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White Fang

3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 · rating details · 49,294 ratings · 1,353 reviews

Tor Classics are affordably-priced editions designed to attract the young reader. Original dynamic cover art enthusiastically represents the excitement of each story. Appropriate "reader friendly" type sizes have been chosen for each title—offering clear, accurate, and readable text. All editions are complete and unabridged, and feature Introductions and Afterwords.

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Paperback, 224 pages

Published September 15th 1988 by Aerie Books (first published 1906)

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Dec 29, 2011 Moira rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Je strašně málo knih, které ve mně dokáží probudit divoké emoce, které mě nejen nahlas rozesmějí, ale také rozpláčou a doženou k úzkosti. Znáte Bílého tesáka? Znáte jeho příběh? Nemyslím si, že je mnoho lidí, kteří by jej neznali. Já sama na jeho příběhu vyrůstala. A přesto, přestože jsem to četla už šestkrát, stále jsem z toho příběhu znovu a znovu nadšená, stále se dokážu smát stejně jako plakat. Stále je to příběh, který v mém srdíčku zachovává zvláštní místečko.

Bílý tesák je reálný příběh, n...more Je strašně málo knih, které ve mně dokáží probudit divoké emoce, které mě nejen nahlas rozesmějí, ale také rozpláčou a doženou k úzkosti. Znáte Bílého tesáka? Znáte jeho příběh? Nemyslím si, že je mnoho lidí, kteří by jej neznali. Já sama na jeho příběhu vyrůstala. A přesto, přestože jsem to četla už šestkrát, stále jsem z toho příběhu znovu a znovu nadšená, stále se dokážu smát stejně jako plakat. Stále je to příběh, který v mém srdíčku zachovává zvláštní místečko.

Bílý tesák je reálný příběh, naprosto skutečný. Většinou nemám ráda příběhy z reálného prostředí, protože se nedokážu doopravdy začíst. Ale Bílý tesák... to je jednoduše úplně jiná kategorie.

London dokázal napsat příběh, který vás strhne. Napsal příběh křížence vlka a psa, popsal jeho život a vystavil ho tolika okolnostem a zážitkům, až je to neuvěřitelné. Ten pes, Bílý tesák, nám ukazuje špatnou stránku lidské společnosti stejně jako tu dobrou. Ano, děj se odehrává o dvě století dříve. Avšak problémy, které London popisuje, jsou bohužel stále aktuální. I když ne tak zřejmé. Přestože je Bílý tesák jen pes, mnohdy se chová s udivující inteligencí, ne nepodobné člověčí. Mnohdy se chová stokrát lépe, než ten člověk.

Netuším, na jakých základech London tento příběh psal. Nevím, z jakých zdrojů, kromě svých vlastních zkušeností, vycházel. Ale... ani se mi nad věrohodností nechce přemýšlet. Nechci vědět, zda se psi a vlci tak opravdu chovají. Netuším, zda se indiáni na severu opravdu takto chovali. Záleží mi totiž jen na tom, co se děje Bílému tesákovi. Opravdu záleží. Já jsem si ho totiž doslova zamilovala.

Postupem příběhu se zdá, že se celá atmosféra knihy zatemňuje, že vyplouvá na povrch to nejhorší, co můžeme čekat. A přestože je to přesně věc, kterou na knihách miluji, protože právě v ty chvíle autoři ze sebe vydávají vše... byla jsem zděšená. Když jsem četla, co se děje Bílému tesákovi... nechtělo se mi. Nechtělo se mi číst, co vše si ještě musí vytrpět. A proto je kniha tak dobrá. Jelikož se mnou opravdu zamávala.

