Jack London

Jack London age 9 - crop

Jack London Studying

Heinold’s First and Last Chance 2007

Miners climb Chilkoot

Mary Austin, Jack London, George Sterling, Jimmie Hooper, restored

Jack London with daughters Bess (left) and Joan (right)

Jack London (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916) was an American novelist, journalist, and social activist. A pioneer in the world of commercial magazine fiction, he was one of the first writers to become a worldwide celebrity and earn a large fortune from writing. He is best known for his novels The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set in the Klondike Gold Rush, as well as the short stories "To Build a Fire", "An Odyssey of the North", and "Love of Life". London was part of the radical literary group "The Crowd" in San Francisco and a passionate advocate of unionization, socialism, and the rights of workers.

Early Life

Jack London was born John Griffith Chaney on January 12, 1876, in San Francisco, California. His mother, Flora Wellman, was a music teacher and spiritualist, and his father, William Chaney, was an itinerant astrologer. London's parents were not married, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, John London, from whom he took his surname. His early life was marked by poverty, and he worked in various hard labor jobs to help support his family. Despite his difficult upbringing, London was a voracious reader, educating himself at public libraries.

Career

London's writing career began in the late 1890s when he started to publish stories in magazines. His experiences during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1890s provided material for some of his most famous works, including The Call of the Wild and White Fang. London's stories and novels were often based on his own experiences and were characterized by their portrayal of adventure, survival, and the struggle against nature.

London was also a journalist and covered the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 for the San Francisco Examiner. His reportage and exposés on social issues, such as the conditions in the slums of London and the lives of the poor in the United States, showed his deep concern for social justice.

Political Views

Jack London was an outspoken socialist and active member of the Socialist Labor Party and later the Socialist Party of America. His political views were reflected in his essays and some of his fiction, where he explored issues of capitalism, worker exploitation, and the inequalities of society. Despite his socialism, some of London's views, particularly on race and eugenics, have been criticized as reflecting the prejudices of his time.

Personal Life

London's personal life was as tumultuous as his professional life. He was married twice, first to Elizabeth "Bessie" Maddern and then to Charmian Kittredge, who was a significant influence on his writing and an active participant in his adventures. London's health deteriorated in his later years, exacerbated by alcoholism and various physical ailments. He died on November 22, 1916, at the age of 40, at his ranch in Glen Ellen, California. The cause of his death is controversial, with some suggesting kidney failure and others speculating about an overdose of morphine.

Legacy

Jack London's legacy as a writer is significant. His works have been translated into numerous languages and continue to be read and studied for their portrayal of the human spirit, social critique, and vivid descriptions of the natural world. London's life and writings have inspired countless authors, filmmakers, and adventurers.