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A Collection of Stories is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Jack London is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Jack London then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free.This is an OCR edition with typos.Excerpt from book:Which Make Men RememberFORTUNE LA PEARLE crushed his way through the snow, sobbing, straining, cursing his luck, Alaska, Nome, the cards, and the man who had felt his knife. The hot blood was freezing on his hands, and the scene yet bright in his eyes, — the man, clutching the table and sinking slowly to the floor; the rolling counters and the scattered deck; the swift shiver throughout the room, and the pause; the game-keepers no longer calling, and the clatter of the chips dying away; the startled faces; the infinite instant of silence; and then the great blood-roar and the tide of vengeance which lapped his heels and turned the town mad behind him."All hell's broke loose," he sneered, turningaside in the darkness and heading for the beach.Lights were flashing from open doors, and tent, cabin, and dance-hall let slip their denizens upon the chase. The clamor of men and howling of dogs smote his ears and quickened his feet. He ran on and on. The sounds grew dim, and the pursuit dissipated itself in vain rage and aimless groping. But a flitting shadow clung to him. Head thrust over shoulder, he caught glimpses of it, now taking vague shape on an open expanse of snow, now merging into the deeper shadows of some darkened cabin or beach-listed craft. Fortune La Pearle swore like a woman, weakly, with the hint of tears that comes of exhaustion, and plunged deeper into the maze of heaped ice, tents, and prospect holes. He stumbled over taut hawsers and piles of dunnage, tripped on crazy guy-ropes and insanely planted pegs, and fell again and again upon frozen dumps and mounds of hoarded driftwood. At times, when he deemed he had drawn clear, his head dizzy with the painful pounding of his heart and the suffocating intake of his breath, he slackened down; and everthe sha... ... Read more

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From "The Red One": There it was! The abrupt liberation of sound! As he timed it with his watch, Bassett likened it to the trump of an archangel. Walls of cities, he meditated, might well fall down before so vast and compelling a summons. For the thousandth time vainly he tried to analyze the tone-quality of that enormous peal that dominated the land far into the strongholds of the surrounding tribes. The mountain gorge which was its source rang to the rising tide of it until it brimmed over and flooded earth and sky and air. With the wantonness of a sick man's fancy, he likened it to the mighty cry of some Titan of the Elder World vexed with misery or wrath. Higher and higher it arose, challenging and demanding in such profounds of volume that it seemed intended for ears beyond the narrow confines of the solar system. There was in it, too, the clamor of protest in that there were no ears to hear and comprehend its utterance. -- Such the sick man's fancy. Still he strove to analyze the sound. Sonorous as thunder was it, mellow as a golden bell, thin and sweet as a thrummed taut cord of silver -- no; it was none of these, nor a blend of these. There were no words nor semblances in his vocabulary and experience with which to describe the totality of that sound. * Also includes "The Hussy," "Like Argus of the Ancient Times," and "The Princess." ... Read more

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Brown Wolf and Other Jack London Stories - Chosen and Edited By Franklin K. Mathiews is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Jack London is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Jack London then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

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This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Name: Alec Redmann
I can't wait to read it!!! I'll write one more reveiw when I read it.

EEEEEEwwww! Jack London at his racist worst
The subject of Jack London's alleged racism comes up from time to time. My personal belief that he lived in a racist time, and accepted contemporary views uncritically, neither promoting nor opposing them. One can easily assemble evidence either way.I don't believe that a real racist could written stories showing empathy for the downtrodden in the way that London does in "The Chinago," "Koolau the Leper," and "The Mexican."

This being said, if one wanted to make Jack London out to be a racist, "Adventure" would certainly be a good place to start. There are passages in it that are so dreadful that you don't know whether to laugh or to cry. They are so bad that I am very reluctant even to quote them. One of the less offensive:

"'Jump!' he shouted fiercely at the end, his will penetrating the low intelligence of the black with dynamic force that made him jump to the task of brushing the loathsome swarms of flies away." ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Classics; Fiction / Erotica; Fiction / Literary; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Horrible binding
When I received this book, the binding was broken and it looked like it was printed from a printer with poor quality paper. I sent it back and asked for a new one. When I received the next one, it also poor quality printing but the binding was not broken. During the first reading of the book, pages fell out and the binding broke. I will never buy from this store again.

Please read it!
Very good book - and typically for Jack London it is about strong people and strong feelings. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Fantastic
A well written biography of the boy who never experienced the youthful years, of the young man who was demanded to provide for a mother who was so self involved that she had no time to waste on being a mother. The young man who experienced the adventures of men and adventures of those who explore for discovering new continents.

This book is so well written that you will think that you are reading one of Jack London's novels. You will almost experience the travels and experiences that Jack London actually traveled into. You will feel some of his feelings, and understand the sadness of his life.

A must read for all of those who want to discover Jack London the boy, the young man who really never grew up and Jack London the author. Meet his true love, Charmian, the lady who understood him and sacrificed for him.

A must read for the Jack London scholars who want more than a top view of this author who made himself into whatnhe became.

Return to London
One does not hear much today about Jack London's books, which at one time entertained with tales of high adventure.His life itself was high adventure and deserves a read.B Reynolds

I had no idea . . .
I knew Jack London was that Call of the Wild writer, but that's it.Jack London was so much more.This is an incredible read, both facinating and amazing.What an acurate subtitle: The Lives of Jack London.He lived more life and adventure before he came of age than most of us do in an entire lifetime.

Do yourself a favor and read this book.The audio version of the book is fantastic as well.It is narrated by Bronson Pinchot and he does a superb job.