Knihu doporučuju každému, kdo se nebojí přečíst si nejen veselou knížku, kde si hlavní hrdinka nezlomí ani nehet (nebo v tom horším případě si ten nehet zlomí), ale všem, kteří milují strhující příběhy a nevadí jim zvířecí společník v hlavní roli. A samozřejmě je neurazí i nějaký ten slušný příběh. :)(less)

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May 14, 2013 Perry Whitford rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

- 'It is not the way of the Wild to like movement. Life is an offense to it, for life is movement; and the Wild aims always to destroy movement'.
- the first chapter looks at the wolf pack from the perspective of their human quarry, then the second chapter switches focus to the wolves themselves, most specifically the experienced she-wolf and her partner, Old One Eye, parents to White Fang. The remaining chapters follow White Fang himself, three quarters wolf and quarter dog, from infancy in the...more

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Apr 17, 2009 Kit rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was very depressing. It tells about how a puppy wolf who is 1/4th dog comes to be owned by humans. He is beaten into submission by his owner and by the other dogs in the pack, but because he is so intelligent he learns to fight back with the dogs and becomes a threat. His next owner tricks is first owner to sell him for whisky, and his new owner uses him as a fighting dog. He is either always in a cage or lokced up with a chain. He becomes a vicious fighter and hates everyone and every...more

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Dec 09, 2008 Discoverylover rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-2008

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Apr 11, 2009 Jade rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

not to treat animals,earth humans or anything
with disrespect. We are all equal.
Animals and pets don't choose thier owners, we
choose them.
Animals don't know if thier owner is mean, nice, neglctive, they get good owners out of luck.

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Feb 07, 2011 Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, librivox

Excellent! I liked it more the further into it I got!

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Jan 23, 2009 Nathan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Perhaps the best characterization I've ever seen of a London fan is in the first few pages of "Into the Wild": "crackpots from the lower forty-eight who come north to live out ill-considered Jack London fantasies." Reading London makes you want to go to Alaska - plain and simple.
"White Fang" goes against London's typical "nature vs. nurture" model (set forth in "To Build a Fire" and "The Call of the Wild"), and instead puts redemption in the way of social Darwinism. In short, the protagonist (a...more

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Dec 07, 2008 Liam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book White Fang was about a wolf dog. It is broken into sections. It’s starts off with the unborn dog’s family and their pursuit of two men transporting a body across the Great North West. The two character where short lived and unimportant in the rest of the story. The next section was about White Fang growing up during a famine (famines occurred many time in this books). Then White Fang’s mother is reunited with her old Indian owner’s brother. White Fang is now left with his mom in a India...more The book White Fang was about a wolf dog. It is broken into sections. It’s starts off with the unborn dog’s family and their pursuit of two men transporting a body across the Great North West. The two character where short lived and unimportant in the rest of the story. The next section was about White Fang growing up during a famine (famines occurred many time in this books). Then White Fang’s mother is reunited with her old Indian owner’s brother. White Fang is now left with his mom in a Indian camp until they both get traded on separate occasions. White Fang however, is sold at the price not in bills but bottles. He is then used as a fighting dog and very successful until his last fight with an English bulldog that leaves his close to dead. In this moment of near death the fight is broken up White Fang’s new owner. Here White Fang falls in love with his new owner (not at first though). Then he is taken to California where he lives the rest of his day’s in peace, well oh most. Scott’s (his owner) father is a judge and is saved from a criminal he put away.
This book uses adventure and ignorance to it advantage. Like any good fiction book it makes it’s readers believe every last word. I’m just realizing the un-likeliness of this book. A dog going from the wild to, to an Indian camp, to a fighting arena, and finally to a loving home. A wolf has never been able to be domesticated over the age of 13 days, let alone go to a sub-urban home after years of wilderness and fighting. The fact that Scott was a successful gold miner in the Klondike Gold Rush which was known to kill many more people then make rich. But Mr. London does such a nice job making the reader over look these facts.
Jack London’s White Fang is a book that is nothing short of marvelous. This was a mandatory read for me when I was in the 6th grade. This was a refreshing book to read. I didn’t expect much out of this book when I read the back of the book. It seemed to me to be a desperate grab for attention from one of Oakland’s homeless (Jack London). It’s idea seemed to be one of a Disney movie. I recall making jokes about the book and purposely skipping the first few chapters. However, for some reason I picked up the book and read. It was nothing like Disney movie. I found it extremely easy to visualize as I read the book. This was one of the greatest book I have read. I would recommended it to any who is sick of a cheesy non-realistic book or any one who has lost faith in reading.(less)

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May 22, 2013 William Galaini rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

Make no mistake, this is a good book. It was a classic for generations and is still considered as much for good reason. Jack London tackled the challenge of writing a long, traditionally structured narrative from the view point of a personified wolf. While not the first of its kind, this 'idea' behind the novel was the first to break out into the mainstream almost immediately and it has remained a sensation among young readers.

