The Call Of The Wild: Original Illustrated Anniversary Edition

By: London, Jack

The story follows Buck-a mix of St. Bernard and Scotch collie-throughout his journey as a sled dog. Buck's story begins at the house of Judge Miller in Santa Clara, California. Here, Buck is a beloved domesticated pet, living comfortably. However, after gold is discovered in the Yukon territory of Canada, Buck is stolen by one of Miller's gardeners as the demand for sled dogs increases. The gardener sells Buck to dog traders and makes a profit, and Buck is soon shipped north, abused and beaten as he goes. Along with a sweet, unassuming dog named Curly, Buck is sold to two government couriers, Fran ois and Perrault, who put him to work as a sled dog. Buck is soon overwhelmed by his surroundings, particularly when he sees a group of huskies attack and kill Curly. As Buck is forced to adapt to the wild, his primitive instincts begin to surface. It is during this time that he makes an enemy of the lead sled dog, Spitz. The two fight a number of times, and Buck consistently undermines him in the hopes of diminishing his authority. After a final, decisive battle, Buck kills Spitz and appoints himself as the new lead dog-something he convinces his owners to go along with through his sheer stubbornness. With Buck as lead dog, the team begins making trips in record time. The team, along with Buck, is eventually sold to a mail carrier who forces the dogs to carry arduously heavy loads. This work results in the death of one of the dogs.The team is sold again, this time to American gold hunters named Hal, Charles, and Mercedes. The three are wildly inexperienced: they overload the sled, and they beat the dogs unnecessarily. Halfway through a long journey, they begin to run out of food, causing more than half of the dogs to die of starvation. Along their journey, and still with a long way to go, they happen upon the camp of a man named John Thornton. Thornton warns them that the ice they are about to cross is thinning and that it is not safe to cross. The Americans disregard him and attempt to leave. The other dogs obey, but Buck refuses to move onto the ice. Hal beats him viciously until Thornton steps in and cuts Buck free. The Americans continue without Buck, only to fall through the thinning ice and perish alongside the remainder of their dogs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08JDTR5RT
• ISBN13: 9798688708431
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 104 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

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.