Jack London

A detailed Summary of Jack London


Jack London was a prolific writer, one of the most widely read American writers of the early 20th century. During his short life, he wrote fifty books, plus many articles and short stories. Besides being one of the most widely read authors, he was also the highest-paid. However, Jack London did not spend all of his time writing. Besides being an author, he also was a gold prospector, a homeless, a pirate, a sailor, and a factory worker. London was determined to live an adventurous life:

I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dryrot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time. (Parks and Recreation)

This attitude fueled Jack London's daring life. But his brash spirit eventually lead to his


Jack London was born on January 12, 1876 in San Francisco, California. The relationship between his mother, Flora Wellman, and his father, William Chaney, ended while Flora was pregnant. He was given the name, John Griffith Chaney. Later in her life, Flora remarried to John London. At age ten, John Chaney changed his name to Jack London. Growing up, Jack thought that John London was his father. The London family was very poor, John being a door-to-door salesman. Unable to make a living in San Francisco, they moved to Oakland, where they leased a farm. There in Oakland, Jack began to develop his mind at school. Unfortunately, also in Oakland was Jack's first experience with alcohol. At age seven, Jack began drinking his stepfather's beer, which lead to his problem of alcoholism. Later in his life, he wrote of his problem of alcoholism in one of his most influential books, John Barleycorn. When Jack was ten, he developed a passion for reading, visiting the Oakland Publ

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