A best-seller from its first publication in 1903, The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a big mongrel dog who is shipped from his comfortable life in California to Alaska, where he must adapt to the harsh life of a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush. The narrative recounts Buck's brutal obedience training, his struggle to meet the demands of human masters, and his rise to the position of lead sled dog as a result of his superior physical and mental qualities. Finally, Buck is free to respond to the "call" of the ...
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A best-seller from its first publication in 1903, The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a big mongrel dog who is shipped from his comfortable life in California to Alaska, where he must adapt to the harsh life of a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush. The narrative recounts Buck's brutal obedience training, his struggle to meet the demands of human masters, and his rise to the position of lead sled dog as a result of his superior physical and mental qualities. Finally, Buck is free to respond to the "call" of the wilderness. Over a hundred years after its publication, Jack London's "dog story" retains the enduring appeal of a classic. This Broadview Edition includes a critical introduction that explores London's life and legacy and the complex scientific and psychological ideas drawn upon by London in writing the story. The appendices include material on the Klondike, Darwin's writings on dogs, other contemporary writings on instinct and atavism, and maps of the regions in which the story takes place.
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Written in 1903 The Call of the Wild is an exciting book set during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897. Buck (a dog who is half St. Bernard and half Scotch Shepherd) is the main character. He is kidnapped from his comfortable home in the warm and sunny Santa Clara valley and sold to be a working dog in the cold and wild Northland in the Yukon. He works with other dogs on the mail delivery route between Skagway and Dawson. The book is told in the third person but also told from the perspective of Buck. Jack London does an excellent of job of portraying the slow but sure transformation of a domestic animal and getting into the mind of a dog. I also like how London raises the question regarding Buck's transformation: Is Buck developing or retrogressing? I did like this book a great deal but the violence committed against dogs did make me wince at times; these scenes may not sit well with animal lovers. Still, The Call of the Wild is a classic adventure book for all ages.
geodes
Nov 22, 2009
good
Good book, some parts i didnt lke to read because they were sad, fights and deaths. But i loved the main point of the book. Its about a domestic dog that loses its home and has to run trails in the artic, although he lost his comfortable home, he finds literally the "call of the wild' from his ancestors. Makes me wish i could do it.
NaturalDyerInSilver
Sep 20, 2008
Great Book!!!
I have read this book many times, and each time it is as enthralling, exilerating, and heartbreaking as the first. I highly reccomend it.
Selina
Oct 19, 2007
Lovely
This book deals with the beauty and brutality of nature. Buck's gradual abandonment of his domestic nature is enthralling and heart breaking. Its a realistic harsh look at survival. The main character is a dog, but Buck manages to be likeable and relateable. I had to read this book alot for school and always enjoyed it each time. This is a great book to read again and again.
