Friendship in stern: London and Nakata
The discovery of writer Jack London’s assistant’s diaries reveal details of the author’s latest sea voyages and build the story of a friendship that transcended racial prejudice
https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/cultura/confabulario/amistad-en-popa-london-y-nakata/
Note: Professors Nagako Muto and Takaharu Mori from the International University of Kagoshima adapted and translated a three-month section of the 1914 diary for Aleta George’s book in progress, with assistance from graduate students Kaoru Nishihara, Chisato Kubota, and Sato Shirakubo.
A correction from Aleta George: Professors Nagako Muto and Takaharu Mori from the International University of Kagoshima adapted and translated a three-month section of the 1914 diary for my book in progress, with assistance from graduate students Kaoru Nishihara, Chisato Kubota, and Sato Shirakubo. This credit was not included in the article.
Nakata was the first to see Jack London on the floor that morning before his death and he was the first to sound the alarm. I believe that Nakata could have known a lot of interesting things about DL’s life because there was no one so close to him in Jack’s daily male circle.
Also little studied is that important critical period of Jack’s life, when the “Snark” was left forever in Australia, having suffered so hard and so painfully for him. There, in Australia, Jack had an operation to remove his appendix and, having opened his stomach, the surgeon saw what a terrible state his kidneys were in. Jack was told about this. One can only imagine what a blow it was for Jack, because he had only a few years left to live.
Maybe Nakata knew something, although the crew of the “Snark” was disbanded, and Jack and Charmian were getting home from Australia on a steamer. That is, perhaps we would have learned more from Nakata’s diaries. Moreover, nothing brings people together like male friendship. There are things that men can tell each other that they will not tell women, even the closest ones.
In addition, the plot lines of “The Star Rover” could have been influenced by Nakata, because he was a Buddhist, and the principle of Buddhist reincarnation from life to life was taken by the author as the main line of the work. Let’s not forget that Jack London’s body was burned at his own will, and this is a typical Buddhist method of getting rid of the physical shell.
As is known, “The Star Rover” was written in 1915, a year before Jack’s death. And this makes to think about many things. Especially those who value the lives and fate of the writer. I would like to study this issue, but unfortunately I do not have the opportunity to do so.
However, I am sure that Nakata undoubtedly played his role in correcting the writer’s worldview. Therefore, I believe that Nakata’s diaries are very important and I am sure that sooner or later they will all be published.
Vladimir Satchkov