Jack London (1876–1916) was an American novelist, journalist, and social activist. A pioneer in the world of commercial magazine fiction, he was one of the first writers to become a worldwide celebrity and earn a large fortune from writing. London was internationally famous for his books
Call of the Wild (1903),
The Sea Wolf (1904) and other literary and journalistic accomplishments. Though he wrote passionately about the great questions of life and death and the struggle to survive with dignity and integrity, he also sought peace and quiet inspiration. His stories of high adventure were based on his own experiences at sea, in the Yukon Territory, and in the fields and factories of California. His writings appealed to millions worldwide.
London was also widely known for his personal exploits. A colorful, controversial personality, London was often in the news. Generally fun loving, he was quick to side with the underdog against injustice of any kind. An eloquent public speaker, he was much sought after as a lecturer on socialism and other economic and political topics. Most people considered London a living symbol of rugged individualism, a man whose fabulous success was not due to special favor of any kind, but to a combination of immense mental ability and vitality.
Strikingly handsome, full of laughter, restless and courageous, always eager for adventure, Jack London was one of the most romantic figures of this time. He ascribed his worldwide literary success largely to hard work - to 'dig', as he put it. Between 1900 and 1916 he completed more than 50 fiction and non-fiction books, hundreds of short stories and numerous articles. Several of the books and many of the short stories are classics and still popular; some have been translated into as many as 70 languages. Among the best known are
Call of the Wild,
White Fang,
The Sea Wolf,
Martin Eden and
John Barleycorn.
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| Jack London at the age of nine with his dog Rollo, 1885. |
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| Jack London, 1903 |
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| Jack London at Bohemian Grove, 1904. |
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| Portrait of the Jack London in his underwear, with an unidentified photograph in the lower right-hand corner. |
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| Jack London, 1905 |
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| Jack London writing in the outdoors, 1905. |
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| Portrait photograph of Jack London, taken between 1906 and 1916. |
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| Jack London photographing the skeleton of the Snark, in which he sailed across the south Pacific, in San Francisco Bay, 1906. |
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| The American adventurer and film director Martin Johnson, one of the members of the Snark crew, poses with a native of the Solomon Islands. Guadalcanal, 1908. |
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| Portrait of young Jack London |
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| Portrait of Jack London |
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| Portrait of Jack London by Arnold Genthe. |
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| Portrait of young Jack London by Andrew J. Mill, San Jose. |
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| Portrait of Jack London |
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| Portrait of Jack London |
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| Portrait of Jack London |
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| Jack London in his office, 1916. |
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| Jack London in his study at the Beauty Ranch cottage. |
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| Jack London, November 1916. |
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| Jack London, November 1916. |
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| Jack London in the Pig Palace taken at Beauty Ranch, Glen Ellen a few days before the author's death in 1916. |
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| Jack London and horse taken at Beauty Ranch, Glen Ellen a few weeks before the author's death. |
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| Jack London, 1916 |
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| Jack London, 1916 |
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| Jack London on board ship. |
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| Jack London in Hawaii. |
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| Jack London, 1916 |
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| Jack London at Glen Ellen, California. By Walter ?, Santa Rosa, California. |
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| Jack London on a water wagon at the ranch. |
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| Jack London with horse, Glen Ellen, California. |
