Jack London

The Iron Heel (1907) is a novel by American writer Jack London. A groundbreaking work of dystopian science fiction, The Iron Heel was, inspired by London's socialist views and belief in an eventual global upheaval. Although his predictions proved wrong for the United States of the early-twentieth century, London was, recognized by such figures as George Orwell for his foresight regarding the rise of fascism in Europe. The novel is, told from the perspective...

Wrestling with the disease of alcoholism for most of his life, Jack London tells all in his autobiography John Barleycorn. Beginning with a discussion of the prohibition movement and its effects, London explores the ways that alcohol affects daily life in the Victorian era. Because there were not many forms of affordable entertainment or reliable communication, bars were the perfect spot for social activity. People were able to sit and drink, enjoying...

The People of the Abyss (1903) is a work of nonfiction by American writer Jack London. Written after the author spent three months living in London's poverty-stricken East End, The People of the Abyss bears witness to the difficulties faced by hundreds and thousands of people every day in one of the wealthiest nations on earth. Inspired by Friedrich Engels's The Condition of the Working Class in England (1845) and Jacob Riis's How the Other Half Lives,...

"The Cruise of the Dazzler" is a 1902 boy's adventure novel by Jack London. Set in his home town of San Francisco, the story revolves around a boy called Joe Bronson who, unhappy with his mundane life at school, runs away to become a member of the crew of a boat in San Francisco Bay. However, he soon realizes that the captain and its screw are involved in illicit activities. The story is based on London's own experiences as an oyster pirate in San...

The Cruise of the Snark (1911) is a work of travel literature by American writer Jack London. In 1906, after achieving early success as an author of novels and short stories, London began dreaming of the adventures of his youth. Inspired, he spent a fortune to build a 45-foot yacht complete with two sails and a 70-horsepower engine, powerful enough to carry him across the Pacific. Envisioning a seven-year journey, London and his wife Charmian set...

This collection of tales set in the Hawaiian islands, published in 1912, contains some of London's most popular stories, including "The House of Pride," "Koloau the Leper" and "The Sheriff of Kona." London's love for Hawaii and its people, as well as his first-hand knowledge of the islands and their history, informs these tales.

Outside the ruins of San Francisco, a former UC Berkeley professor of literature recounts the chilling sequence of events, which led to his current lowly state - a gruesome pandemic which killed nearly every living soul on the planet, in a matter of days. Modern civilization tottered and fell, and a new race of barbarians - the western world's brutalized workers - assumed power everywhere. Over the space of a few decades, all learning has been lost....

"Dutch Courage And Other Stories" is a 1924 collection of short stories by Jack London. This volume will appeal to lovers of the short story form and is not to be missed by fans and collectors of London's marvellous work. John Griffith London (1876 – 1916), commonly known as Jack London, was an American journalist, social activist, and novelist. He was an early pioneer of commercial magazine fiction, becoming one of the first globally-famous celebrity...

"The Little Lady of the Big House" (1915) is a novel by American writer Jack London. It was his last novel to be published during his lifetime. The story concerns a love triangle. The protagonist, Dick Forrest, is a rancher with a poetic streak (his "acorn song" recalls London's play, "The Acorn Planters"). His wife, Paula, is a vivacious, athletic, and sexually self-aware woman, who falls in love with Evan Graham, an old friend of her husband. Unable...