What do you think?
Rate this book
SELECTED STORIES BY JACK LONDON
Book by Jack London
175 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
5 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Jack London
7,624 books7,683 followersJohn Griffith Chaney, better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist and activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors to become an international celebrity and earn a large fortune from writing. He was also an innovator in the genre that would later become known as science fiction.
London was part of the radical literary group "The Crowd" in San Francisco and a passionate advocate of animal rights, workers’ rights and socialism. London wrote several works dealing with these topics, such as his dystopian novel The Iron Heel, his non-fiction exposé The People of the Abyss, War of the Classes, and Before Adam.
His most famous works include The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set in Alaska and the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, as well as the short stories "To Build a Fire", "An Odyssey of the North", and "Love of Life". He also wrote about the South Pacific in stories such as "The Pearls of Parlay" and "The Heathen".
London was part of the radical literary group "The Crowd" in San Francisco and a passionate advocate of animal rights, workers’ rights and socialism. London wrote several works dealing with these topics, such as his dystopian novel The Iron Heel, his non-fiction exposé The People of the Abyss, War of the Classes, and Before Adam.
His most famous works include The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set in Alaska and the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, as well as the short stories "To Build a Fire", "An Odyssey of the North", and "Love of Life". He also wrote about the South Pacific in stories such as "The Pearls of Parlay" and "The Heathen".
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 1, 2023
This book is a wonderful gathering of Jack London’s short stories. They all contain excellent elements of adventure that is set in a now historical setting. These short stories feature London’s usual and amazing writing style with beautiful and vivid descriptions. They take place all across the world, from cabins in the Yukon, to Islands hit by hurricanes, to boxing rings in Australia. Some of the stories have offensive and ignorant descriptions of native peoples, which can make reading uncomfortable. Other than this, these works are wonderful and beautifully written. Some of the stories have bits of wisdom and insight such as “A Piece of Steak.” Overall this is a great read that I would definitely recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 30, 2025As the name implies, it is some of Jack London's short stories. This can range from a journey through the north on sleigh dogs to a prospector looking for gold. I have read some of his other works in the past without even realizing. My favorite story was All Gold Canyon. It is very descriptive and illustrates the type of person the prospector is in only a couple of pages. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are looking for short, entertaining stories.
March 7, 2022
If you wanna get the taste of a journey, you must read Jack London. If you wanna get the inspiration for life, you must read Jack London. If you wanna see the world, if you wanna explore the mystery of life, if you wanna know the definition of friendship, if you wanna know about the snowfall, the storm in the sea.. if you wanna go for an expedition.. you must read Jack London. For the story, for the language, for the nature, for almost everything, he’s the best destination.
April 11, 2020
A further reading is definitely required of this man's collection of short stories. His language is so florid and intricate, such vividly do the actions and happenings come out on to the page and spring into my world upon reading his prose, that a realization that I am always lacking in words what he had aplenty from his marrow to his pages, never ceases to remind itself to me.
June 2, 2017
Snaga žudnje za životom-1/5
Meksikanac-2/5
Kinez-2/5
Otpadnik-1/5
Ukupno:1.5
Pročitao sam ovu knjigu na izletu u Krapinu,u autobusu.
Meksikanac-2/5
Kinez-2/5
Otpadnik-1/5
Ukupno:1.5
Pročitao sam ovu knjigu na izletu u Krapinu,u autobusu.
Read
July 3, 2021No one writes like Jack London. There's a reason we were made to read him in grade school and there's a reason we ought to give him a chance as adults... no one writes like Jack London.
August 21, 2013
A critic pointed out that London was at his best when his stories were under 7,000 words. Thus, I found this collection to see what London’s accomplishments were in this area
His writing style is stunning when he is describing action and action is what many of these stories are all about. As a reader, you feel that you are on the trails of the Yukon or in the midst of a hurricane. His vivid description of being caught on an Island in the midst of a storm in “The House of Mapuhi” is unforgettable. He is so good that he got me – a person who has no interest in boxing – to be completely engrossed in his classic tale of how youth defeated experience and generalship in the ring. I actually found that story – “A Piece of Steak” – to be one of my favorites. It is expertly crafted.
London does more than entertain. There are important themes explored in the stories. “An Odysey of the North,” “To the Man on the Trail,” and the “League of Old Men” challenge a system of “plain and simple” “black and white” justice. Is it wrong to seek revenge for a terrible wrong that was done to one? Is it wrong to kill whites if they have encroached and destroyed your culture? Malemute Kid summarizes the point of these stories with his instructions to a newcomer to the Klondike, “There be things greater than our wisdom, beyond our justice. The right and wrong of this we cannot say, and it is not for us to judge.”
