The Sea Wolf by Jack London

THE SEA WOLF is the story of a soft, intellectual man named Humphrey van Weyden, forced to become tough and self-reliant through exposure to cruel brutality. Onboard a San Francisco ferry when it collides with a ship in the fog and sinks, Humphrey is rescued by Wolf Larsen, captain of the seal-hunting schooner 'Ghost,' bound for Japan. Brutal and cynical, yet also highly intelligent, Larsen rules his ship and terrorizes the crew with the aid of his exceptional strength.