The Harbor


Read by Tom Weiss

(4.1 stars; 21 reviews)

The Harbor was written in 1915 by Ernest Poole. The novel is considered by many to be one of Poole’s best efforts even though his book, The Family won a Pulitzer Prize. The Harbor is a fictional account of life on a Brooklyn waterfront through the eyes of Billy as he is growing up. The novel starts with Billy the child, living on the harbor with his father, mother, and sister, Sue. During this time he also meets Eleanor who, at that time, he considers to be strange. She later becomes an important character in the novel. His father owns a shipping business, is hard-working, and can think of little else. As a young man, Billy begins to detest the harbor and longs for escape to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a writer and avoiding his father’s business. With his mother’s blessing, he takes flight to Paris to hone his trade. While in Paris, he meets Joe Kramer (J.K.) and a sometimes stormy relationship begins. J.K. forces him to confront human situations that Billy would prefer to close his eyes to. Billy eventually returns to the harbor after some years and recognizes changes are taking place in the harbor, and in his life. The harbor becomes a subject for his writing and his personal relationships. His attitude about the harbor begins to evolve. Throughout the novel, J.K. continues to make appearances in Billy’s life, challenging him to write about things as they really are and not as Billy’s world of comfort shows them to be. Billy’s life is changed when the harbor goes on strike and he becomes involved in the labor movement. What more can be said about a book that starts with the words, “You Chump!”? (Summary by Tom Weiss) (0 hr 49 min)

Chapters

01 - Book 1, Chapter 1 15:02 Read by Tom Weiss
02 - Book 1, Chapter 2 22:16 Read by Tom Weiss
03 - Book 1, Chapter 3 17:36 Read by Tom Weiss
04 - Book 1, Chapter 4 20:52 Read by Tom Weiss
05 - Book 1, Chapter 5 24:40 Read by Tom Weiss
06 - Book 1, Chapter 6 19:24 Read by Tom Weiss
07 - Book 1, Chapter 7 13:32 Read by Tom Weiss
08 - Book 1, Chapter 8 8:15 Read by Tom Weiss
09 - Book 1, Chapter 9 10:30 Read by Tom Weiss
10 - Book 1, Chapter 10 19:19 Read by Tom Weiss
11 - Book 1, Chapter 11 18:52 Read by Tom Weiss
12 - Book 1, Chapter 12 5:00 Read by Tom Weiss
13 - Book 2, Chapter 1 8:07 Read by Tom Weiss
14 - Book 2, Chapter 2 15:17 Read by Tom Weiss
15 - Book 2, Chapter 3 6:42 Read by Tom Weiss
16 - Book 2, Chapter 4 15:08 Read by Tom Weiss
17 - Book 2, Chapter 5 10:37 Read by Tom Weiss
18 - Book 2, Chapter 6 11:36 Read by Tom Weiss
19 - Book 2, Chapter 7 10:34 Read by Tom Weiss
20 - Book 2, Chapter 8 12:55 Read by Tom Weiss
21 - Book 2, Chapter 9 10:41 Read by Tom Weiss
22 - Book 2, Chapter 10 17:46 Read by Tom Weiss
23 - Book 2, Chapter 11 23:41 Read by Tom Weiss
24 - Book 2, Chapter 12 7:24 Read by Tom Weiss
25 - Book 2, Chapter 13 13:42 Read by Tom Weiss
26 - Book 2, Chapter 14 8:13 Read by Tom Weiss
27 - Book 2, Chapter 15 16:36 Read by Tom Weiss
28 - Book 2, Chapter 16 14:36 Read by Tom Weiss
29 - Book 2, Chapter 17 12:28 Read by Tom Weiss
30 - Book 2, Chapter 18 8:41 Read by Tom Weiss
31 - Book 2, Chapter 19 19:36 Read by Tom Weiss
32 - Book 3, Chapter 1 13:36 Read by Tom Weiss
33 - Book 3, Chapter 2 14:32 Read by Tom Weiss
34 - Book 3, Chapter 3 4:47 Read by Tom Weiss
35 - Book 3, Chapter 4 10:29 Read by Tom Weiss
36 - Book 3, Chapter 5 17:14 Read by Tom Weiss
37 - Book 3, Chapter 6 18:14 Read by Tom Weiss
38 - Book 3, Chapter 7 15:29 Read by Tom Weiss
39 - Book 3, Chapter 8 15:39 Read by Tom Weiss
40 - Book 3, Chapter 9 9:25 Read by Tom Weiss
41 - Book 3, Chapter 10 24:02 Read by Tom Weiss
42 - Book 3, Chapter 11 19:31 Read by Tom Weiss
43 - Book 3, Chapter 12 19:21 Read by Tom Weiss
44 - Book 3, Chapter 13 19:25 Read by Tom Weiss
45 - Book 3, Chapter 14 20:03 Read by Tom Weiss
46 - Book 3, Chapter 15 16:48 Read by Tom Weiss
47 - Book 3, Chapter 16 11:30 Read by Tom Weiss
48 - Book 3, Chapter 17 13:46 Read by Tom Weiss
49 - Book 4, Chapter 1 12:44 Read by Tom Weiss
50 - Book 4, Chapter 2 8:13 Read by Tom Weiss
51 - Book 4, Chapter 3 9:17 Read by Tom Weiss
52 - Book 4, Chapter 4 10:26 Read by Tom Weiss
53 - Book 4, Chapter 5 6:11 Read by Tom Weiss
54 - Book 4, Chapter 6 19:12 Read by Tom Weiss

Reviews

"The Harbor" by Ernest Poole


(4.5 stars)

A story of the turbulent time of change and new ideas at the beginning of the 20th Century as seen through the eyes of journalist Bill as he is involved with and writes about New York Harbour and the top and bottom strata of society and the clash between them. Bill's relationship with Eleanor, who becomes his wife, and Joe Cramer, an old friend, provides the human interest through the story. The story is professionally narated by Tom Weiss.