Jack London Books

This is an exceptional collection of short stories, non-fiction and letters. Though London is best known for his arctic adventure stories (many of his best are found in this book), the breadth of topics about which he wrote is extensive and that is demonstrated here. The things that ties all the writing together, however, are excellent writing, passion, ferocity, intelligence and a social conscience. London had many interests and was a prolific writer and this book captures his talents better than any I've seen. I would highly recommend the collection to any one who likes London, short stories, good writing or American history (since his stories capture many aspects of America in the early 20th century). This is an excellent book and I would highly recommend it.

... Do you like good writing? Are you socially aware? Do you really think the only thing good is Call of the Wild? Be prepared for the GOOD stuff.
He doesn't write the fluff. It's all socially relevant or life an death stuff. And it's all written VERY well.
Favorite Stories : the Apostate, and the 2 versions of To Build a Fire ( one the Boy Scout version, the other the real deal.)

... READ IT! LOVE IT!

I first read this collection about two years ago and still go back to selected works from time to time. If all you have read by London is "The Call of The Wild", then you have not been exposed to the depth of his writing.

Stories like "A piece of steak" and the more popular "To build a fire" show London's ability to highlight the human spirit. "Strength of the strong" has deep political connotations and probably inspired "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, a contemporary of London.

There are really so many great stories in this collection. I advise anyone to explore the work of Jack London further.

I'm a big fan of London, and have (so far) read probably 2/3 of his published work. I always prefer, when possible, to read his stories in their original collected volumes, rather than in the many "greatest hits" collections of his work. This volume is the exception to that rule. Earle Labor, a renowned London scholar, has put together the ultimate "desert island" volume of London's work. All of the best stories are here, as well as an excellent collection of his non-fiction writing, letters, and biographical material. The Call of the Wild is also included in its entirety. Unfortunately, other excellent novels are not represented here, but that's understandable due to space concerns. Labor provides a detailed chronology of London's life, and an introductory essay that puts these varied works into context. The result is not merely a showcase of London's best work, but a volume that gives an excellent overview of the man's life, the stages in his literary career, and the development of his politics and philosophy. For diehard London fans, if you can only fit one book in your carry-on bag, this is a great volume to have with you. For those who have never read London before, this book makes a great introduction to the man and his art.

I probably wouldn't have purchased this book if I didn't know the author. That would have been my loss. This is an enjoyable book for anyone who likes adventure, is interested in Jack London, Alaska, the Yukon and its gold rush history. The book is well researched and the author's enthusiasm for Jack London and Alaska and his search for London's cabin in the Yukon makes for a very enjoyable read. Dick's style reminds me of another participatory journalist, George Plimpton.

This is a great book... author Dick North actually trod the same trails as the immortal Jack London, found Jack's old cabin in the Far North, and introuces us to many of the men who actually worked and suffered with London. Complete with many stunning pictures, this is a remarkable story of one of the world's greatest writers (who, incredibly, lived only to age 40). Thank the Lord that author North has lived a bit longer than that! Long enough to bring us this intimate review of London and his works...

2006 is the 100th anniversary of the publication of Jack London's White Fang, but few may realize many of his masterpieces about the gold rush stemmed from a pioneer who envisioned making his own fortune in the Klondike in 1897. SAILOR ON SNOWSHOES: TRACKING JACK LONDON'S NORTHERN TRAIL is indispensable for any who would understand London's world: it surveys his gold rush experiences, his search for riches, and also chronicles a search for the Yukon bush cabin where London lived. Northern historian and journalist Dick North retraces London's footsteps and adds plenty of historical background and literary reference to bring his times to life.

Dick North is a veteran Jack London researcher and a fine former newspaperman in the U.S. and Yukon Territory. This new book is an excellent companion volume to Franklin Walker's Jack London in the Klondike (1966).

The subtitle is actually Tracking Jack London's Northern Trail.

For all their moods of isolation, Jack London crafted some soulful stories filled with a kind of humanity that is outside of conventional terms. All of these stories are worth delving into, often more than once even, but the opener 'To Build a Fire' packs a whallop to the gut that has never left me. The narrator's struggle to keep warm, originally one of pride and daring that slowly is reduced to one of futility says all that needs to be evoked about the cold, merciless disposition of Mother Nature towards a sole human being struggling to overcome. Darwin-esque very much so, but if you are a glass half-full person, as I have known to be on occasion, you just might find the beauty an' enormity of the world around you in even such a tragedy. Anyone interested in even the most basic forms of existentialism should find much of worth in Jack London.