Jack London is a local hero in the San Francisco area
This book is an interesting biography that ties together the threads of his writing and the personal inspirations for his writings, the arc of how he got from "Wage Beast" 10 cents an hour shoving coal to one of the most celebrated writers of his age, traveling widely, and owning a large ranch in Somona.It covers his ties and beliefs about socialism, his problems with drinking, the relationships with the women in his life.It provides background on lesser known works by London.

Jack London is a local hero in the San Francisco area and known for his boys' adventure tales, like Call of the Wild.But he was more complex than that.Like Hemingway and Kerouac who followed him, the beginning is filled with turmoil and adventure, the ending filled with loss and physical decline.

Informative and well written
This is a most informative and very well written biography of Jack London.Who would believe that Jack London could have so many "careers" in his short life: day laborer, student, navigator, sailor, prospector, hobo, war correspondent, author, rancher!It is captivating to see how London, the socialist, fought unbridled capitalism in his lectures and writings.Generally, the chapters fly by as one reads of London's struggles to make ends meet, to be faithful to his friends, to make the right financial decisions, and to be flexible to the challenges that circumstances and publishers might throw his way.One memory that I cherish is that of London writing 1,000 words in the morning each day.What a goal for all authors! ... Read more

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Subjects: FictionNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be numerous typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Jack London' last book
This is London's expose of the training used for animal acts of the day, which starts in the Soth Pacific, using his South Seas experiences. London was sick, tired and depressed during this period of his life and it is not among his finest writing but is powerful stuff, as is all London.

Not as good as "Jerry" but a treat for Dog Lovers and London Fans
Less engaging than "Jerry of the Islands" but a good read. A must for Irish Terrier owners.

Caution, this is London's expose of the brutal training methods used by the trainers for the animal acts of the time. Half the book is descriptions of the typical abuses, some suffered by Michael, some by the animals around him.

This was London's last book and he was sick, tired and depressed during this time of his life. It's not among his best but it is powerful stuff, as is all of London's writing.

Michael, the brilliant Irish Terrier - a must read for dog lovers
I happened across this book while looking for stories about Irish Terriers.I wouldn't normally read Jack London; his stories always seemed more to my brother's liking.However, this book quickly grabbed me because a lot of it is written from the dog's perspective.And those passages are spot on.Michael reminded me so much of my own Irish Terrier and how he thinks and reasons.It really got to my heart.When I finished reading, I made a donation to the ASPCA.And although I don't know much about Jack London, I'd bet he had an Irish Terrier himself, for sure.

Not for the faint of heart
This is a wonderful book, as is its prequel, Jerry of the Islands. It's a great dog story. But be warned, if a child is to read this book it should be under the guidance of an adult prepared to explain the extremely racist characters and situations.The story is no fluffy puppy story. It is exciting, the locations exotic, but some of the situations are brutal - it's a Jack London story after all, and the 'N' word appears at least a million times.Still, I'm not one for censorship, and it is a great opportunity to talk about just what happened to people of color, how they were treated, and why they might be justifiably angry about it.

Michael and Jerry
I first met these two dogs back in the 50's,as a child in what is now Czech Republic, in a Czech translation from the 20's. I read them innumerable times and remembered every word. But I had to wait for almost 40 years before I found the original, English, version. The dogs' intelligent and brave personalities shine through as before, despite what now would be considered "politically incorrect", anachronistic attitudes.
Thank you, Fredonia ! ... Read more

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With Illustrations by Frederick C. Yohn. ... Read more

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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free.This is an OCR edition with typos.Excerpt from book:diplomatic speech, handed the whale tooth to Mongondro.The old chief held the tooth in his hands for a long time. It was a beautiful tooth, and he yearned for it. Also, he divined the request that must accompany it. "No, no; whale teeth were beautiful," and his mouth watered for it, but he passed it back to Erirola with many apologies.In the early dawn John Starhurst was afoot, striding along the bush trail in his big leather boots, at his heels the faithful Narau, himself at the heels of a naked guide lent him by Mongondro to show the way to the next village, which was reached "by midday. Here a new guide showed the way. A mile in the rear plodded Erirola, the whale tooth in the basket slung on his . shoulder. For two days more he brought up the missionary's rear, offering the tooth to the village chiefs. But village after village refused the tooth. It followed so quickly the missionary's advent that "theydivined the request that would be made, and would have none of it.They were getting deep into the mountains, and Erirola took a secret trail, cut in ahead of the missionary, and reached the stronghold of the Buli of Gatoka. Now the Buli was unaware of John Starhurst's imminent arrival. Also, the tooth was beautiful--an extraordinary specimen, while the coloring of it was of the rarest order. The tooth was presented publicly. The Buli of Gatoka, seated on his best mat, surrounded by his chief men, three busy fly-brushers at his back, deigned to receive from the hand of his herald the whale tooth presented by Ra Vatu and carried into the mountains by his cousin, Erirola. 'A clapping of hands went up at the acceptation of the present, the assembled headmen, heralds, and fly-brushers crying aloud in chorus:"A ! woi! woi! woi! A ! woi! woi! woi! A tabua levu !... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A major problem
To start with, this is NOT "South Sea Tales."The original collection of Jack London short stories bearing that title is a collection of 8 stories as far as I have been able to determine, and only some of those appear in this collection.Publishers have been misleading readers by putting out a wide variety of editions that contain SOME stories from South Sea Tales, and using the same original title without indicating that it is not the original.To give the present publisher credit, if you check inside to read the table of contents, it contains 10 stories, only four of which are from South Sea Tales, but the book cover can mislead a purchaser who is not careful (Amazon, at least, gives you the option of checking inside).

