One of the most widely read of all American writers, Jack London (1876–1916) based his novels and stories on the experiences and observations of a life that took him from the frozen wilds of the Klondike to the sun-drenched atolls of the South Seas. This volume presents a selection of five of his best stories, each brimming with the energy, color, and drive typical of London's vivid story-telling style. "The White Silence," "In a Far Country," and "An Odyssey of the North" are suspenseful tales that bring the harshness of the frozen wilderness of the north powerfully to life. "The Seed of McCoy" reflects London's experience as a sailor in the South Pacific. The last story, "The Mexican," displays London's celebrated talents as a sportswriter in this sympathetic portrayal of a prizefighter working for the success of the Mexican Revolution. Here are five stories that epitomize Jack London's mastery of the adventure story and the compelling prose style that influenced generations of writers.
Author
John Griffith Chaney (1876-1916), better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist, and social 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. His most famous works include 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". 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 unionization, workers' rights, and socialism. He 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. London died November 22, 1916, in a sleeping porch in a cottage on his ranch. London's ashes were buried on his property, not far from the Wolf House. The grave is marked by a mossy boulder. The buildings and property were later preserved as Jack London State Historic Park, in Glen Ellen, California.