Has some hard to find stories that I like.

Occasionally a writer creates a story that is both horrible and wonderful; TO BUILD A FIRE is one of these stories. Reading it I thought of some negative criticism I had recently read about London's writing. I think the critic is full of it. TO BUILD A FIRE and much of London's writing is high octane, powerful stuff.

This fun little graphic novel is a collection of some twelve short stories and poems that were all written by the greats of modern horror literature - H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Saki (pen name of Hector Hugh Munro), Jack London, and others. Just as heterogeneous as the authors are the illustrators. Each of the stories was illustrated by a different artist, who drew the story as he or she saw fit, each different from the others and each excellent.

Overall, I thought that this was an excellent book, with great stories and wonderful illustration work. I think that my favorites were Lovecraft's The Thing on the Doorstep, W.W. Jacobs' Monkey's Paw, and Clark Ashton Smith's The Beast of Averoigne, with Bret Harte's Selina Sedilia being too funny to miss. Yep, this is a great book, one that my fourteen-year-old daughter and I both enjoyed and both highly recommend!

Horror Classics is a graphic novel anthology that brings to vivid life those great tales of terror by Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and others. Each individual story is skillfully rendered into comic book format by a different artist, who uses black-and-white imagery to perfectly capture moments of terror. An engrossing introduction to the classics of horror for those new to the literary experience, and an exciting fresh take on great stories for those who have read them a hundred times before.

Horror has done well for the modern incarnation of the Graphic Classics, whose series has seen such luminaries as Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe and HP Lovecraft brought to life by some extremely talented cartoonists. Whether it is the short-story nature, or the ready-made visually splendid imagery, there is something in the classic horror tales thats makes them well suited to the Graphic Classics treatment. Here, in the 10th volume, they have wisely continued this tradition, and assembled an anthology of classic horror stories to chill and delight.

"Horror Classics" brings together 12 authors, some of which, like HP Lovecraft , Jack London and Ambrose Bierce, have been previously honored with their own Graphic Classics collections. Others, like Clark Ashton Smith and Honre de Balzac, appear for the first time. All of the stories are well-chosen, and the artists's styles are well-matched.

This collection contains:

"The Mummy" - Ambrose Bierce - A short and witty poem, with a sharp illustration to match it.

"The Thing at the Doorstep" - HP Lovecraft - A brilliant take on one of my favorite Lovecraft stories. The artist manages to capture the "Innsmouth look" perfectly, and uses the author's original text combined with illustrations to great effect. "glub..glub...glub-glub..." You know what I mean.

"Some Words with a Mummy" - Edgar Allan Poe - A clever and light adaptation of a resurrected mummy bantering with a few scientists over which has the superior society.

"In a Far Off World" - Oliver Schreiner - An excellent, melancholy tale. One I have never read before, but am glad to be introduced to.

"The Thing at Ghent" - Honre de Balzac - Entirely dialog free, I am at a bit of a loss as to the actual story. Unfortunately, it is not such a familiar tale as to be able to divine the story from illustrations alone. The only disappointment in the lot.

"The Monkey's Paw" - WW Jacobs - Any fan of "The Simpsons" will recognize this one, although they may have never seen the original. The artist JW Pierard maintains the full weight of the original cautionary tale. Be careful what you wish for, and don't mess with unfamiliar magiks.

"The Open Window" - Saki - Another familiar tale, one that I have heard told but never knew the origin of. A clever almost-ghost story, well adapted in a simple Victorian style.

"A Day Dream" - Fitz-James O-Brien - Cartoonish musings on murder, and the high class going slumming in the Five Points.

"Keesh Son of Keesh" - Jack London - A dark and powerful tale of barbarian culture and blood-rights amongst the Native American tribes. Ryan Inzana's heavy woodblock illustrations perfectly compliment this heavy story.

"Professor Jonkin's Cannibal Plant" - Howard R. Garis - "Feed me, Seymour!" Another comedic adaptation, featuring a foolish professor and his frightening child.

