Jack London

Jack London

“…first millionaire writer in history…”

Publishing History

Published fifty books from 1900-1916 Only twenty-one are still in print.

1903

Motto

“Live life to the fullest!”

Explain… “firsthand experience was the only basis for art.”

His Many Hats

Sailor Laborer Oyster pirate Fish and game warden Tramp Gold prospector

Soapbox orator War correspondent Rancher Bohemian More!

His Times

Post-Victorian Pre-Modernist

Between the Spanish-American War and World War I

London’s Literary Beginnings

With help of local librarian, he began to read…

= a Great Discovery! He found his mind…literally!

London’s Literary Beginnings…continued 1897 ~ joined the gold rush

to Klondike Determined to tell others

what he had seen, heard, and lived.

Image of Jack London's cabin as moved, and reconstructed, in Dawson City,

Yukon (2001) Jack London in the Klondike

London’s Family

London’s Family

London and daughter Joan ~ 1902 Daughters Becky and Joan ~ 1913

London’s Family

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 dry-rot. 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 exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them, I shall use my time."

– Jack London 1876-1916

http://london.sonoma.edu/

References

The Collected Jack London. 1992. Barnes and Noble Books.