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olivehead's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
chloekg's review against another edition
3.0
Partly boyish charm of Treasure Island, partly a white man's dream of infamy. It has its little moments of Steinbeck inspiration and philosophic prose. It also has jarring anachronisms that raise eyebrows and roll eyes. The pirate adventures themselves are fairly brief. It's mostly tracing the arc of a meteoric protagonist who is only dimly aware of why he flies or what he does in flight.
Circumstances fall aside to the greatness he does not understand. It was a colorful reflection and fun beach read.
Circumstances fall aside to the greatness he does not understand. It was a colorful reflection and fun beach read.
biophile's review against another edition
3.0
Steinbeck's take on the pirate tale is an interesting departure from the traditional adventure story; there is substance here beyond the usual swashbuckling and plundering typical of many other titles in the genre. Instead Steinbeck has chosen to depict the familiar themes of youth and belonging through the experiences of a young Henry Morgan coming to terms with his ambitions and desires. Morgan's youth is spent as an indentured servant on a plantation in the Caribbean, where he spends his days not devising revenge for those that betrayed him, but rather on increasing the profits of the business. The industrious Morgan excels at ruthless economic strategy, and quickly realizes he can use gain his freedom and enter a life of piracy. After capturing his first ship he easily starts to win the respect of hundreds of buccaneers, and soon commands a fleet of loyal vessels. Soon only one challenge is left to him - the Cup of Gold. But what is a man to do when the prize that he has won is, through the winning, changed into something far less desirable?
In a way, you could view this story as a post-modern anti-consumer fable, but of course that is not what Steinbeck intended. Through a wonderful allegory, Steinbeck is showing us that all that glitters is not gold, and maybe on closer inspection, the object of desire wasn't even glittering in the first place.
In a way, you could view this story as a post-modern anti-consumer fable, but of course that is not what Steinbeck intended. Through a wonderful allegory, Steinbeck is showing us that all that glitters is not gold, and maybe on closer inspection, the object of desire wasn't even glittering in the first place.
mayacydney's review against another edition
romanticizing a slaveholder? not in my house
harymouck's review against another edition
2.0
As a Steinbeck fan, I really don't know what to make of this one. The racism and sexism are definitely turn-offs, but on the other hand, it's a fairly unflinching description of English and Spanish colonialism in the carribean, and the book doesn't romanticize it. That's the only reason I rated two stars instead of one.
The main character only makes sense as an antihero. I could not relate or sympathize with him at all after he took control of a plantation, repeatedly raped the slaves, got himself a special slave just for sex and then rejected her. I kept getting the feeling, though, that the author wanted the reader to sympathize or admire him in some way.
I'm glad Steinbeck found his real genre and hit his stride, otherwise he would have been a mediocre-at-best adventure writer.
The main character only makes sense as an antihero. I could not relate or sympathize with him at all after he took control of a plantation, repeatedly raped the slaves, got himself a special slave just for sex and then rejected her. I kept getting the feeling, though, that the author wanted the reader to sympathize or admire him in some way.
I'm glad Steinbeck found his real genre and hit his stride, otherwise he would have been a mediocre-at-best adventure writer.
lucidstyle's review against another edition
3.0
Beginning my Steinbeck odyssey with Cup of Gold feels so appropriate: I’m on my own journey reading this author’s chronological canon, just as John Steinbeck was beginning his journey as a writer. And mirroring that is Cup’s protagonist, Sir Henry Morgan, setting off to sail to the Indies in search of his own adventures and to attain his prize: success and legacy.
>>>read on my blog: Lucid Style Creative Book Blog<<<
As a youth aiming toward adulthood, we start off on a runner’s block represented by our family members, their plans for our futures or their expectations. In Cup, it was expected that young Henry would become a farmer like his father and marry Elizabeth. Many, like Henry, choose to jump off the block and head in their own direction. Plans for the future are nothing less than bedazzling ideas, and consequences and ramifications are left aside. This is the confidence of youth, springing us forward, reality be damned. Henry would sail. John Steinbeck would write.
Navigating the reality that places itself as hurdles hither and thither on our journey, we set on a path and forge ahead. Work hard, get ahead. We know one day we will be able to achieve the dream we’ve let blossom in our mind. But the hard work does come first. Starting with nothing, Henry finds himself tricked into slavery to pay for his passage across the Atlantic. In fact, Henry’s youthful naiveté prevents him from seeing his own gullibility. Henry, fueled by his youthful exuberance and the dream for his future, and barely aware of the trickery at his expense, seems to happily accept his lot. He works hard (this puritanical attitude was a strong one in the early–middle 20th century!) for his chance to eventually harness opportunity.