"The Beast of Averoigne" - Clark Ashton Smith - A contemporary of Lovecraft, this tale of a wild comet, a haunted abbey, and the Ring of Eibon, is adapted with appropriate style.

"Selina Sedilia" - Bret Harte - A humorous look at love ever-after between two base villains. And of course, there is only one way to achieve love "ever-after."

First story so beautiful and poignant, it brought tears to my eyes. London displays a true understanding of the deeper reaches of nature. A remarkably real parable of the civilized dog brought back to his wild roots. "White Fang", longer and wildly overwritten, is nevertheless deeply affecting also. Romantic, sentimental, and perhaps somewhat unrealistic. Each story was wonderful and very individual, somewhat amazing considering there are 40 of them. "The Sea Wolf" was the best of all, I thought. The character of Wolf Larsen was just totally intriguing. And I have never forgotten (and will probably carry with me to my grave) a line from that book, uttered by Larsen. To paraphase - The most abundant thing on this planet is not air, or water or land. They are all perishable, or can be ruined or consumed in some way or another. It is life, life itself, that is everywhere. Wolf Larsen was one of the most unforgettable characters in fiction that I have ever run across. An amoral man to the nth degree.

If you like the movies you will love these stories. Combines page turning reading with a poetic quality that only Jack London can develop.

Loved White Fang so much I have gone on and read everything this man ever wrote. If you love the outdoors, and can live without T.V. a few nights then get this one. You will not regret the money well spent.

This book has helped me allot in regards to a project I am working on. When one recognizes the significance between Jack the Ripper and the media, and it's part in ascending him from serial killer to Victorian icon, it is impossible to ignore this book. I highly recommend it.

The book really is more about the context than the case itself, but Begg present solid research and writes very well. In terms of presenting the conditions of 1888 Whitechapel, it is probably the best book out there. For a history strictly of the JtR case, Sugden would be the way to go. However, Begg's new book, "Jack the Ripper: The Facts" (only available at amazon.co.uk now), which contains much of the research done in the past ten years, would be definitely worth getting from there. Still, this book is worth it for the Ripperologist.

I had to read this took for a Collage Class and have never enjoyed reading a "textbook" more.

Paul Begg is a very entertaining author and gave alot of details concerning the Jack the Ripper Murders.

At first he tells about the area of London called Whitechappel where it happened and then he talks about the Ripper Murders themselves.

Not only does he give much detail about the Ripper Murders he talks about the Police investigation about it, as well as goes into detail about some of the people that historians and investigaters have claimed were Jack the Ripper.

All in all a very comprehensive acount of the Jack the Ripper Murder case.

Gold was found in Alaska, the rush to obtain it required a strong constitution and many dogs to do the work that horses usually did in the states. The environment bread harsh attitudes. Also in the testing of ones mettle one finds their true potential.

Buck (a dog that is half St Bernard and half Shepherd) goes through many lives, trials, and tribulations finally realizing his potential. On the way he learns many concepts from surprise, to deceit, and cunning; he also learns loyalty, devotion, and love. As he is growing he feels the call of the wild.

This book is well written. There is not a wasted word or thought and the story while building on its self has purpose and direction. The descriptions may be a tad graphic for the squeamish and a tad sentimental for the romantic. You see the world through Buck's eyes and understand it through his perspective until you also feel the call of the wild.

The Call of the Wild
By: Jack London
A book review

If you like stories about sled dogs driving people to Alaska, then you would probably want to read this book. The people were going to Alaska because they wanted to find gold. Along the way there were challenges and adventures.
First Buck, a St. Bernard-Scotch Shepard, was kidnapped from his cozy home in California and taken to the frozen north in Alaska. When he was in Alaska he became a sled dog. Next, Buck had many battles with different dogs. Buck made himself a lead dog.
I like this book The Call of the Wild because it had many action scenes. The reason why I like the action scenes there were fights and adventures. Another reason I like this book because I learned about many types of dogs. I learned that dogs can pull sleds. I also learned that dogs can have fights. The last thing I liked about the book was that the author wrote captions under the illustrations. I liked that because it tells you what is happening.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book because it is a great action/adventure book about a St. Bernard-Scotch Shepard named Buck. This book is also great because I like dogs and they are my favorite pets. If you enjoy reading about dogs then you will love this book as well.

