Novels and Stories: The Call of the Wild / White Fang / The Sea-Wolf / Klondike and Other Stories

Library of America #6

by Jack London

This Library of America volume of Jack London’s best-known work is filled with thrilling action, an intuitive feeling for animal life, and a sense of justice that often works itself out through violence. London enjoyed phenomenal popularity in his own time (which included the depressions of the 1890s and the beginnings of World War One), and he remains one of the most widely read of all American writers.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Short Stories, Literature, American, Adventure, Novels

1021 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

John 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".

Reviews

[James Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many consider The Sea-Wolf by Jack London to be among the best sea stories ever written. I found it a moving and epic tale. Not only did it achieve great popular and literary success, but it also was effectively realized in several cinematic versions (most recently as a TV mini-series). The story ranks in the great tradition of one of London's literary influences, Herman Melville, while I saw similarities to another story of a life changed by sea voyage, captured by Rudyard Kipling in Captains Courageous.

Drawing upon his experiences seal hunting in the North Pacific, London created a story with a lot of realism. He put himself and his contradictory nature into the two opposing characters, the captain Wolf Larsen, a ruthless and rugged individualist, the superman, and Humphrey van Weyden, a weak, but highly cultivated and virtuous gentleman. It is in the clash of these two forces that London gives vent to his innermost struggles: idealism versus materialism, conscience versus instinct, desire versus soul. Humphrey joins Larsen's crew when a ferry he is on sinks. Later in the story he and the captain are joined by a young woman, Maude Brewster who, like Humphrey, is well-educated and literate. During one of their discussions Brewster and Larsen take opposite positions on the importance of desire versus soul. The argument is concluded when Humphrey says:

The man's soul is his desires. . . There lies the temptation. It is the wind that fans the desire until it leaps up to mastery. That's temptation. It may not fan sufficiently to make the desire overmastering , but in so far as fans at all, that far is it temptation. And, as you say, it may tempt for good as well as for evil. (pp. 674-75)

But the main philosophy demonstrated in the novel is a form of Social Darwinism. It is this that is the philosophy espoused by Wolf Larsen as justification for his tyrannical domination of others. Larsen's library is noted to contain works by Darwin, Malthus and Spencer - all seminal theorists of the concept. Darwin himself rejected the concepts of Social Darwinism even though his biological theories were generally used to support and inform the sociological concept that social inequality is the inexorable result of meritocratic division of available resources. Larsen summarizes the concepts of Social Darwinism in his extended analogy of a yeasty ferment of existence.

The novel's drama proceeds to a resolution of this elemental conflict through van Weyden's struggle toward fulfillment and mastery of life's forces and Larsen's ultimate deterioration. Ironically, the majority of the critics and the public misunderstood the work, thinking it a glorification of the superhuman and individualism, and London later wrote, ". . . I attacked Nietzsche and his super-man idea ... no one discovered that it was an attack upon the super-man philosophy. " In the death of Wolf Larsen and the survival of Van Weyden and Maude Brewster we see the confirmation of London's claim.

[Vinay]

The Call of the Wild -5 Stars

White Fang -5 Stars

Selected Klondike Stories

1. To the Man on Trail - 3 Stars
2. The White Silence - 3 Stars
3. In A Far Country - 4 Stars
4. Wisdom of the Trail - 3 Stars
5. An Odyssey of the North - 3.5 Stars
6. The Law of Life - 4 Stars
7. God of his Father's - 4 Stars
8. Bātard - 3 Stars
9. The League of the Old Men - 4.5 Stars
10. Love of Life - 4 Stars
11. The Wit of Porportuk - 4.5 Stars
12. To Build a Fire - 5 Stars

[William Haverinen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pulled this book off the shelf to re-read The Call of the Wild and White Fang. We lost our wonderful yellow lab recently, and these novels came to mind. They are such great stories. Enjoyed them so much.
And a comment on Library of America books. They are crafted with thin pages of silk, beautifully bound. Who would want an e-book after reading these?
This volume also contains the short story "To Build a Fire", which a first read in 7th or 8th grade. The story is still on my top ten list.

[Mmars]

When I was in grade school I cried so hard over some animal story in which the animal died in the end that I swore off animal stories. Now, 50 years later, I can only remember reading some James Herriot, Life of Pi, and one where a man could talk with his dogs. There's got to be more! Well, I picked this up at the library bookstore and just finished "Call of the Wild." (***) Honestly, during the first third of the book in which Buck is beaten, fights, fights again and again, and suffers countless ego issues, I wasn't sure if I could finish it. But it was certainly worth the perserverence.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He finally comes into the hands of a more humane human and it was refreshing to have the human die.

