Strange Changing of Tenses in London's "The Sea Wolf&qu

[JackWolfDA]

I have a 1980's Readers Digest version of "The Sea Wolf." As of yet I haven't been able to get my hands on another edition to see if my copy is just filled with various typos. Certain times through the book, paragraphs will be inserted in present tense. I am NOT referring to instances when Van Weyden refers to the present time aside from recalling to voyage, I understand that it is a frame story. However, the present tense will be used for instances when he is describing Wolf Larsons actions, Mugrige, etc. There is even a chapter that starts in present tense but then returns to past tense half way through.

Has anyone else noticed this? Does anyone have an answer to why London may have written it this way? I know this seems like a trivial concern, and it by no means detracts of the value of the book, but it nonetheless has stumped both myself and my English teacher!

Thanks,
David