Bucks life starts out in Santa Clara Valley but he was neither a housedog nor a kennel dog. His father was a Saint Bernard and his mother was a Scotch Shepherd dog. At one point in the book Buck's change is compared to his Scotch Shepherd side sort of fading away. Later his actions mirror and even dominate those of the wolves around him.

The book is about Buck and his transition and response to the wild land he finds and the "wild" that may have always been in him. We are told that the "dominant primordial beast was strong in Buck."

A series of events took him to Alaska where many big dogs with strong muscles found work. His strong attachment and genuine love for his master ends with no master and he seems to have become what had called him all along.

We really do see through Bucks eyes. Even so it isn't just his transformation that we feel but get our own taste of what the "wild" is.

The book is one that you will want to read in one sitting. It is hard to put down. It is a good book for friends who may not really like to read and likewise is a unique experience in a point of view for those that do

Gold was found in Alaska, the rush to obtain it required a strong constitution and many dogs to do the work that horses usually did in the states. The environment bread harsh attitudes. Also in the testing of ones mettle one finds their true potential.

Buck (a dog that is half St Bernard and half Shepherd) goes through many lives, trials, and tribulations finally realizing his potential. On the way he learns many concepts from surprise, to deceit, and cunning; he also learns loyalty, devotion, and love. As he is growing he feels the call of the wild.

This book is well written. There is not a wasted word or thought and the story while building on its self has purpose and direction. The descriptions may be a tad graphic for the squeamish and a tad sentimental for the romantic. You see the world through Buck's eyes and understand it through his perspective until you also feel the call of the wild.

Gold was found in Alaska, the rush to obtain it required a strong constitution and many dogs to do the work that horses usually did in the states. The environment bread harsh attitudes. Also in the testing of ones mettle one finds their true potential.

Buck (a dog that is half St Bernard and half Shepherd) goes through many lives, trials, and tribulations finally realizing his potential. On the way he learns many concepts from surprise, to deceit, and cunning; he also learns loyalty, devotion, and love. As he is growing he feels the call of the wild.

This book is well written. There is not a wasted word or thought and the story while building on its self has purpose and direction. The descriptions may be a tad graphic for the squeamish and a tad sentimental for the romantic. You see the world through Buck's eyes and understand it through his perspective until you also feel the call of the wild.

The Call of the Wild - Dog of the Yukon (1997)

i think the editorial review was a little bit off for this story, it's not 'a story of a boy and his wolf' its a story of a dog, various humans(owners), and the dogs transition eventually to a wolf pack. so i don't know whatthey were talking about.

Gold was found in Alaska, the rush to obtain it required a strong constitution and many dogs to do the work that horses usually did in the states. The environment bread harsh attitudes. Also in the testing of ones mettle one finds their true potential.

Buck (a dog that is half St Bernard and half Shepherd) goes through many lives, trials, and tribulations finally realizing his potential. On the way he learns many concepts from surprise, to deceit, and cunning; he also learns loyalty, devotion, and love. As he is growing he feels the call of the wild.

This book is well written. There is not a wasted word or thought and the story while building on its self has purpose and direction. The descriptions may be a tad graphic for the squeamish and a tad sentimental for the romantic. You see the world through Buck's eyes and understand it through his perspective until you also feel the call of the wild.

The Call of the Wild - Dog of the Yukon (1997)

If you just want a copy of _The Call of the Wild_, to give to a friend, say, this is the one to get.

The elegant Library of America edition of "London: Novels and Stories" has three complete novels _The Call of the Wild_, _White Fang_, _The Sea-Wolf_, and a very well chosen selection of stories. It's great. Viking's _The Portable Jack London_, is cheap and excellent; it's edited by Earle Labor, has _The Call of the Wild_, and an excellent selection of short stories, nonfiction, and letters. If you want copies of _The Call of the Wild_ to give to LOTS of friends, the Dover Thrift Edition is just a buck.

But if you want _just_ The Call of the Wild, this edition is nice enough to give as a gift, is clear and legible, and has just the right amount of pictures and annotations. Not a scholarly work, but every time you get to one of those places where you have a question--where was Dyea? What was the "Chinese lottery?" Could a dog really pull a thousand pound sled? there's Dyer with the answer.

If you're interested in Jack London, take a look at the alt.books.jack-london Internet discussion group--see "about me" for details.