It short it earned its place as a classic.

However it has not aged all...more

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May 06, 2013 Alayna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

White Fang Book Review
Alayna McCafferty

Arguably one of America’s finest writers, Jack London wrote many successful books throughout his life. One of his most popular books however, happened to be the very popular and captivating White Fang. The story illustrates the bittersweet life of a part-dog part-wolf and the effects of the people and animals around him. The book is beautifully written work of art portrayed through London’s use of metaphors, character development, and unique diction.
The p...more White Fang Book Review
Alayna McCafferty

Arguably one of America’s finest writers, Jack London wrote many successful books throughout his life. One of his most popular books however, happened to be the very popular and captivating White Fang. The story illustrates the bittersweet life of a part-dog part-wolf and the effects of the people and animals around him. The book is beautifully written work of art portrayed through London’s use of metaphors, character development, and unique diction.
The plethora of metaphors woven into the text truly reveals the author’s talent. While reading, I noticed a few key examples that really push readers to discover. My favorite was London’s metaphor of clay. Working in a tangent with the clay, according to London, was the thumb of circumstance. Together, these two came to shape White Fang’s entire being.
“At that time he was a mere puppy, soft from the making, without form, ready for the thumb of circumstance to begin it’s work upon him.” (195, Scholastic Classics Edition)
This metaphor seemed relatable to me as well as all humans, seeing how our society and circumstances affect our lives daily and help mold us into who we are. Overall, I believe London’s metaphorical writing helped to give the book a more powerful meaning.
Along with the metaphors used by London came his in-depth development of characters. Even characters that appeared for a short period of time or did not speak much could still be pictured clearly, not only from a physical standpoint but also mentally and emotionally. Although Beauty Smith, White Fang’s second master, did not appear for very long it still seemed obvious what type of person he was, even though the author never wrote, “Beauty Smith was a cruel and unkind man.” The best example however, happens to be White Fang. I found it surprising easy to see from his perspective, even as I am not a wolf-dog. Once again, I have the superb writing of London to thank for this. White Fang’s thoughts were expressed with a matter of great dignity and clarity, though the book was not written from his point of view. London does a wonderful job of showing this in a scene where White Fang, as a cub, leads his mother away form the Native American camp they call home and back to the edge of the woods, their former residence.
“The stream, the lair, and the quiet woods were calling to him, and he wanted her to come. He ran on a few steps, stopped, and looked back. She had not moved. He whined pleadingly, and scurried playfully in and out of the underbrush.” (102)
I think this expressed his yearning for the woods in a most puppy-like and juvenile way, while still sounding very dignified.
Lastly, another major contribution to the success and popularity of White Fang was the diction put into play. Not only did London use metaphor and express thoughts in a fantastic manner, but also the way they were worded was also exquisite. He used many techniques, but the finest models lie in his imagery. Simply the first paragraph of the book serves as some of the most excellent writing in the whole volume.
“Dark spruce frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had been stripped by a recent wind of their white covering of frost, and they seemed to lean toward each other, black and ominous, in the fading light. A vast silence reigned over the land.” (1)
Although the paragraph continues with more, the first lines seemed to be enough to get me hooked.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the time spent reading White Fang. The overall action and plot of the book were brilliant, but three main components that stuck out to me were London’s use of metaphors, full development of characters, and exquisite diction. I think that Jack London truly lives on through his work, and will be considered one of America’s greatest writers for many generations to come.
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Apr 05, 2013 Bhavye Aggarwal rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

