Profession: Novelist and Short-Story Writer
Biography: Jack London was is best known for his adventure novels and short stories, such as "The Call of the Wild" (1903) and "White Fang" (1906). He was one of the first American writers to have international success.
London had a challenging childhood and worked various manual labor jobs before discovering his passion for reading and writing at the Oakland Public Library.
His early experiences, including working as an oyster pirate, serving in the California Fish Patrol, sailing the Pacific, and prospecting for gold in the Klondike, provided inspiration for many of his stories.
Throughout his career, London wrote more than 50 books and hundreds of short stories and articles, establishing himself as a pioneer of commercial fiction and a prominent figure in American magazines.
He was also a vocal advocate for animal rights, workers' rights, and socialism, addressing these themes in works like "The Iron Heel" (1908), "The People of the Abyss" (1903), and "War of the Classes" (1905).
London's personal life was marked by turmoil, including two marriages and a battle with alcoholism. He died at the age of 40 in 1916, likely due to kidney failure and a morphine overdose.
Born: January 12, 1876
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
Star Sign: Capricorn
Died: November 22, 1916 (aged 40)
Cause of Death: Uremia aggravated by an accidental morphine overdose
Historical Events
- 1897-07-25 Writer Jack London sails to join the Klondike Gold Rush where he will write his first successful stories
- 1913-08-22 Jack London's 15,000-square-foot stone mansion, called Wolf House, burns down two weeks before he planned to move in with his family
Biographies and Sources
- The Short, Frantic, Rags-to-Riches Life of Jack London - Smithsonian Magazine
C. S. Lewis
Ken Follett
Susan Sontag
John dos Passos
Mo Yan
Saul Bellow