Having said that, it represents some of the lesser writing by Jack London.It is not at the level of his writing about the Yukon.If you are a Jack London fan, you might want to read it.Otherwise save your money.I might have given it three stars if the publisher had used an honest title, but I am irked by publishers who mislead purchasers (another problem has been publishers who change a title on a book, so you think you are buying something new and end up with something you have already read).

Terrific Collection
London does not disappoint in this collection. His observations are as sound today as they were in his time. It was fascinating to see that London even experimented with science fiction in his story the Red One.

Sean O'Reilly
Editor-at-large
Travelers' Tales
Editor of 30 Days in the South Pacific

A Fine Collection!
It's a shame Jack London's "South Sea Tales" (sometimes referred to as "Hawai'ian Stories") are not more respected, both by the masses and by literary circles.London's stories here are equally as engaging as his better-known Yukon tales ("White Fang," etc.). And the fact that the setting is so drastically different from the snowy Northern Hemisphere of his other tales represents how versatile of a writer he was.It is true, there is not a lot of character differentiation from story to story, which may annoy readers looking for a veritable "collection" of stories and yet please those other readers looking for stories that are connected and read more like chapters of a novel.Nonetheless, Hawai'i is a United State and yet, fiction from this region that is taught on an academic, American Literature collegiate level is rare.That is a shame, because this collection shows that the region is intriguing, dangerous, and beautiful, all at the same time (and what more can you want out of a short story collection)!

This is not South Sea Tales
One star is not because the Jack London stories in this book are not wonderful. It is because this book is not South Sea Tales by Jack London, which I first got from my grandfather's bookshelf and was one of the most memorable reads from my youth. It is a collection of sea stories, including four from South Sea Tales, but I have found a copy of the original stories at Barnes and Noble. One might guess that some of the stories were dropped because, like Huck Finn, they use dialogue and espouse attitudes that we now know better than to live. The stories are still great and do not deserve to become un-stories. This collection is misnamed and misleading.

Good solid 1900's sea stories
Eight good stories by Jack London, about the people and places of the south Pacific in 1908.Also a good long introduction by A. Grove Day which should (like all too many "introductions") only be read *after* reading the stories.

Most of the people in these stories are, of course, either victims or perpetrators (or both) of one of those long painful Western exploitations of a less civilized ("less civilized") part of the world.London knows that that's what's going on, and he writes with sympathy for all concerned, and without the more self-conscious bemoaning that would be expected of a XXIst century writer. To the modern reader, then, he can sometimes seem cold-blooded, but seldom disturbingly so.

The prose is fine and spare most of the time, and never gets in the way of the tale. The places and the tales are memorable. There is not a great variety of character and setting; the eight stories together could almost be a single novel. His voyage on the Snark (which inspired these stories) clearly left him with a strong and single impression of this place and these people, and he conveys that impression skillfully along to us.

Definitely worth reading. ... Read more

Product Description
A short excerpt: Not until Mister Haggin abruptly picked him up under one arm and stepped into the sternsheets of the waiting whaleboat, did Jerry dream that anything untoward was to happen to him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not sure what to think.....
This is a well written book but is difficult to digest.I can see where people come off calling London a racist, this book is full of those tones but in context they fit the story line and one can see that London was writing from the perspective of the time and the stage he was trying to set.Very different than other London books I've read, canabalism, dog language, and an obscure setting in the Solomon Islands.However, very imaginative and vivid in it's character descriptions as always.Worth reading, especially if you like dogs.....

An Irish Terrier Owner's Must Read, Dog Lovers, too. Also for lovers of South Seas stories
A little corny but a great read for Dog Lovers. The sequel is "Michael, Brother of Jerry". If you like London's tales, especially his dog stories or South Seas stories you'll like this. If you've owned an Irish Terrier you'll know how accurate London is, he definitely had owned one and, from the preface, one very similar to Jerry.

Jerry is born on a plantation in the Solomon Islands, accompanies a White Trader and lives among the natives. The book is filled with South Sea Islands lore of the turn of the century before last. Right up there with Conrad and Stevenson for lovers of that millieu. ... Read more

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FictionU.S.A. $7.95
Canada $10.95

To this day Jack London is the most widely read American writer in the world," E. L. Doctorow wrote in The New York Times Book Review. Generally considered to be London's greatest achievement, The Call of the Wild brought him international acclaim when it was published in 1903. His story of the dog Buck, who learns to survive in the bleak Yukon wilderness, is viewed by many as his symbolic autobiography. "No other popular writer of his time did any better writing than you will find in The Call of the Wild," said H. L. Mencken. "Here, indeed, are all the elements of sound fiction."
White Fang (1906), which London conceived as a "complete antithesis and companion piece to The Call of the Wild," is the tale of an abused wolf-dog tamed by exposure to civilization. Also included in this volume is "To Build a Fire," a marvelously desolate short story set in the Klondike, but containing all the elements of a classic Greek tragedy.
"The quintessential Jack London is in the on-rushing compulsive-ness of his northern stories," noted James Dickey. "Few men have more convincingly examined the connection between the creative powers of the individual writer and the unconscious drive to breed and to survive, found in the natural world. . . . London is in and committed to his creations to a degree very nearly unparalleled in the composition of fiction."

... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great stories, especially White Fang
If you haven't read these stories since high school, do your self a favor and read them again.Great stories and well written.

call of the wild
review for call of the wild:wow.absolute amazing storytelling.London paints a picture that is unforgetable - every emotion in me was stirred during this 70 page gem.Masterful!