White fang, written by Jack London, is a story accoutred with a myriad of emotions. The story in its major part revolves around a cub, describing his journey to adulthood. After being born in the wild, the cub is soon domesticated by man who gives him the name 'white fang'. Parted from his mother at the very beginning of life, white fang finds himself in an environment that moulds his clay of life in a way that makes him a ferocious, cunning and swift fighter.
His struggle in keeping pace with h...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Logan Erdmann rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I would recommend it to teens and those interested in animals. "White Fang" is a book about a wolf with part dog in him. He was tamed by Indians as a puppy. He quickly learned the kill or be killed lesson of the wild at an early age. He is,eventually, traded to a dog fighter and is kept in a pen and is constantly enraged by the owner. He quickly gains a reputation as the best dog fighter and since his fights are to the death, he has to keep on winning. One day W...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Owen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

White fang is a great book for both outside reading and school reading. It is an adventure throughout the whole book and leaves you on your toes at all times. The book is about pure blood wolf that goes through many different lifestyles such as an Indian dog, to a fighting dog, to a family dog. When White Fang was just a puppy he ruled is brothers and sisters. He was very curious and always got into trouble with other animals that out matched him. His mother would always have to step in and help...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I bought this at an annual World Book Day Book Fair. Ever since the first time I went to one of those events primary school, I always bought at least one book during the event. In primary school they lined up huge silver folding shelves on wheels in the dinner hall, and you could see the fascination on the reception kids' faces the second they went in, and even as I got used to the week-long event, I could never stop staring at their silver cases wondering what was inside them this year. They ma...more I bought this at an annual World Book Day Book Fair. Ever since the first time I went to one of those events primary school, I always bought at least one book during the event. In primary school they lined up huge silver folding shelves on wheels in the dinner hall, and you could see the fascination on the reception kids' faces the second they went in, and even as I got used to the week-long event, I could never stop staring at their silver cases wondering what was inside them this year. They made a big deal out of being allowed to buy a new book. They gave out vouchers for local bookshops, they sent out letters to parents to give out a little pocket money to their child for a new book, they took each class out for one lesson in turn so that everyone would get to buy one book each, and then finally on the Friday afternoon all the parents were invited in to shop for books with their children. The one thing my mother never hesitated to buy for me and my sister was books. I'm so grateful she understood the necessity for books and felt exactly the same way.

In high school it was a slightly more mature setting. The silver shelves were the same glittering things they'd always been, but they were lined up at the back of an English classroom, which opened up during lunchtimes to the whole school. Those shelves brought good and bad, they brought me Pride and Prejudice and Twilight.

The year I bought White Fang it was grey, and rainy, and I had very little time to visit the shelves at any of my lunchtimes during the week, and when I arrived, I couldn't find anything I liked the look of... Twilight was flying of shelves, hurrah. I had barely a few quid in change, but a sad little copy of White Fang was labelled for a pound, so I rescued it. I've never regretted it since.

There's something to be said for occasionally picking something out of your comfort zone, out of necessity, or obligation, or routine, or tradition, or based solely on the cover. And as I hoarded books throughout high school, White Fang was one of my prize finds.

You get such vivid images of the wilds of early North America, and even though we have no insight into White Fang's thoughts, he's so charming and compelling, and the conclusion is so satisfying and rewarding. A really great book.(less)

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Dec 31, 2012 Tafan Kareem rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Tafan by: Namo

Two men are out in the wild of the north. Their dogs disappear as they are lured by a she-wolf and eaten by the pack. They only have three bullets left and Bill, one of the men, uses them to try to save one of their dogs; he misses and is eaten with the dog. Only Henry and two dogs are left; he makes a fire, trying to drive away the wolves. They draw in close, and he is almost eaten, saved only by a company of men who were traveling nearby.