[Christan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading The Sea-Wolf while eating an entire box of ho ho's. It was when the ho ho's were still wrapped in foil. I ended up with a stomach ache and an appreciation of London's character, Wolf Larson. Jack London is the reason I am a socialist. Or maybe it is because of George W. Bush...who knows?

[Mike Mikulski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great selection to take along on a long trip to Alaska and for great summer reading. Call of the Wild, White Fang and London’s Klondike Stories focus on primal instinct and survival for both animals and humans. The opening of White Fang as a pack of starving wolves prey on a team of prospectors and their dogs is specially gripping.

The Sea-Wolf was published in 1904, roughly the time London was running as a Socialist candidate for mayor of Oakland, CA. The Faustian captain Wolf Larsen is the focus of a tremendous and brutal sea tale, but also a condemnation of les a faire capital’s control and domination of the working class as represented by the crew of the seal hunting ship the Ghost.

London’s later short stories are more uneven than his Klondike work. His South Seas stories depict Pacific natives as headhunters, cannibals and savages. There are two good pieces of boxing fiction, one, The Mexican, is intertwined with the story of revolutionaries in the Mexican American war. The worst is the story The Drooling Ward told from the viewpoint of an orderly at a state mental institution which seems to be a parody of California state and political institutions missed its mark and hasn’t aged well with references to “feels” and “droolers”

Other than a few of the later short stories this is a great collection of a master of American fiction. One of the next steps in the evolution of America’s fictional voice after Mark Twain.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sheer brutality of The Call of the Wild and White Fang shock me now, reading them again for the first time since I was a child. London is a masterful writer, and perhaps I haven't had the urge to revisit him because his subjects-- dogs, boxers, and generally "manly men" kind of subjects and settings have held little appeal. My mistake, really. These subjects are not so much reinforced, as critiqued with an incisive intelligence. The Sea-Wolf, in particular is a really impressive work of philosophical critique mining many of the same veins as Melville did before him. The short stories in this volume are a bit uneven, but there are some gems in there as well. Really looking forward to the second London volume in the LOA series when I get to it, it seems to be focused more on the sort of subjects that appeal to me, but this was well worth the time spent to read it.

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Vol. 1 of 2. This volume contains, "The Call of The Wild," "White Fang," "The Sea-Wolf," Klondike and Other Stories. The books within the volume were wonderfully written, and the stories were great. Everything that Mr. London wrote about had some truth in it. Mr. London worked on sailing ships, built a sailing ship to sail around the world, and went to the Yukon during the Klondike gold rush in 1897-1898. Mr. London knew his subject matter quite well since he was there. Jack London won a writing contest in 1893 by the "San Francisco Morning Call" for the best descriptive essay. So, why did I give the volume 4 stars? Because Jack London is very, very, very descriptive in his writings.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent collection of Jack London. His writing is unfussy, straightforward, and unsentimental. Sometimes I wished he would be more sentimental and spare me some details about animal and human behavior, but alas, then it wouldn't be him. Being a California native, some stories have special significance because I've been there and know just what he's referring to.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Call of the Wild and White Fang are both very well-written animal adventure stories that deserve their status as classics. I didn't like the writing in The Sea Wolf at all. The stories are mostly good, in particular all the ones centered on survival. To Build a Fire and The Mexican especially stood out as great examples of how well London could write tension.

[Jessica Strunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Product of the times" for sure, passed that, loved the animal and nature writings.

[Luz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack London was a wonderful writer. This is a great volume: reading the "call of the Wild' - the story stayed with me for a long time.

[Emmy Harbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Call of the Wild, White Fang, and to Build a Fire were my favorite.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Iconic characters, vivid storytelling"

[Keeko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating characters and suspenseful, compelling stories. He kept me turning the pages. Thanks to Library of America for the nice production quality.

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novels and Stories was the first of a two volume set that I scored for cheap on ebay a few years ago. The second, Novels and Social writings concentrates on his political/social novels and essays while this one is comprised of his Alaskan and sea bearing adventure stories.

This book weighs in at over 1000 pages and includes three GREAT novels in Call of the Wild, The Sea Wolf and White Fang as well as multitudes of his short stories.

I can't say enough about how much I love Londons writings and how much admiration I have for him as a man as well. I've read Call of the Wild about every two years or so since the first time I read it as a child and I get more out of it every time I re-read it. His adventure stories on one level are just great red blooded adventure stories that anyone who has any heart or spirit would enjoy and there is a deeper level to London as well. His stories are highly spiritual if you are able to look at them on another level. Although thats something that you have to "feel" from within I suppose.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I debated a long time about whether this was a four star or five star book. The theme of Klondike stories got old after a while and I think would have been better arranged if interspersed with the other short stories. And London is not a master of the English tongue, although he never writes awkwardly. Despite the amazing variety of his work and innate ability to draw one into a story, the above, coupled with the daunting length of this tome, nudged me towards 4 stars (4.5 really). His classics are all here, "White Fang", "Call of the Wild" and "Sea Wolf". In addition he wrote some excellent tales ranging from boxing, to South Sea adventures and Socialist commentaries. There is even a sci-fi story, a-la Edgar Rice Burroughs, in the collection. I will admit I would have had a hard time getting through all 900+ pages this year if not for a recent trip onboard a tramp freighter to Alaska (fitting, huh?), but it is well worth picking up as a second or third book to read in addition to your regulars.