Jack London's Finest Fictional Work (?)
These three stories are amongst London's best fictional works- some say they *are* the best, especially, "The Call of the Wild" and "White Fang", it all depends on one's taste, of course, but rest assured, these stories are gripping and the intrigue of their moving plots keeps one glued to the book.

As a freind once said of "Call..." and "...Fang": "These are just about the two doggone best [canine] stories I have ever had the pleasure to read!". Indeed.

All three stories are set in Alaska during the gold rush days of the late 1800's and London spent time there to absorb the feeling of this beautiful, but unforgiving land. He is so descriptive of the landscape, one feels like they are there themselves. This is the magic of London's writing- he so expertly drops the reader right into the scenery and the characters. Indeed, we see and feel what they see and feel- even the animals- especially, the animals, for they have personalities that engage and create both sympathy and admirationfor their trials, tribulations and triumphs. London is one of those that the measure of literary genius is judged by and taking in just about any of his works will demonstrate why.

The basic storyline of the "The Call of the Wild" has a dog named "Buck" who is living in a comfortable setting in California, suddenly yanked away by black-market dog thieves who are selling them to the ravenous needs of the gold prospector's supply market where they are then pressed into the tortuous dogsled industry. Buck eventually gets free and joins his native soul-brothers, the wolves. From the human world back to his ancestral roots, hence, the calling of the wild instinct.

"White Fang" is the antithesis ofBuck`s situation: a wolf pup raised partly by Indians, wolves, and eventually being absorbed all the way into the human world... you guessed it, in California where he settles into the same basic comfortable world that Buck was torn from. The tale of how that turn-of-events happens is as engaging as Buck's story.

"To Build A Fire" is a very short read and describes a man and the unforgiving, harsh winter of the Alaskan outback. He finds himself trapped by an intense snow storm and soon realizes that this normally easy trek is turning dangerous. What will happen? London skillfully gives us the psychological drama of harsh realities setting in.

For those that have not yet taken in any of London's work, this book is a good place to start. One might then want to take in more, including London's non-fictional work.

Call of the Wild
I thougth that it was a good book. There is some good action in it but at the same time its a very sad book. Although the character is a dog you can relate to him how he is a outcast and no one likes him to learning the way of the wild and becoming a good sled dog. He is a fast learner to the law of club and fang and is a strong leader. This was a good book with a great ending and i would suggest reading it.

Tim's Book Review For White Fang
The book White Fang was about a wolf-dog that lived with his
owner.Then one day his master got drunk by drinking and his master
sold him to a mean man. ... Read more

Product Description
These seven stories are based on Jack London’s youthful adventures as an oyster pirate. In the early 1900s, San Francisco Bay was plagued by oyster pirates who plundered in broad daylight. At sixteen, London’s common sense suggested he change sides. “The restraining of a felony was more to his liking and logic than the committing,” his wife said of him. “Surely it tickled his fancy too that the most lucrative employment in sight should be with the Fish Patrol service.” Thus he joined the Fish Patrol. Catching the rascal pirates satisfied even London’s appetite for adventure but more importantly gave us a record of these outlaw times captured by one of the world’s greatest storytellers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Blown away by this book!
"Tales of the Fish Patrol" is a series of short stories or reminiscences by Jack London.The narrator is a teenage boy who is working on the "fish patrol", a small group of semi-deputized boatmen who patrol San Francisco bay and attempt to enforce the fishing regulations.It reads as very autobiographical and London did do similar work at that age, but how much of these are fictionalized I don't know.

It doesn't matter, though, to the casual reader, because these stories grab you and pull you in.No matter that I'm unfamiliar with sailing boats of a century-plus ago, nor the geography of San Francisco Bay, nor the means and regulations of fishing at that time.London describes everything so vividly that I was never lost.These stories are really gripping and suspenseful and while each can be read individually, the series is an overall narrative that circles around perfectly from start to finish.

The one drawback is that like other authors of his time, London repeats and reinforces ugly ethnic stereotypes and language that is offensive to modern ears.It is jarring but can be overlooked in the pacing of the stories by many readers; however for this reason I wouldn't recommend these stories for younger readers.

I would love to see an edited edition that preserves these exciting stories without the ethnic slurs; they would also make a fun TV or movie adaptation.

Really worth checking out, especially for the price!I had already been familiar with "Call of the Wild" and "White Fang" but will now be seeking out more of London's work.

Classic London
Richly woven textures and local tales. I always feel immersed in London stories. I also rec. Smoke Bellew and Tales of the South Pacific, among many others by the master.

fish patrol
This is a good book! It will appeal to anyone that is a fan of fishing, or sailing or the San Francisco Bay area for that matter.In the early 1900's, young Jack pursues poachers in several short storys that are often funny and sometimes hair-raising! The characters are colorful and full of mischief. Without motors on their boats and the power of the sail only, it's easy to get caught up in the early day version of the car chase as Jack chases one criminal after another. Great adventure! ... Read more

Product Description
Thrilling action, an intuitive feeling for animal life, asense of justice that often works itself out through violence: theseare the qualities that made Jack London phenomenally popular in hisown day and continue to make him, at home and abroad, one of the mostwidely read of all American writers. "The Call of the Wild," perhapsthe best novel ever written about animals, traces a dog's educationfor survival in the ways of the wolfpack. "White Fang," in which awolf-dog becomes domesticated out of love for a man, is anunforgettable portrayal of a world of "hunting and being hunted,eating and being eaten, all in blindness and confusion." In "TheSea-Wolf," the primitive takes human form in the ruthless, indomitableWolf Larsen, captain of a crew of outcasts on the lawless Alaskanseas. Set in the Klondike, California, Mexico, and the South Seas, theshort stories collected here--many for the first time--show London asone of the great American storytellers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

anyone who liked Call of the Wild, its a must own
Love this book and have loved reading Call of the Wild, since I was 9 or 10.
I also recommend the other collection because it has a few this one doesn't. The Portable Jack London (Viking Portable Library) The thing I liked in addition are the old letters he wrote.Cool reflection and time travel to that time period.