The wolves are in the midst of a famine. They continue o...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Josh rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's been a while since I watched the movie, so I couldn't recall exactly what happened and didn't know whether the book would correlate. However, listening to the book brought some of the memories back. Overall it's a fairly positive story and a classic, though London's apparently humanistic views handicap the story... For when the dogs refer to the humans as "gods" they are not that far off from the truth. C. S. Lewis wrote that for animals such as pets, we are in a way their gods and if ther...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Brian Calenda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story starts as these two men are on their sled dogs and trying to get to a town. But strange things start to happen. One of their dogs are missing and they start to fight about it. The next day the dog is back and they continue to go. But then when they wake up two of their dogs are missing and they are starting to wonder what is going on. They continue and find their dogs skinny and hungry. But then they look behind the dogs in the far distance and see a she wolf. One of the men thinks he...more The story starts as these two men are on their sled dogs and trying to get to a town. But strange things start to happen. One of their dogs are missing and they start to fight about it. The next day the dog is back and they continue to go. But then when they wake up two of their dogs are missing and they are starting to wonder what is going on. They continue and find their dogs skinny and hungry. But then they look behind the dogs in the far distance and see a she wolf. One of the men thinks he is crazy but continue. It has cost them lot of food there dogs are starving and so are they. Over the days they see more and more of the she wolf and her pack. One of the men decided to try to kill the she wolf. Instead he got himself killed when one of the wolves bit him from behind. Later they go for the dogs and try to kill the other man. They ate the dogs but the man got fier to protect him. He cries and see the dead bodies.

Later in the book it starts to talk about the she wolf. There pack travels for a long time and one by one they start to separate. Then there is nothing but her and a wolf called one eye because he had only one. They later become mates and have little cubs. All of them look the same except one which is gray with white fangs. Later in the story the father dies from a Linx near there cave. The mother saw and was very sad. With the mother said there cubs do not get feed. Half of them die and the rest go into a coma which they never come back. Two survive the grey one and a sister. The sister later dies and the mother comes just in time to help him. For a long time it is just him and his mother. He starts to go through life like hunting, growing, and doing it by himself. But he is still young.

One time on a hunting trip he stumbles upon Native americans. The cub and the mom were ready to attack but then one of the Native Americans started to pet the mom. The cub took a while but he soon became friendly. He made friends with one of them. So him and mom decided to go live with them but it was a mistake. The mom was good but the friend made him stronger and taller. But the only reason why is to make him do dogfighting. He made him kill one dog and treated him and never saw his mother agen. The person who got him was a cruel man that touched him into being the best. He was winning but killing so many dogs. Then he was against a bulldog that almost killed him but a man saved him. The man took him to California where he lived with the man and learned to loved him. He met another dog and had cubs of his own. He was now an old dog that lived the rest of his life in peace.

I loved the book there is really nothing I would change. The reason why I liked the book is because it really builds you up to what is going to happen. It was cool to see that it had a different way of doing the book. It was going to different Places like it was the two men, then the she wolf and her mate, and then it was the cub. Also it was a book that was very good at ways of describing places and the nature around them. The part it went into depth was was boring but other then that it was exciting. My favorite character was the main character. The reason why I pick him is because he was the best character that pretty much had a story everyone's else did not really have a story. This is a good book and I would recommend it.(less)

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Dec 07, 2012 Marco added it · review of another edition

Bill and Henry were out in the wild doing something, but they were on a mission to get one of their dead friends, who died out there, back to his family. Their dogs were disappearing because they were getting lured by a she-wolf and eaten by the pack. They only had three bullets left and Bill used them to try and save one of their dogs; he missed and was eaten as well. Only Henry and two dogs are left. He made a fire to try and get the wolves to go away. The wolves got in close, and he almost go...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Carl rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 26, 2012 Mel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There was a point midway through this book where I was fully prepared to hate it. London settles you pretty early on into a routine that goes something like this: White Fang learns something new! It's a revelation! He'll remember this forever! This was fun at first but then it got tiresome. Couple that with poor White Fang's sad life and the book definitely began to drag. But then White Fang gets a good owner and a nice home in California and that was so satisfying to read about that I was willi...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Ela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Someone who wants something raw and different

Recommended to Ela by: Carrie Vaughn (via her Kitty Norville books)

Shelves: classics, made-me-cry

After Carrie Vaughn mentioning Jack London as a recomended read via Kitty Norville for several books, I couldn't resist this when it was presented to me on a silver platter.

As someone who likes good paranormal werewolf books it is definately intresting to look at it from another perspective. It also helps that wolves have been my favourite animal ever since I was tiny and seeing them in this light was thriling.