[Heather Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Call of the Wild sat on my shelf as a kid for ages because I loved the picture of the wolf on the cover. I loved the movie White Fang because living next to a river with the forest behind you and having your sole companion be that of a beautiful half wolf seemed to me like true paradise. It is only until now that I've discovered I was born to read the words that Jack London has written.

(after reading in full) I can actually see and appreciate the steam that comes off my breath when it's cold enough outside. In other words you get close at least to hearing that call of the wild yourself.

[Franz · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite book as a boy. The adventure, exotic setting, and the character of White Fang propelled me back to the book several times. This book introduced me to London's other books, and for many years London was my favorite author. This is the first time I've reread White Fang in decades. In some ways it holds up well, in others it reads as dated. London's social concerns seep through the book, and I wonder how much his views affected me. He was, paradoxically, a racist socialist Nietzchean. When I was a boy I would have given the book 5 stars. This was written in the day when adult fiction and juvenile fiction coincided more frequently, it seems, than it does today.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

At this point I have only read The Call of the Wild, one of the Guardian's 1000 Novels, in the Travel and War category. It was a hard book to read for much of the time, because of the mistreatment to which Buck, the dog protagonist, was subjected. However, just as I suspected, there was a more or less happy ending to Buck's adventures. Watching my own dog sleeping as I was reading, and seeing his paws twitching, I imagined that he too was remembering ancestral dogs' experiences by a Neanderthal campfire.

[R.a. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm becoming more and more a fan of the LOA series.

Although the prices seem a little high, what one gets is GREAT.

Quite the naturalist, London never ceases to excite by juxtaposing ideas, then bringing them to their (almost always) tragic conclusion.

I'll never forget "The Apostate," or some of the other short stories.

The Iron Heel is particularly salient and serves as a reminder to us all, these days.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack London is an extraordinary author. I love his ability to paint a picture with words and leave me completely satisfied at the end of his stories, even though I long for it to go on and on forever. That takes true skill, and London has it. I wish they would read more of London's short stories in middle school and high school. These stories can relate to anyone, regardless of age, and I think these are great to get kids interested in reading. They just grab you.

[Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review only pertains to the Klondike Stories; other pieces in this collection are reviewed elsewhere. Yes, To Build A Fire is the best story here. But there are several that approach its level in gripping intensity or laying bare the primal spirits of life. Whoever you consider the great writers of London's time, London belongs with them: his psychologies are worthy of James, his humanness is worthy of Twain, and his pacing is worthy of Howells.

[M2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack London's epic "The Sea Wolf" is the story of Humphrey van Weyden, an effete young gent forced to become tough and self-reliant by being exposed to the deprivation of a life at sea. Kind of a socialist "Admirable Crichton," if you will. Its depiction of a life at sea at the turn of the last century are at times breathtaking.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Call of the Wild is both disturbing and beautiful. Its not often that I cry while reading something, but both the horrific and the beautiful brought tears to my eyes. Its well worth reading if you haven't already. It only took me a few hours one afternoon to read it, but it leaves a big impact. I still don't understand why it was banned and even burned at the time of its release.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are Sean's favorite books from his youth. We picked them up to read so we could go visit Jack London Square, ride the ferry, and appreciate the stories better. As a note, sometimes I edit as I read aloud because some of the content is a little gruesome for 2 and 4 year olds, but they do like the dogs.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I force "White Fang" and "The Call of the Wild" upon my children. They sulk when I hand it to them, and usually toss it under the bed for two or three years. Then, in a fit of pique, they'll drag it out one day, and make a big production of being seen with it.

And then, they can't put them down.

Loved it a child; trust it as a mother. Still good, 40 years later.

[Gabriel Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was 9 years old when i was first introduced to the book White Fang. Since then i have always enjoyed and returned the stories of Jack London. Thanks Dad! ( it was him who bought White Fang for me...)

[Shelly Deems · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack London has an interesting view of life and how it should be lived. My favorite character of his is Wolf Larsen in The Sea Wolf. A shame his most famous works are about wolves/dogs and therefore commonly edited/abridged for children.

[Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I raely just read call of the wild.It Is about a large dog named buck and his fight for survival.In the book he is stolen and becomes a sled dog he quickly gets used to it and becomes a leader.I thought it was a great book and if you like survival and adventure books you will like it.