An American Master...
You can't lump too many people into the same sphere with London...Twain, Poe, and Lovecraft are a few that spring to mind. He's an American Titan, and he gets the fawning treatment you'd expect from the Library of America in this exemplary, extraordinary, green-registered book.

Call of the Wild is a page-turning yarn about a dog that becomes a wolf. It's listed on the MLA 100, but any competent kid of ten could tackle it...and enjoy it.

White Fang is a canine bildungsroman that inverts the plot of Call of the Wild, with the wolf becoming a dog. Also a page-turner, also something a kid would read without having to be coerced, and possessed of a truly classic scene where White Fang fights a bulldog.

The Klondike Short Stories are all superb--some people think London's metier was the short story rather than the novel--with Batard being a personal favorite.

The Sea-Wolf is a work of genius...until it all comes crashing down with the introduction of Maud Brewster, and the escape to Endeavour Island. What had heretofore been a truly transcendent work of art transmogrifies into a clunky, melodramatic, and tedious chore, where London's love of sailing jargon threatens to overwhelm the reader.

The Selected Short Stories show that London wasn't just a Yukon guy...he had some other arrows in his quiver. A few stories demonstrate his--at the time--devout socialism, which lasted up until he himself got rich. The Apostate is the weakest of these, but The Strength of the Strong is a pretty good allegory for fin-de-siecle capitalism, with all its gory excesses. London also writes convincingly about such diverse topics as boxing, South Sea cannibals, and straight-up science fiction.

This book of books is excellent, and any American who fancies himself a lover of literature would be remiss in not reading it.

Amazing on multiple levels!
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.

Call of the Wild
This book was really good, but I believe that White Fang was better. Many settings took place, but I will start with the main ones. The first setting in this book was Judge Millers Mansion. The second is the dog breakers place, in which Buck (the main character, a dog,) learns the "law of Club and Fang." The third place is where Buck learns the method of husky fighting, and because the other dog died, he lived a long and well-lived life. The first major event in this book is when a person steals Buck from Judge Miller, and he is starved and strangled and is thrown in a shed to wait for a train to the dog breaker. There, he is introduced to the primitive law of club and fang. After that, he, and a Newfoundland, are taken to Alaska. There, he is introduced to the method of Husky Fighting, and then is put into the harness, and is put to work on the mushing sled. The next major event is when Buck is taken of his first mushing trip in the wild. There he learns how to keep warm in the harsh winters by digging into the snow and having your body heat heat up the space. The next area is when Buck and Spitz finally fight to the death, and Buck takes the position of lead dog on the mushing track. Finally, the last major setting is when Buck finaly turns to the wild, and he attacks the YeeHats with a vengance, because they had killed his LOVED master. The conflict in this book is Buck is a spoilled rotten dog, until he reaches the North and finds that he has wild ancestors. They eventually take over Buck and he lives with the wild.

Reality or Fantasy...Which one is it?
After reading this book for school, (not that I was forced to) I gave it a 4/5 star rating.It was excellent when it came to the setting of the story. Even though it is a very short, it crams alot of suspensfull and interesting moments into 100 some odd pages.This book is quite good and page turning.I highly recommend it to readers who like a mix of reality and fantasy in one.Masterful piece of writing. ... Read more

Product Description
Theft - A Play In Four Acts is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Jack London is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Jack London then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection of the writings of Jack London includes the complete novel of "The Call of the Wild", and short stories - "In a Far Country", "To Build a Fire", "The Strength of the Strong" and "The Water Baby", as well as journalism, political writings, literary criticism and selected letters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Needs a few more of his best stories
I am in general a big fan of the Viking Portables; some of them contain almost everything you need from a particular writer. This London volume, however, seems a little light on London's best stories and a little heavy on his political and personal writings. I want a writer's best work in a compendium; it will invariably tell you more about the man than any autobiographical or polemic work ever could. It's the artist's art that matters in the end, not the frame of his personal life.

On the other hand, Viking did very well by only including Call Of The Wild. It is to me by far his finest work, much more intense and concise than White Fang, which most collections include by default. COTW is still one of the very best looks at dogs/wolves, along with Never Cry Wolf; London certainly understood these noble beasts like few writers ever have, and recent research shows that he was a good century ahead of scientists in understanding how animals think.

My favorite JL story is here, To Build A Fire; a literally chilling tale notable for its brevity, which only heightens its impact. Alas, some of my others, such as Odyssey Of the North, are not. But any collection will always leave some fans wanting.

I don't rate London with the true greats of American lit like Twain and Hemingway, but he had his sublime moments, and a few of the best are right here.

...
One of the most profound writers I've encountered.This brilliant eclectic anthology is sure to stimulate the highest minds the world has produced.

"Desert Island" London
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.

American Experiences
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.

the wellspring
... 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! ... Read more

Product Description
The Call of The Wild is Jack London's most well known work and is widely considered to be his masterpiece. This is a new edition of London's timeless classic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Heeding the Call
Jack London's "The Call of the Wild" is much more than what could be considered a children's book.It is a unique and harsh depiction of the bitter realities of life in the Yukon during the days of the gold rush.Told from the perspective of the half-wolf Buck, "The Call of the Wild" allows readers to intimately experience the trails of life in the wild.