It was also interesting historically and culturally to see differnt uses, treatments...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Atthegates. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book gives an accurate insight into a wolf's perception of reality,how he percieves the world and treats people and other animals.You can also understand what is the nature of a wolf and how the enviroment that he resides affects his demeanor as much as his entire ways of living and thinking.Throughout the book it is clear how wilderness compel the animal to strive for survival and be a cold blooded killer and how life changes for him in the presence of human.
Furthermore, really interesti...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Rod rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

White Fang, part dog, part wolf, is the main character of the book, most of which explains his life from his point of view but by way of a narrator. On one level, it could be read as an adventure story, but instances of cruelty are so frequent that this is plainly a major subject for the author. When White Fang, still with his mother, ends up with Grey Beaver he is subjected to violence on many occasions. When this comes from Grey Beaver himself it is intended as discipline. On occasion Grey Bea...more White Fang, part dog, part wolf, is the main character of the book, most of which explains his life from his point of view but by way of a narrator. On one level, it could be read as an adventure story, but instances of cruelty are so frequent that this is plainly a major subject for the author. When White Fang, still with his mother, ends up with Grey Beaver he is subjected to violence on many occasions. When this comes from Grey Beaver himself it is intended as discipline. On occasion Grey Beaver protects him from attack by others, but never shows him affection. London gives the impression that this is a cultural thing. Dogs fulfil certain functions for the Indians- pulling sleds, for example - in return for which they are fed. That’s it.

White Fang has problems with the Indians’ other dogs since one of them, Lip-lip, takes against him from the start and attacks him at every opportunity. Since the others follow Lip-lip’s lead, White Fang has to tread very carefully. More importantly, perhaps, he learns to fight. This is not play-fighting but a matter of life and death, so he soon learns to dispense with the formalities (growling, hair standing on end etc) and goes straight for the jugular. This is not the best way for a puppy to grow up, but his fighting skills stand him in good stead.

Unfortunately, they are noticed by one Beauty Smith, a nasty piece of works who buys him from Grey Beaver to use as a fighting dog. He is finally rescued from Beauty Smith by Weedon Scott, a gold prospector. Over a period of time, Weedon gets round White Fang to the point where they not only trust each other but like each other. Given White Fang’s past life, there are reverses along the way and it does not happen quickly. But it happens.

The book has many strengths. London’s description of the adversities of outdoor life in the frozen wastes of Canada are excellent and his grasp of detail good. But his boldest effort is taking us into the mind of White Fang as he develops. This is obviously a dangerous area since it would be very easy to attribute human thoughts and feelings to an animal which the animal could never entertain. (And it is doubly dangerous now, given the amount of research into the behaviour of wolves which has taken place since the book was written.) But London is clearly aware of this danger and goes to great lengths to avoid it.

Apart from a few references to Grey Beaver’s squaw, there are no women characters in this book, but since women characters are not London’s strong point this is probably an advantage. And some might feel that the book ends in an unexpectedly warm glow, with White Fang at home with the Scott family in California. The only reply to this is that such an outcome, though unlikely, is not impossible, and it is probably necessary to show that kindness is the way to go with animals and reaps its own reward. And by extension, this nostrum might even be extended to people.
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Jul 27, 2012 David Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Though I responded with boyish enthusiasm to 'The Call of the Wild' many years ago and it re-echoes in memory, I had not read 'White Fang' or any of London's other books until now. I don't think 'White Fang' quite compares with its companion novel stylistically - the later chapters in particular are too obviously allegorical and predictable - but it is equally rugged, energetic and thrilling. London excels at seeing the world through the dog wolf's eyes, and he also manages the difficult and nec...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Zhao Yong Chen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Apr 09, 2012 Nshslibrary rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

White Fang is not a book about love and happiness. Many scenes in the book are very descriptive and show the terror that White Fang instills into other animals. This book is about morality, redemption, and brutality. When White Fang kills something the author describes it really well by telling what White Fang did and how he killed it. It then describes the dead animal and the blood. White Fang is half wolf half dog born in the wild of the Yukon. He later on gets caught by natives and is held in...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Ken T rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literature

