7 Best Jack London Books
Jack London, whose real name is John Griffith Chaney is an American novelist known for his literary and journalistic achievements.
If you’re an avid fiction reader, then you need no introduction to his great works.
Although his life was short-lived, he made the most of it, becoming one of the earliest writers to make millions from his art. He also became the first innovator of the science fiction genre.
In his lifetime, he completed over 50 books across different genres. Most of his books and short stories have become world-renowned classics loved by readers all over the world.
This article discusses the best books written by a prolific author. If you’re a fan of his works, you’ll enjoy this piece.
You’ll also find it informative if you’ve never read his books and would like to know the best Jack London books to read during your free time.
Read on for the top 7 greatest Jack London books.
7 Best Jack London Books
1. White Fang
2. The Iron Heel
3. The Scarlet Plague
4. Martin Eden
5. The Sea Wolf
6. The Call of the Wild
7. The People of the Abyss
Best Jack London Books
1. Best Jack London Books: White Fang
White Fang is a fiction book published in 1906. It is one of the earliest books by Jack London which later became a classic novel across many countries. The book is a story of survival in a harsh and unkind world.
It was released as a companion for Jack’s previous work, ‘Call of the Wild’ and it follows the life journey of the young wolf-dog named White Fang and the obstacles he faced to become domesticated, after being saved from his precious abusive owner.
White Fang is written from the perspective of the animals and how they view humans in their world. It explores the cruel nature of both humans and animals.
The book was inspired by Jack’s time in Yukon, Canada
2. The Iron Heel
Iron Heel is another popular literary novel by Jack London and perhaps one of his biggest socialist works. It was first published in 1908 and is regarded as one of the oldest science fiction novels in the world.
Iron Heel is set in a dystopian society and it illuminates the fascism that rocked the early days in America.
In the book, a group of revolutionaries come together to resist the rule of the Iron Heel, a powerful plutocracy who feared the increasing appeal of socialism and plotted to suppress the rights of the people through violence and oppression.
The book was set in the 20th century and properly depicts socialism, revolution, and the injustice in the American capitalist system. If you enjoy reading about political novels, this is one of the first Jack London books you should try.
3. The Scarlet Plague
This futuristic novel by Jack London tells a brilliant story about the fragility of civilization and the bravery of humans in the face of doom. It was originally published in the London Magazine before being released as one of his best selling books.
The story starts in 2073 in a post-apocalyptic society, sixty years after mankind was struck by an epidemic called the Red Death.
The disease turned the faces of its carriers a bright red(scarlet) and become paralyzed in their lower body. In this book, only one man survives the cruel Plague and can convey the tales of the past to the new generation of survivors.
Scarlet Plague describes the barbarism and horrors that follow as mankind tries to rebuild society again. We highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of Jack London’s style of writing.
4. Martin Eden
Martin Eden is a 300-page fiction novel written by Jack London in 1908.
It was originally published in The Pacific Monthly magazine, where it remained for a year before being published by MacMillan in 1909.
The book is set in the early 20th century and follows the story of protagonist, Martin Eden, a young uneducated sailor who had big dreams of becoming a successful writer.
In the book, Martin struggles to improve himself intellectually and financially in hopes of marrying Ruth Morse, a woman of a higher social standing.
However, things do not go as he planned as he is rejected by Ruth and ends up settling into a life of isolation.
Although wealthy, he is unable to enjoy his success. He became depressed, struggling to find his place in his new circle.
5. The Sea Wolf
The Sea Wolf is a famous Jack London book released in 1904. The book is great for readers who love psychological or adventure fiction. The novel combines themes of love and self-reliance.
The protagonist ‘Humphrey Van Weyden’ is a literary critic who struggles to survive at sea defeating the ruthless and antisocial ship captain Wolf Larsen. A series of dramatic events ensue on board as Van Weyden and another crew member Maud Webster, whom Weyden was protecting from the scary captain manage to escape the ship.
The book ends with Larsen’s death and Weyden and Maud manage to find their way back to society, miles away.
In later years, London admitted that the book was inspired by the character of Sea Captain, Alex Maclean coupled with his imagination to create one of his best books.
This book is very interesting for readers who have a great imagination.
6. The Call of the Wild
This book is a favorite for Jack London fans all over the world. It was released in 1903 and is famously regarded as one of his best books of all time.
The novel is about a family dog named Buck who was kidnapped from California and sold as a sled dog in the Alaskan Wilderness. Buck is left to answer to the ‘Call of the Wild” as he faces new challenges and is forced to adapt to a new life of violence and danger in the natural world.
Buck soon learns to survive using his primal instincts and transforms into a wild dog.
If you haven’t read any of Jack London’s books, consider starting with this book.
7. The People of the Abyss
The ‘People of the Abyss’ by Jack London accounts for the author’s real-life experiences living among the poor in East London. The book was inspired by a time in his life when he was hit with writer’s block.
Jack disguised himself as a poor person and moved to the slums for a few weeks, where he studied the hard life faced by the poor in a white chapel and wrote a first-hand account of his experiences there.
The book highlights the effects of capitalism on society and the clear disparities between the lives of the poor and the rich.
Conclusion
These are the best Jack London books to look out for. You can order a copy online from Amazon or visit the neighbourhood bookstore to get your copy.