The relatively short novel, around ninety pages, begins with the kidnapping of Buck from a well-to-do family in southern California and his subsequent arrival in Oregon and final move into Alaska as he is sold and re-sold.Buck initally misses his old life, but as he quickly learns the laws that make up his new world he becomes a fast learner and revels in the daily warfare and struggle for life.He soon becomes one of the best and most legendary sled dogs in the region, drawing admiring and jealous looks from anyone who doesn't own him.While Buck is faithful to his final owner, John Thornton, to the very last, he cannot resist the call to join his wolf brothers in the wild.

Jack London's unique premise of telling the story from Buck's point of view offers a remarkably different reading experience from other books that offer a similar perspective - perhaps since this is not just a children's book.There are harsh and bitter realities presented in "The Call of the Wild" that make it much more of an adult book.London's writing is journalistic at times, simple and straightforward, mixed with a surprisingly lyrical bent at other times.It is an interesting combination that works well for the story he has to tell.

Really good literature on a fascinating time in Western history
Buck is a St. Bernard/Scotch Shepherd mix dog living in the "sun-kissed" valley of Santa Clara, California. But, when he is stolen and transported up to frozen lands of the Yukon, he discovers an existence almost beyond his comprehension. However, while most southern dogs that are suddenly dropped into this harsh and unforgiving environment, Buck not only survives, he thrives. It seems that ancient memories are speaking to Buck, drawing him towards the call of the wild!

I must say, now that I have finally taken the time to read this book, I clearly see why it is considered a classic! The story is very well-written, filled with action and adventure, and presents a strangely compelling world - the world of the Arctic Circle at the beginning of the 20th century. Now, this is no happy-happy book written for the more sensitive reader. Indeed, the story is filled with violence and conflict and death, much as the Yukon was back then.

I really found this book to be compelling reading, one that I could not put down. So, if you want to read some really good literature on a fascinating time in Western history, then get this book. You won't be disappointed!

Call of the Wild by Jack London
Once there was a dog named Buck. He had a happy life in Santa Clara Valley, until one day he was dognapped and sent away to be a sled dog. Buck met some mean dogs and some mean people along the way.Buck also met some nice dogs and some nice people, like John Thornton. Buck and John Thornton were my favorite character's because they were both strong and brave. I loved reading this book because it made me feel like I was part of their adventure.My favorite part of this book was when Buck found John Thornton and he became Buck's new owner.John Thornton changed Buck's life by loving him more than anything in the world!I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventures and loves dogs. SD

Great story, but very sad
Buck has a good life.He's friendly with his master.He escorts the kids when they take walks.He hunts with the men on the grounds.But one day, Buck's life changes forever.One of the gardener's hired hands needs money and decides to kidnap and sell Buck.Dogs are in high demand because of the Alaskan gold rush and he'll get a good price for a dog like Buck.

This book is told from the perspective of Buck.It's such a sad book.Even when Buck was happy, it was a sad book.The amount of work expected of these dogs was horrible and their treatment by humans not much better.It was a good story and quite eye opening, but the animal abuse was hard to take sometimes.I'm glad I waited and read it as an adult, because I don't think I would have appreciated it as much if I was still a child.

A Review by Lyric
The Call of the Wild is a moving book written by Jack London in 1903. It is a wonderfully written piece based on the historical facts about the Alaskan gold rush. The characters are lively and interesting. It is very entertaining to follow the dramatic, sad, adventurous, fun, and loving lives of the characters.
The story is about a prideful and well respected dog named Buck that is kidnapped, sold as a mush dog to the Canadian government, and mistreated. When he was being beaten so badly that he was about to die, a man named John Thornton saved him. Buck stayed faithful to his new master until the man died while searching for gold. In the end, Buck left mankind to join a pack of wolves.
Jack London builds beautiful characters- dogs and men that are just like real dogs and humans. Buck begins in his story as a proud and faithful dog, so the readers do not expect him to change or grow at all. However, as he learns more about being a dog for an unfair master, his wild side grew and he became untamed. John Thornton, the man who saved Buck's life, is described by London as a kind, gentle, and soft hearted man that is adventurous and sets off to find a legendary gold mine from which no one has returned. London was very skilled at making his characters just like real humans and animals. He made them come to life with the way that they acted and the things that that they believed and stood up for. They all had faults and failures, but they also had good things that made them special.
The book is packed full with action and adventure. The book is only 62 pages and the action starts on the first ones when Buck is kidnapped and it ends when he joins a pack of wolves and haunts Indian people whose ancestors killed his favorite master.
Jack London wrote an unsatisfying ending in which one of our favorite characters, John Thornton, dies tragically and Buck, another favorite, becomes discontented and wild.
The book is dramatic and many loved characters die. The mush dogs find themselves in the hardest situations. Only half way through the book, the most loved dogs are limping and struggling to survive along with their masters who they defend and remain faithful to.