White Fang is the story of a wolf's journey through life. It begins on a snowy trail in the Northland where two dog sled drivers are being stalked by a band of wolves. One of those wolves is White Fang's mother. From this beginning London takes us on an imaginative journey of a wolf, who by nature and fortune have been made an outcast from his kind and turns to man. In the course of his short life, White Fang has several masters each of whom explore different ways that man treats "man's best fri...more White Fang is the story of a wolf's journey through life. It begins on a snowy trail in the Northland where two dog sled drivers are being stalked by a band of wolves. One of those wolves is White Fang's mother. From this beginning London takes us on an imaginative journey of a wolf, who by nature and fortune have been made an outcast from his kind and turns to man. In the course of his short life, White Fang has several masters each of whom explore different ways that man treats "man's best friend." Through it all White Fang must learn to negotiate the world of man, whether hostile or benign.

White Fang is a dated, but enjoyable read. I cannot say whether London's views on the behavior of wolves is accurate or not, but I suspect some naturalists and biologists would take issue with some of his presentation of wolves. London's narrative is much stronger when it deals with the rugged outposts of men in the Northland (Alaska and the Yukon), less so when he deals with Native Americans. Some of these last sections strike me as a bit jingoistic, but I could be wrong.

The best parts of White Fang are actually the first few chapters. London creates an intense and gripping narrative of two men being hunted by wolves. Their phlegmatic response to the danger is as intriguing as the way in which the she-wolf (later known as Kiche) masterminds their hunt. As the narrative moves on, however, to the life of White Fang all the narrative tension is lost. It becomes rather a series of biographical incidents in the life of the wolf. While many of them are interesting, London is more concerned with showing how they contribute to the shaping of the wolf's character and nature. Unfortunately these incidents are too often beyond White Fang's control. Thus our main character does not resolve any issues, but merely experiences or survives them. It makes the book easy to pick up and leave off, since there is no obvious point to which the narrative builds.

I have rated this book 3 stars, but it is more like 2 1/2.(less)

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Mar 16, 2012 Jade Li rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Reborn of wolf’s humanity

Born, grow up, marry, vicious and kind, a quarter-wolf’s life is just like a humanbeing and his life is full of surprises and adventures that attract people from the beginning to the end. With skilled capacity of dedcribing the background and the action and expression of the animals, this story can make you feel like your are really a part of the White Fang life. You can even hear the sound, see the scene and feel the characters’ heart beat. The most impressive part...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Vanessa Ortiz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-books-ever

White Fang By Vanessa Ortiz

I was first introduced to this book by my nerdy friend the librarian, she would love shoving books in my face, always recommending what she called "The best, of the best." I found the cover interesting, and the back of the book was very catchy, but little did I know I was about to open up the door to the worlds' most adventures, back-chilling, and heart warming world yet. :)

This book took me from the cold world of the Eskimos, to the warm city lights of California. Th...more White Fang By Vanessa Ortiz

I was first introduced to this book by my nerdy friend the librarian, she would love shoving books in my face, always recommending what she called "The best, of the best." I found the cover interesting, and the back of the book was very catchy, but little did I know I was about to open up the door to the worlds' most adventures, back-chilling, and heart warming world yet. :)

This book took me from the cold world of the Eskimos, to the warm city lights of California. The story follows a young wolf pup, White Fang, through out his life. He faces many hardships, while finding the strength to survive. Born in a den, where he looses all his siblings, he slowly begins to understand the meaning of life. As a pup, he learned to hide behind the protection of his mothers wild sharp teeth, but little did he know, his mothers teeth, were tamed only to the hands of humans. Being a wolf pup, he faced much torcher, like the discrimination of the Eskimos for one, and even worse, being the outcast of the dog-pack. Force to live a solemn life of an exile, he begins to form his harsh but efficient reality.

As White Fang, develops into a full grown adult wolf, he also develops with a very harsh, independent and cold characteristic. But later on he unfolds a hidden loyalty, to Scott, his new kind owner, who teaches him about human warmth, and the kindness that can be carried in the hands of a gentle man.

Reading this book, made me want to become somewhat like him. I felt as though I wanted to be as strong and fierce as him, but to be honest going through a past like that I don't think i would have been able to trust in humans just like he did. Something I really liked about this book was the sensory language. London used a ton of descriptive sentences that made me feel as though i was really there and he actually made me feel as if I were White Fang. I could smell and hear the things he heard and I can feel the things he felt. He did a great job with that. I would really like to even write as good as he did, someday.

