Jack London: A Biography

by Daniel Dyer

"The Call of the Wild" was not only a book by Jack London. It may very well have been his own personal credo, as Daniel Dyer makes clear in this gripping biography of the famed author and adventurer.

While researching Jack London, biographer Daniel Dryer uncovered an amazing truth - that London's real life was just as rich and exciting as the stories and characters he created.

Equally adept in writing as he was at thrill-seeking, London left school at age eleven to begin his lifelong courtship of adventure. He worked as a seal hunter, an oyster pirate, and a factory worker. And by the time of the Klondike gold rush, he was well on his way to becoming one of the world's most popular writers. This comprehensive biography takes the reader into the mind and life of this memorable author.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a fast, easy-to-read, interesting biography of Jack London, this is your book. It's actually written for high school age (didn't know at time of purchase), but does include lots of neat pictures of that time period. Jack, born John Griffith Chaney, lived a very interesting four decades. Went on a seal hunting expedition to Japan at 17 years old. Only completed 9th grade, but passed the UC Berkley entrance exam after self-study. Mined for gold during the Klondike rush. Sailed to Hawaii and other islands. Worked his own farm. Wrote over 50 books, and numerous articles. Most interesting is all the hard times he experienced along the way. That is the part people forget about.

[alysia]

i have to read this book--it was written by my 8th grade english teacher in aurora, ohio.
daniel dyer is the reason i love english literature, william shakespeare, charlie chaplin movies, why i chose to be an english major in college, love poetry and why i know that jack london, because "call of the wild" turned him into a crazy man, imagined himself a wolf and ate raw meat.
everyday.
for years.
and i believe he died of malnutrition.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, the audience is young adults. I didn't realize that when I bought the book but I ended up enjoying this biography. I especially appreciated how Dyer focused on how London set about to learn the task of writing. The book has generous excerpts from London's letters and Dyer let's the reader see Jack London's writing style maturing. The book makes me want to go back and reread London's short stories and one of my favorites - Martin Eden.

[Paige Kunstleben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I think that it was entertaining but informational. It showed me that I have so many possibilities at a young age. It was very inspiring. The pictures in the book really gave me an idea of where he was and what he was thinking. They also showed me that anywhere or anything I do is possible. This book is so insirational and that is why I liked it.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As some of the other reviews stated already, it is an easy-read of the life of Jack London, giving info on his humble beginnings to his romantic relationships. I do recommend this to young readers and those who wants an introductory to Jack London. I would definitely read this one again

[M.L. Dunker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ALA notable book is a short concise biography of Jack London that doesn’t sensationalize his rough and tumble life. Middle grade readers on up will enjoy learning of a boy born in challenging circumstances making mistakes but also learning from those mistakes. Strongly recommend.

[Kendal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for your first bio on London. More than gist, you get the basics, withiu the bebogging details.

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent, not especially notable but informative and interesting enough.

[Heather Burdge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read with lots on interesting facts. I had no idea London had written so many novels, can’t wait to add those to the tbr list. Dyer did an excellent job of keeping you hooked on London.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't finish it, but I'm realistically not getting back to it. He had a pretty interesting life, but other books took over my interests!

[☺Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack London: A Biography is a clear, concise biography of Jack London's life. I appreciated the inclusion of photographs and excerpts from London's correspondence.
As it is a YA book, author Daniel Dyer includes, but skims over, the more negative aspects of London's life: the drinking (he had a lifelong battle with the bottle - with bouts of excessive alcohol consumption), the smoking (he smoked cigarettes every day since he was 14 years old), and the brawling (lots and lots of fistfights - mostly in bars and saloons), his infidelity, divorce, and remarriage (a huge scandal at the time), his troubled relationship and very infrequent visits with his two daughters from his first marriage, etc.
Jack London was truly a self-made man and this excellent biography illustrates his rough and tumble early life, his love of reading and his ability to learn by using books as his teachers, his restless and adventurous spirit (just reading about what London and others who joined in the Klondike Gold Rush had to endure tired me out!), and his eventual maturation as a writer.
Note: Some believed Jack London was a racist - which I really can't understand, as he was nursed and cared for by Jennie Prentiss, an African-American woman whose own baby had died. Jack actually lived with the Prentiss family off and on for long periods during his childhood. In later years, London hired Jennie Prentiss to live with and care for his elderly mother, Flora, and his nephew, Johnny Miller (his stepsister Ida's son who lived with Flora). The author, Dr. Daniel Dyer, includes a comprehensive bibliography of books by and about Jack London - a great source for further reading.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simplistic and borderline hagiographic. I don't know that I learned anything about London that I didn't already know, and I didn't know much. The Scholastic Press logo should have tipped me off, but this certainly seems to have been written for a young adult or even child audience. "Difficult" words when quoted (sans, ephemeral) are explained, anything remotely "adult" (sex, drinking, socialism) is breezed over. Countless books are described as "one of Jack London's greatest and most popular." Information is poorly cited, giving the whole thing a somewhat apocryphal feel. Give Dyer props for not furthering the whole drunk-adventurer myth, I guess.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of the multi-faceted author of The Call of the Wild and White Fang, two brilliant books. This biography describes London's rise from humble origins through some nefarious experiences as a young man that included a stint as a sailor and a month in jail for vagrancy and finally to his adventures in the Klondike Gold Rush and his rise to fame as a journalist and writer. A bit dark due to the subject matter but appropriate for high school and mature middle school fans of London.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

He had a sad life, but he sure did live it!

[Leeann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography is very readable. The writer covers all the wonderful and some of the not-so-wonderful aspect's of London's life. His was a remarkable life!

[Belle Meade School]

813.52