The Call of the Wild is action packed, has realistic characters, is historically accurate, does not have too much or too little description, is dramatic, and the characters have qualities that make you love them. These are all traits that a good book should have.It demonstrates the irresistible call of the wild that dogs have and the persistence of a faithful dog that loves its work and will not fail his master if he is treated right. It demonstrates the love between dogs and their masters.
... Read more

Product Description
"To Build a Fire and Other Stories" is a classic collection of some of Jack London's most loved short stories. In this volume you will find the following stories: To The Man On The Trail, The White Silence, In A Far Country, The Wisdom Of The Trail, An Odyssey Of The North, The Law Of Life, The God Of His Fathers, Bâtard, The League Of The Old Men, Love Of Life, The Wit Of Porportuk, To Build A Fire, All Gold Canyon, The Apostate, South Of The Slot, The Chinago, A Piece Of Steak, Mauki, Koolau The Leper, The Strength Of The Strong, War, The Mexican, Told In The Drooling Ward, The Water Baby, and The Red One. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

From the Klondike Trail to The South Sea
This book contains many of the stories from London's Klondike Tales and a few from South Sea Tales.I would say that the short stories are either extremely good or pretty forgettable. The stories from the Klondike tales are a very interesting, all be it dark, portrayal of life in Alaska during the Klondike gold rush. Most folks are familiar with "To Build a Fire" which is a fantastic tale of an individual who gets carried away with himself and attempts a hike on his own that he was unprepared for and should never have been attempted.It proves fatal.One thing that has become clear to me is that in most of London's tales the main character dies in some dramatic fashion which is probably a reflection on London's personal life. London seems to be so close to his characters that you would think that they were real life experiences especially since he joined the Klondike gold rush and sailed the South Seas.

Original outstanding stories...
I love London's stories and tales...great short story reads that keep you reading and they are perfect for those insomniac nights I have when I need to read something short and enjoyable. Great classics as always from a outdoor great.

Brilliantly Written
I read many of London's abridged novels when I was very young, but I never really appreciated his writing to the fullest extent until I read this collection of stories. These stories are not simple, shallow writings. They each have a message of their own, they take digesting. In each story the author reflects upon human nature and strikes a chord that rings true in all of us. After the end of each story, I had to pause and take in the story. As was noted previously, the highlight of this collection were tales in the Arctic setting, such as "To Build a Fire" and "The Oddysey." However, one of the greatest things about this collection is its diversity, and there are many great stories with varied settings. Although it is not guaranteed that you will enjoy each and every story, there is definately something for everyone. In conclusion, London's works are masterpieces that I highly recommend

Mixed Bag of Stories
London is a tremendously talented writer and his understanding of life matches his tremendous knowledge of the snow-enshrouded world of the upper latitudes.His writing can be beautiful, poignant, and powerful, yet also somber, morose, and infinitely real. However, in this collection, his Klondike stories stand out above all the others: "The League of the Old Men," "Love of Life," and the titular "To Build a Fire." These stories are the worthy stories, the others much less so hence the title of this review and my 3-star rating.

Years after reading this collection, what stood out was London's real, visceral language and description in "To Build a Fire." This is hard to forget, as is the blisful ignorance that characterizes the protagonist. London seems to be saying that we must respect and understand nature in order to survive and prosper. The protagonist's demise is more a shame than a tragedy because of his lack of understanding and appreciation for the harsh realities of his environment. Bottom line, those who refuse to give in to their lowest instincts and who do not truly respect nature do not survive.

Really good for an adventurer that can't get out much
Most of London's writings are great. One might find stories like "the droolers" not very interesting, but you can't blame London for wanting to diversify his stories a bit. The proceeding is only the opine of this reader. ... Read more

Product Description
Jack London is best known for his stories about Alaska, the Yukon and the great Klondike Gold Rush. Most if not all of us have read The Call of the Wild and White Fang in grade school. The Northern Tales, however, made up only a part of Jack London's work.

The Complete Short Stories of Jack London contains all of the author's stories that we could discover -- some 210 stories. The collection includes his stories of the North ("To Build a Fire," "The Race for Number Three," "Keesh, Son of Keesh," others), his tales of the Southern Seas ("Koloau the Leper," "The Water Baby," "The Terrible Solomons"), social and science fiction ("The Red One," "The Unparalleled Invasion," "Goliah"). Believe it or not, Jack London also turned out several romantic stories for women's magazines ("A Dream Image," "The Grilling of Loren Ellery"), ghost and horror stories ("Planchette", "The Eternity of Forms," "A Thousand Deaths"), and even historical fiction ("In the Time of Prince Charley").

Many literary critics consider him to have been a master of the short story, rather than a novelist, and it is difficult not to agree after perusing this collection. The 210 stories contained within will provide many days of reading pleasure.

This material was NOT merely scanned from an ink-and-paper book, like many Kindle e-books are. All e-books offered by Di Lernia Publishers are hand-edited and checked for spelling and punctuation errors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Swindle!
Well - commanded "The complete short stories"; receved only 3th volume - Let me guess, what do you think about? - A swindle?

Pricey, but worth it.
I finally bought the thing.I've been stalling and stallingfor years.All I can say is, if you like Jack London, the set is worth it.It contains 197 stories (by my count; oddly enough I couldn't find this statistic in the blurb or the introduction). ...

I think Jack London is at his best in his short stories.NONE of his novels are QUITE first-rate, and as you explore beyond the famous ones the quality falls off rapidly.Most of his less-well-known novels are deservedly forgotten. ("The Little Lady of the Big Hous e-- EEeeeeeewwwww!")

This is not true of his stories. When you explore beyond the couple of dozen that are anthologized, you discover treasures.I am finding that many of the stories I don't know are every bit as good as those I know.

One of my recent "discoveries" is a story entitled "The Banks of the Sacramento." It's not deep, it's not portentous, it's not Great Literature--it's just a superbly constructed little gem of a suspense story* that concerns a fourteen-year-old boy who conducts a daring rescue of--well, read it.Aloud, in company, if possible.

There are, as you'd expect, some curiosities, some juvenalia, some outright bad stories, but not enough to dilute the collection.And of course even these have their interest."The Handsome Cabin Boy" is not a very good story, but it certainly is another piece in the puzzle of Jack London's sexuality.

Look, if you've bought more than three collections of Jack London stories, you know you're going to buy them all eventually--so why mess around?