Greed is also a common theme. I think that “All Gold Canyon” is a brilliantly written tale. It is quite simple. It starts with a astonishing description of an untouched valley. Here London is the equal of Steinbeck and Fitzgerald in his descriptive style. The valley really is a jewel in this natural state. But, a prospector comes, finds gold, despoils a part of the valley, gets shot by and then kills a robber, all for the love of gold. He returns to this theme of greed with dark humor in “The Man with The Gash.”
“The Heathen” asks the question, is there not a place in heaven for a person who does not believe, but still leads a great life of sacrifice and love for others? Clearly, London wants us to say “yes.”
In “Samuel,” a story of four children all named Samuel and doomed because of it London gives another example of his belief in the power of fate. The importance of fate is no more powerfully felt than in “the League of Old Men.” Here, there seems nothing that Native peoples can do to prevent the onslaught of white culture. Down to the last man willing to resist, he submits himself to our justice so that he can be hanged.
OK, so London is exciting, talented and offers depth. So, why is he not my favorite author? The issue of race has me hesitant to endorse his writing fully. It really is a mixed bag. On the one hand we know from his political writings that he carried a deep prejudice against the Chinese as did many Californians at the time. In his fiction, he always describes people by their ethnicity and often ascribes certain stereotypes to them. A good example of this is “The Story of Jees Uck.” He spends several paragraphs describing her mixed lineage and explains that her extraordinary character is in large measure a result of this mixing of bloods. In “League of Old Men” I was disturbed by Imber’s reasoning that they had restored the best dogs to the territory by killing all the dogs that were of mixed parentage to a notion that native culture could be similarly revived. I was also troubled by the broken English of native Americans even when they had spent years amongst whites , how the characters often speak of an honest upright person of any ethnicity as being “white” and the description of the headhunters in the Pacific is about as un-politically correct as you can get.
But, on the other hand, the key question is if London’s characters are speaking for him or is he capturing a slice of reality as to how most thought in the 1890’s? What is striking here – at least in the stories picked for this collection – is that London depicts Indians and Pacific Islanders with deep sympathy. His stories tell of the exploitation of Indian and Pacific peoples by whites and are filled with non-white characters, most notably Otoo in “the Heathen,” whom the reader comes to admire greatly. My best guess is that London, was obsessed by race and evolution (which many of his day were), held prejudice against some groups but not others, and also challenged many prevailing notions. However, I fear that I might not have read enough of his works to be certain.
His writing style is stunning when he is describing action and action is what many of these stories are all about. As a reader, you feel that you are on the trails of the Yukon or in the midst of a hurricane. His vivid description of being caught on an Island in the midst of a storm in “The House of Mapuhi” is unforgettable. He is so good that he got me – a person who has no interest in boxing – to be completely engrossed in his classic tale of how youth defeated experience and generalship in the ring. I actually found that story – “A Piece of Steak” – to be one of my favorites. It is expertly crafted.
London does more than entertain. There are important themes explored in the stories. “An Odysey of the North,” “To the Man on the Trail,” and the “League of Old Men” challenge a system of “plain and simple” “black and white” justice. Is it wrong to seek revenge for a terrible wrong that was done to one? Is it wrong to kill whites if they have encroached and destroyed your culture? Malemute Kid summarizes the point of these stories with his instructions to a newcomer to the Klondike, “There be things greater than our wisdom, beyond our justice. The right and wrong of this we cannot say, and it is not for us to judge.”
Greed is also a common theme. I think that “All Gold Canyon” is a brilliantly written tale. It is quite simple. It starts with a astonishing description of an untouched valley. Here London is the equal of Steinbeck and Fitzgerald in his descriptive style. The valley really is a jewel in this natural state. But, a prospector comes, finds gold, despoils a part of the valley, gets shot by and then kills a robber, all for the love of gold. He returns to this theme of greed with dark humor in “The Man with The Gash.”
“The Heathen” asks the question, is there not a place in heaven for a person who does not believe, but still leads a great life of sacrifice and love for others? Clearly, London wants us to say “yes.”
In “Samuel,” a story of four children all named Samuel and doomed because of it London gives another example of his belief in the power of fate. The importance of fate is no more powerfully felt than in “the League of Old Men.” Here, there seems nothing that Native peoples can do to prevent the onslaught of white culture. Down to the last man willing to resist, he submits himself to our justice so that he can be hanged.