Steinbeck too digs in and works hard, thoughtfully exploring the varied phases, dreams, and desires of a man’s life. His own youthful exuberance bursts through as he describes Henry’s hard work, knowing or believing that this investment will pay off and his own dreams will achieve success. For now is the planning stage:
Opportunity is half given and half created. At this stage in life, one finds themself in a given place and around particular people. Henry’s years working as an indentured servant were not without benefit. It’s the equivalent of an education today: observing and studying, gaining insights from and fostering beneficial relationships with those around you, putting together ideas and drawing conclusions, all at one’s own expense. All this time he spent working on a plan to achieve his dream.
John Steinbeck too is planning. We see early ideas flitting throughout this text that will stay with him, some to be more developed, throughout his career. Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian legend; women and their placement and role at the side of men; the environment and its impact on our lives; the natural world and its ultimate verdict on whether we succeed or fail; the balance between the documented history and the felt history of human experience; and man’s agency and culpability in humanity’s affairs.
The next phase is the seizing of the opportunity that one has set their sights on. It might be frightening, for this is uncharted territory in this person’s life. But fear is not something worthy of consternation, for
To me this feigned confidence is presented by John Steinbeck in the subtitle of Cup of Gold: A Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History. “Occasional reference to history” is essentially Steinbeck’s permission to himself that he can merge, through his own creativity and craft of storytelling, that which is true and known and documented in historical volumes, with essences of his own infusion. I see with John Steinbeck, throughout his writings, a constant blending and merging, or infusing and brewing, of human experience and factual events. This being his very first publication, Steinbeck chooses to inform the publishers and his reading audience of what they will be reading. Perhaps he was fearful of too much criticism (and we do know that, not unlike so many other creative individuals, he was sensitive to criticism), or this was simply a staving off of misunderstanding or misinterpretation of his material. Perhaps both.
Now I’ll jump past the glory and the adventures, the climax and complications that ensue when opportunity is introduced. We come to the end of the first of John Steinbeck’s stories, and with the end of Captain Morgan’s life comes the divergence from John Steinbeck’s own lived experience. Because at this moment that Steinbeck is writing, he will continue to plan and rework plans and seize on opportunity. His character, Henry, success and legacy achieved (or were they?), must age and deteriorate.
Is this, at age 27, John Steinbeck’s view into his own yet-to-be-lived life? What is a life, even a great and legacy-laden life, worth? Is greatness any greater than a lived life?
Cup of Gold was first published in 1929 by Robert M. McBride & Co. It is a work at first glance entirely different from John Steinbeck’s notable and Nobel-worthy works. After reading the great works, this volume can feel like a letdown. I imagine as a first read of the canon of Steinbeck, it would also be a letdown compared to the knowledge of the existence of superior works. However, upon frequent follow-up glances and ponderings, this work is gem-ridden and golden hued. There are gilded fragments and flitterings of greatness that for me are John Steinbeck’s essence. They glimmer as gold. They are present, and later ever more developed, in each of his works. There is greatness, and there is life, just as they are or as they were presented.
text/review content © copyright 2022 Jean A. Turman, Lucid Style Creative
Steinbeck, John. Cup of Gold: A Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History. New York: Penguin Books, 1976, 2008. Originally published by Robert M. McBride & Co., 1929.
>>>read on my blog: Lucid Style Creative Book Blog<<<
As a youth aiming toward adulthood, we start off on a runner’s block represented by our family members, their plans for our futures or their expectations. In Cup, it was expected that young Henry would become a farmer like his father and marry Elizabeth. Many, like Henry, choose to jump off the block and head in their own direction. Plans for the future are nothing less than bedazzling ideas, and consequences and ramifications are left aside. This is the confidence of youth, springing us forward, reality be damned. Henry would sail. John Steinbeck would write.
I nearly always write just as I nearly always breathe.
Navigating the reality that places itself as hurdles hither and thither on our journey, we set on a path and forge ahead. Work hard, get ahead. We know one day we will be able to achieve the dream we’ve let blossom in our mind. But the hard work does come first. Starting with nothing, Henry finds himself tricked into slavery to pay for his passage across the Atlantic. In fact, Henry’s youthful naiveté prevents him from seeing his own gullibility. Henry, fueled by his youthful exuberance and the dream for his future, and barely aware of the trickery at his expense, seems to happily accept his lot. He works hard (this puritanical attitude was a strong one in the early–middle 20th century!) for his chance to eventually harness opportunity.
Steinbeck too digs in and works hard, thoughtfully exploring the varied phases, dreams, and desires of a man’s life. His own youthful exuberance bursts through as he describes Henry’s hard work, knowing or believing that this investment will pay off and his own dreams will achieve success. For now is the planning stage:
The plans of boys are serious things and unchangeable (p. 17).
