The Call of the Wild Illustrated

By: London, Jack

The Call of the Wild is a novel by Jack London published in 1903. The story is set in the Yukon during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush-a period when strong sled dogs were in high demand. The novel's central character is a dog named Buck, a domesticated dog living at a ranch in the Santa Clara valley of California as the story opens. Stolen from his home and sold into the brutal existence of an Alaskan sled dog, he reverts to atavistic traits. Buck is forced to adjust to, and survive, cruel treatments and fight to dominate other dogs in a harsh climate. Eventually he sheds the veneer of civilization, relying on primordial instincts and lessons he learns, to emerge as a leader in the wild.London lived for most of a year in the Yukon collecting material for the book. The story was serialized in the Saturday Evening Post in the summer of 1903; a month later it was released in book form. The novel's great popularity and success made a reputation for London. Much of its appeal derives from the simplicity with which London presents the themes in an almost mythical form. As early as 1908 the story was adapted to film and it has since seen several more cinematic adaptations.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B093MS6KJL
• ISBN13: 9798745328657
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 114 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Buck realizes his potential.

"The Indians in this frozen land tell of a ghost dog that runs at the head of a wolf pack. - They are afraid, for it has more strength than any wolf, more cunning than any dog. No one knows from whence he came or why he stays." Gold was found in Alaska, and the rush to obtain it required a strong constitution and many dogs to do the work that horses usually did in the United States. The environment breeds harsh attitudes. Also, in the testing of one's mettle, one finds one’s true potential. Buck (a dog that is half St. Bernard and half Shepherd) goes through many lives, trials, and tribulations, finally realizing his potential. On the way, he learns many concepts, from surprise to deceit and cunning; he also learns loyalty, devotion, and love. As he grows, he feels the call of the wild. And so do we. This book is well written. There is not a wasted word or thought, and the story, while building on itself, has purpose and direction. The descriptions may be a tad graphic for the squeamish and a tad sentimental for the romantic. You see the world through Buck's eyes and understand it through his perspective until you also feel the call of the wild.