In the book, there is a scene where White Fang is put in a cage and is provoked into killing another dog. Although he was not aware of this at first, he was used as a "pit fighter" or in other words, used to entertain people by fighting his rival to death. I can smell the iron and salt in the blood, I can hear the humiliating laughs of the men provoking me, I can feel my four paws on the wet cold concrete floor,
I can see, the blood sprouting in all directions and the menacing smiles, and lastly I can taste the fur that has been washed to make sure no poison has been used to make sure this fight ends in a foul play, and then slowly but surely the taste of blood is washed away by the slimy, warm pulsating blood oozing out.

As for the books theme, this book has a ton, it just depends on the reader to pick out his favorite. For example,"Out of this pack-persecution he learned two important things: how to take care of himself in a mass-fight against him; and how, on a single dog, to inflict the greatest amount of damage in the briefest space of time." or "The aim of life was meat. Life itself was meat. Life lived on life. There were the eaters and the eaten. The law was: EAT OR BE EATEN. He did not formulate the law in clear, set terms and moralize about it. He did not even think the law; he merely lived the law without thinking about it at all." and finally, "His bondage had softened him. Irresponsibility had weakened him." yes, while there are many i think the most important one here, is to move forward, because no matter how horrid and painful your past is, as long as you have the motivation within yourself a brighter future awaits.

(less)

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Dec 30, 2011 Stefani rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classic, native-american-culture, arctic

Jack London books are not for the uninitiated into the world of non-superfluous writing about man's infinite struggle with nature. Several months earlier, I made a vain attempt to read "Call of the Wild," but was unable to get beyond the first few pages of tedious prose that seemed to only worsen with each turn of the page.

Despite my initial bad experience, I took a road trip to Canada earlier this week and felt that reading Jack London in preparation would be entirely apropos for my Northlands...more Jack London books are not for the uninitiated into the world of non-superfluous writing about man's infinite struggle with nature. Several months earlier, I made a vain attempt to read "Call of the Wild," but was unable to get beyond the first few pages of tedious prose that seemed to only worsen with each turn of the page.

Despite my initial bad experience, I took a road trip to Canada earlier this week and felt that reading Jack London in preparation would be entirely apropos for my Northlands destination, lest I should encounter any roving wolf packs or wild lynxes in the wilds of Montreal.

The stark and brutally cold landscape of Canada in the early 1900s is an "eat or be eaten" environment that defines White Fang's upbringing as a wolf-dog hybrid. From the moment of his birth, he is made aware that the harshness and unforgiving nature of the wild only rewards those that are strong and uncompromising. He is stronger, quicker and a better fighter than other dogs, causing him to be feared by others and outcast from the pack. His self-sufficency allows him survival but puts him at odds with both human kind and the assured safety of a wolf pack. Interesting metaphor for society in general.

Upon his encounter with a group of Native Americans that want to tame him, internal conflict ensues with White Fang battling his instincts as a wolf against his will to submit from his small percentage of dog heritage. Through these chapters, the story is written from the perspective of White Fang and how he views man as "gods" to be respected and submitted to.

Probably most poignant for dog lovers and those in awe of their servitude to man, White Fang is able to overcome any wild tendencies he might have with the help of a patient and loving owner, eventually traveling to live as a pet to the man who tamed him. Later on, he saves the family from grave danger causing me to think that London instilled White Fang with superhero like qualities that no ordinary dog could live up to.

(less)

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About Jack London

Jack London was an American novelist and short-story writer whose works deal romantically with elemental struggles for survival. At his peak, he was the highest paid and the most popular of all living writers. Because of early financial difficulties, he was largely self educated past grammar school.

London draws heavily on his life experiences in his writing. He spent time in the Klondike during th...more

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The Call of the Wild, White Fang and Other Stories (World's Classics)

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“The Wild still lingered in him and the wolf in him merely slept.” — 100 people liked it

“White Fang knew the law well: to oppress the weak and obey the strong.” — 37 people liked it

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