These are, as you'd darn well expect at the price, nicely printed, sturdy volumes.They are intended for, and meet, both the needs of general readers and scholars seeking accurate texts.One annoying peculiarity is that an alphabetical list of story titles appears only at the end of the third volume.

These volumes are, alas, priced on the self-fulfilling assumption that they will be bought only by libraries, and your library is probably where you will go for them.(Interlibrary loans are a wonderful thing; be sure to ask about them if your library does not have these volumes). ....END ... Read more

Product Description
Published in 1913, this harrowing, autobiographical 'A to Z' of drinking shattered London's reputation as a clean-living adventurer and massively successful author of such books as White Fang and The Call of the Wild. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Pass the Barleycorn
I picked the book expecting more of an autobiograpy or memoir, but wasn't entirely disapointed by the content.To say this guy lived an interesting life would be an understatement in my opinion, whether the story was fictional or not.It was an interesting read and helped to open my eyes to the time period and how alcohol was interwoven in society.By the end of the book I was worn out from trying to convince myself that Jack London was saying something worthwhile.

Have your cake and drink it
This masterpiece by Jack London is part autobiography, part confession of his alcoholism, although he denies to be an alcoholic until the very end. Writing about his life made London a cult hero, writing about alcohol makes him a real hero. Consider that in those days (early 20eth century) alcoholics were considered mentally deranged and ought to be locked up. For all those who are mistified by the effects of alcohol on the human condition both physically and mentally this is probably the best thing to read. But beware; it won't lift your spirit the way spirits do.

It happens even to the greatest, maybe especially to them
John Barleycorn is a tremondous book.One of the first things that will impress you about this book is London's life.London was a literal 'super-man' in the Carlyle sense.This book details how London raised himself from incredible child hood poverty and lower class surroundings while still a teen, engaging in rugged, manly adverntures that were simply amazing.This book also relates how London's love of books changed his life, and it will amaze you that his knowledge is so broad (throughout the book London dazzles us with philosophical qoutes and insights).

Most of all though, this book is about alcoholism.As one reviewer correctly notes, London had a strong liking for intoxication.However, one would be wrong to think of this book as pro-drinking, London is fairly fanatical in his dislike of alcohol and what it eventually did to him and other young men of his age.However, the brilliance of these 'alcoholic memoirs' is that he successfully illuminates the thought processes of most intelligent persons that have drinking problems.You will come away from this book understanding why many people, even an almost super-human person like Jack London, can fall prey to this vice.An absorbing read, and the book has a much more reader friendly and 'modern' style than many of London's fiction.

Great
Admirably honest rendering of his drinking problem. I was rivetted. And as an introspective person who thinks about things too much, I could TOTALLY relate to his pondering, to an unhealthy degree, what he refers to as "White Logic." A fine, though tragic, book.

But is it really against alcohol?
It may seem silly to ask this of a book that, at the time of itspublication was used by the WCTU for their campaign, and which isrecommended today by Alcoholics Anonymous; but ask it I will.

Let menote that "John Barleycorn" is one of Jack London's best books,and the closest thing to an autobiography he ever wrote.Chapters XXXVIand XXXVII, where he describes the "White Logic," contain somethe finest, most lyrical, most poetic writing he ever did.

He describesthe minuses of alcohol, AND he describes the plusses of alcohol.Hedescribes BOTH the minuses AND plusses vividly, with all the skill of agreat writer.He is a man who LOVES alcohol. He is a man who knows he hasbeen damaged by alcohol.He describes both.

He praisessaloon-keepers:

"Saloon-keepers are notoriously good fellows. On anaverage they perform vastly greater generosities than do business men. WhenI simply had to have ten dollars, desperate, with no place to turn, I wentto Johnny Heinhold. Several years had passed since I had been in his placeor spent a cent across his bar. And when I went to borrow the ten dollars Ididn't buy a drink, either. And Johnny Heinhold let me have the ten dollarswithout security or interest...."

Of course, he balances this byexplaining how this is in saloon-keepers own interest, and says "thisis not to exalt saloon-keepers."

He praises the physical strengthalcohol provides:

"And here again we come to another side ofmany-sided John Barleycorn. On the face of it, he gives something fornothing. Where no strength remains he finds new strength. The wearied onerises to greater effort. For the time being there is an actual accession ofstrength. I remember passing coal on an ocean steamer through eight days ofhell, during which time we coal-passers were kept to the job by being fedwith whisky. We toiled half drunk all the time. And without the whisky wecould not have passed the coal.

This strength John Barleycorn gives isnot fictitious strength. It is real strength."

Of course, hebalances this by saying "But it is manufactured out of the sources ofstrength, and it must ultimately be paid for, and with interest."

Hemakes alcohol sound exciting, dangerous, comradely, glamorous, manly.Alcohol is his adventure, like his other adventures--indeed, as heexplains, an integral PART of his other adventures.

And in the end, whenhe adds it all up, plusses and minuses, where does HE strike the balance? What total does HE come up with?

"And so I pondered my problem. Ishould not care to revisit all these fair places of the world except in thefashion I visited them before. GLASS IN HAND! There is a magic in thephrase. It means more than all the words in the dictionary can be made tomean. It is a habit of mind to which I have been trained all my life. It isnow part of the stuff that composes me. I like the bubbling play of wit,the chesty laughs, the resonant voices of men, when, glass in hand, theyshut the grey world outside and prod their brains with the fun and folly ofan accelerated pulse.

No, I decided; I shall take my drink onoccasion."

I don't drink. John Barleycorn is the only thing I haveever read that has made me feel that maybe I've missed something... ... Read more