XI. UPON THE HIGHWAY XII.

"THE CHASE OF THE YELLOW SWAN" XIII. A LIVING POEM
XIV. ON THE EDGE OF A FUTURE XV. THE END OF THE
TRAIL

INTRODUCTION
The Translation of a Savage was written in the early autumn of 1893, at
Hampstead Heath, where for over twenty years I have gone, now and
then, when I wished to be in an atmosphere conducive to composition.
Hampstead is one of the parts of London which has as yet been scarcely
invaded by the lodging-house keeper. It is very difficult to get
apartments at Hampstead; it is essentially a residential place; and, like
Chelsea, has literary and artistic character all its own. I think I have
seen more people carrying books in their hands at Hampstead than in
any other spot in England; and there it was, perched above London,
with eyes looking towards the Atlantic over the leagues of land and the
thousand leagues of sea, that I wrote 'The Translation of a Savage'. It
was written, as it were, in one concentrated effort, a ceaseless writing.
It was, in effect, what the Daily Chronicle said of 'When Valmond
Came to Pontiac', a tour de force. It belonged to a genre which
compelled me to dispose of a thing in one continuous effort, or the
impulse, impetus, and fulness of movement was gone. The writing of a
book of the kind admitted of no invasion from extraneous sources, and
that was why, while writing 'The Translation of a Savage' at Hampstead,
my letters were only delivered to me once a week. I saw no friends, for
no one knew where I was; but I walked the heights, I practised with my
golf clubs on the Heath, and I sat in the early autumn evenings looking
out at London in that agony of energy which its myriad lives
represented. It was a good time.
The story had a basis of fact; the main incident was true. It happened,
however, in Michigan rather than in Canada; but I placed the incident
in Canada where it was just as true to the life. I was living in
Hertfordshire at the time of writing the story, and that is why the
English scenes were worked out in Hertfordshire and in London. When
I had finished the tale, there came over me suddenly a kind of feeling

that the incident was too bold and maybe too crude to be believed, and
I was almost tempted to consign it to the flames; but the editor of 'The
English Illustrated Magazine', Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke, took a wholly
different view, and eagerly published it. The judgment of the press was
favourable,--highly so--and I was as much surprised as pleased when
Mr. George Moore, in the Hogarth Club one