Opportunity is half given and half created. At this stage in life, one finds themself in a given place and around particular people. Henry’s years working as an indentured servant were not without benefit. It’s the equivalent of an education today: observing and studying, gaining insights from and fostering beneficial relationships with those around you, putting together ideas and drawing conclusions, all at one’s own expense. All this time he spent working on a plan to achieve his dream.
There are plannings in my head that have grown perfect with pondering. And nothing may be allowed to interfere with them (p. 67).All of his learning he can now use to put himself at the center and be the agent in this world that previously used him. Having learned something in this early experience of being taken advantage of, Henry creates his own window of opportunity by skimming a little off the top.
John Steinbeck too is planning. We see early ideas flitting throughout this text that will stay with him, some to be more developed, throughout his career. Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian legend; women and their placement and role at the side of men; the environment and its impact on our lives; the natural world and its ultimate verdict on whether we succeed or fail; the balance between the documented history and the felt history of human experience; and man’s agency and culpability in humanity’s affairs.
The next phase is the seizing of the opportunity that one has set their sights on. It might be frightening, for this is uncharted territory in this person’s life. But fear is not something worthy of consternation, for
people always got over the things they feared so much (p. 67).Youthful exuberance of the earlier years transforms to an enthusiastic attempt at assuredness:
Henry gripped his resolve, though he was afraid of this man…. ‘I am so very sure I can do these things—so very sure’ (p. 72-73).
To me this feigned confidence is presented by John Steinbeck in the subtitle of Cup of Gold: A Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History. “Occasional reference to history” is essentially Steinbeck’s permission to himself that he can merge, through his own creativity and craft of storytelling, that which is true and known and documented in historical volumes, with essences of his own infusion. I see with John Steinbeck, throughout his writings, a constant blending and merging, or infusing and brewing, of human experience and factual events. This being his very first publication, Steinbeck chooses to inform the publishers and his reading audience of what they will be reading. Perhaps he was fearful of too much criticism (and we do know that, not unlike so many other creative individuals, he was sensitive to criticism), or this was simply a staving off of misunderstanding or misinterpretation of his material. Perhaps both.
Now I’ll jump past the glory and the adventures, the climax and complications that ensue when opportunity is introduced. We come to the end of the first of John Steinbeck’s stories, and with the end of Captain Morgan’s life comes the divergence from John Steinbeck’s own lived experience. Because at this moment that Steinbeck is writing, he will continue to plan and rework plans and seize on opportunity. His character, Henry, success and legacy achieved (or were they?), must age and deteriorate.
I do not want anything more. I have no lusts, and my desires are dry and rattling. I have only a vague wish for peace and time to ponder imponderable matters (p. 153).
Is this, at age 27, John Steinbeck’s view into his own yet-to-be-lived life? What is a life, even a great and legacy-laden life, worth? Is greatness any greater than a lived life?
If great men were not fools, the world would have been destroyed long ago. How could it be otherwise? Folly and distorted vision are the foundations of greatness (p. 173).Perhaps these are the imponderables he was pondering.
Cup of Gold was first published in 1929 by Robert M. McBride & Co. It is a work at first glance entirely different from John Steinbeck’s notable and Nobel-worthy works. After reading the great works, this volume can feel like a letdown. I imagine as a first read of the canon of Steinbeck, it would also be a letdown compared to the knowledge of the existence of superior works. However, upon frequent follow-up glances and ponderings, this work is gem-ridden and golden hued. There are gilded fragments and flitterings of greatness that for me are John Steinbeck’s essence. They glimmer as gold. They are present, and later ever more developed, in each of his works. There is greatness, and there is life, just as they are or as they were presented.
The deeds were not great, nor very dreadful. Nothing is as good or as bad as the telling of it (p. 166).
text/review content © copyright 2022 Jean A. Turman, Lucid Style Creative
Steinbeck, John. Cup of Gold: A Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History. New York: Penguin Books, 1976, 2008. Originally published by Robert M. McBride & Co., 1929.
mjtucker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ageorge1877's review against another edition
2.0
Okay John I wont become a pirate I guess??
Sometimes when you read the first novel of a big time author it's not up to the level they go on to achieve but you can still see elements of them finding their voice and getting into gear. But for the most part Cup Of Gold feels like anybody could have written it. A very dated ripping yarn type adventure story that is interesting as a historical artefact but nothing much more.
Incredibly jarring to read Steinbeck writing about south Wales.
Sometimes when you read the first novel of a big time author it's not up to the level they go on to achieve but you can still see elements of them finding their voice and getting into gear. But for the most part Cup Of Gold feels like anybody could have written it. A very dated ripping yarn type adventure story that is interesting as a historical artefact but nothing much more.
Incredibly jarring to read Steinbeck writing about south Wales.
franklyfrank's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5