Jack London's Dog

by Dirk Wales, Barry Moser

In 1897 Jack London went to the Gold Rush in the Yukon. This was to be a harsh time in the North Country with 100,000 men from all over America as well as other countries who came to strike it rich. However, Jack London landed just as the Fall "freeze up" came and no one could pan for gold until Spring. While waiting to strike it rich, London stayed with other men on Split Up Island. There he met the dog of another man. The dog's name was also Jack, and he and London became friends. When the thaw came in the Spring and it was time to pan for gold, London was ill and had to return to San Francisco. As a result of his experiences in the raw North Country, he would write Call Of The Wild. He used his friend Jack as a mdoel for Buck, Dog of the North. Call Of The Wild immediately became a hit in American and London the most popular author. So, we know what happened to Jack London, Buck and Call Of The Wild, but, what happened to Jack, the dog who was left behind? This is his story.

60 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2008

Reviews

[GoldGato · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Jack London wrote The Call of the Wild, he based it upon the real-life doggy he knew when he was up in the Yukon Gold Rush. London returned to California upon becoming ill, but what happened to the pup? This book attempts to answer that question, fictionally.

No one knew how many men were lost to the oceans of snow that fell during the winter.

In this book, the author comes up with a story about Jack The Dog being stolen, abused, rescued, and then finding his path. I liked the idea, and I was involved in the story. The writing is simple, for older children, and the engravings by Barry Moser are simply marvelous. I also used this book for tutoring an adult student in reading English, which gives you an idea of the simple sentences.

But let's get back to Mr. Moser. The illustrations here are 'relief engravings', in which pictures are cut into boxwood. The characters come alive, with my favourite being a blind wolf. Barry Moser's books are collectibles, and that's the shelf where this puppy...er, book...is going.

Also, the overall presentation is a beaut. The typeface is Bembo. I don't think I have any other books in Bembo. Nice work by Great Plains Press.

Book Season = Winter (Yukon Gold)

[Mona Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story very much. Thank you.

[Abby Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Kathleen Garber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack London is the author of Call of the Wild and other books. The story Call of the Wild was based on his dog in the North. He left the dog there when he went home and wrote his novel.

The back of the book makes it sound like this is the true story of the dog who is also named Jack. Like perhaps the some of the people who had him when Jack London left finally told the story. However this is not true. This is the story of what MIGHT have happened to his dog as told by Dirk Wales.

The story itself though was wonderful. Very interesting. It didn't take me long to read at all as I didn't want to put it down. It all sounded very real, very convincing. Dirk Wales is a good story teller for sure. I was just a bit disappointed that it wasn't all real.

[Red · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book invokes Jack London but does not evoke him. Contrary to what the description says, this is a work of fiction about a dog that Jack London *might* have spent a few months with in the Yukon, and supposedly based Buck, from Call of the Wild on. The book is actually stories about what the author thinks might have happened to the dog after London left his company. Unfortunately, the author is no Jack London, and the prose is just not pleasant to read. First story after London leaves, how the dog (also named Jack) gets a mean master.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book because I am a HUGE FAN of the illustrator, Barry Moser - and I was NOT disappointed. As usual, his work is stunning. Finally, I got around to reading the book itself and it was sort of fun and sort of interesting. The author is obviously trying to use fiction to tell a background on a Jack London story and doing it in a sort of Jack London style.

[Adriene · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the writing left a little to be desired (I thought the ending was a little abrupt), I would recommend checking out this book for the illustrations alone.