OK, so London is exciting, talented and offers depth. So, why is he not my favorite author? The issue of race has me hesitant to endorse his writing fully. It really is a mixed bag. On the one hand we know from his political writings that he carried a deep prejudice against the Chinese as did many Californians at the time. In his fiction, he always describes people by their ethnicity and often ascribes certain stereotypes to them. A good example of this is “The Story of Jees Uck.” He spends several paragraphs describing her mixed lineage and explains that her extraordinary character is in large measure a result of this mixing of bloods. In “League of Old Men” I was disturbed by Imber’s reasoning that they had restored the best dogs to the territory by killing all the dogs that were of mixed parentage to a notion that native culture could be similarly revived. I was also troubled by the broken English of native Americans even when they had spent years amongst whites , how the characters often speak of an honest upright person of any ethnicity as being “white” and the description of the headhunters in the Pacific is about as un-politically correct as you can get.
But, on the other hand, the key question is if London’s characters are speaking for him or is he capturing a slice of reality as to how most thought in the 1890’s? What is striking here – at least in the stories picked for this collection – is that London depicts Indians and Pacific Islanders with deep sympathy. His stories tell of the exploitation of Indian and Pacific peoples by whites and are filled with non-white characters, most notably Otoo in “the Heathen,” whom the reader comes to admire greatly. My best guess is that London, was obsessed by race and evolution (which many of his day were), held prejudice against some groups but not others, and also challenged many prevailing notions. However, I fear that I might not have read enough of his works to be certain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2015
Selected Short Stories is a compilation of Jack London’s greatest short stories. It contains many stories including An Odyssey of the North and To Build a Fire. With London’s Exciting background and writing style it always makes his stories a pleasure to read.
Jack London’s stories always have an adventurous tone to them. London’s adventurous style makes it fun to read. Most of his stories create a harsh wilderness setting creating the ultimate adventure. London’s short stories remind me of some of the Hardy Boys books that I read in fifth grade. London’s stories were more interesting after Yosemite. The connection I had with nature stayed with me when I read his adventurous stories. His stories and his life also help me understand struggle of life. Before you read any of his books or short stories do yourself a favor and learn a little bit about him. Once you learn some of his background you will understand the stories and books better. You will also appreciate the writing and setting of the stories. Read this short stories compilation if you're looking for a outdoors book to read outside in the front yard on your rocking chair.
Jack London’s stories always have an adventurous tone to them. London’s adventurous style makes it fun to read. Most of his stories create a harsh wilderness setting creating the ultimate adventure. London’s short stories remind me of some of the Hardy Boys books that I read in fifth grade. London’s stories were more interesting after Yosemite. The connection I had with nature stayed with me when I read his adventurous stories. His stories and his life also help me understand struggle of life. Before you read any of his books or short stories do yourself a favor and learn a little bit about him. Once you learn some of his background you will understand the stories and books better. You will also appreciate the writing and setting of the stories. Read this short stories compilation if you're looking for a outdoors book to read outside in the front yard on your rocking chair.
October 24, 2015
This is a collection of author's couple of good stories not so common.The main attraction lies however in author's one of the best and immortal creation "Love of Life". Among the other stories "Brown Wolf" and "A piece of Streak" are other literal masterpieces. Rest are good. However when I read these two the others can never come in the same series.
The book starts with "A piece of Streak". Life of a boxer who rose to high level and now he is in the verge of sunset of his carrier. Not left with a penny to have food, he faces his challenge of the life time with a young, dynamic and fit opponent. Here he has nothing to loose, but everything to gain.
"Brown Wolf" is the masterpiece stating the love and bond of a stray stolen dog from Klondike with his original master who brought him up. The man says "I can only give him sufferings, toil, extreme cold, hunger..." Still the dog loves him and....
"Love of Life" is a story that does not need an introduction or summary. This is on it's own one of the immortal creations by Jack London.
The book starts with "A piece of Streak". Life of a boxer who rose to high level and now he is in the verge of sunset of his carrier. Not left with a penny to have food, he faces his challenge of the life time with a young, dynamic and fit opponent. Here he has nothing to loose, but everything to gain.
"Brown Wolf" is the masterpiece stating the love and bond of a stray stolen dog from Klondike with his original master who brought him up. The man says "I can only give him sufferings, toil, extreme cold, hunger..." Still the dog loves him and....
"Love of Life" is a story that does not need an introduction or summary. This is on it's own one of the immortal creations by Jack London.
June 3, 2017
Interesting stories about the individuals set up in a context of harsh life conditions.
August 24, 2016
I was surprised to see another side of London with his Caribbean / nautical themed stories.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews