American author, journalist, and social activist Jack London is best known for his stories set during the Klondike gold rush. During the late 19th century London traveled to the Klondike region of the Yukon in northwestern Canada to strike it rich. While he didn’t find a great fortune in gold he came away with the experiences that would inspire some of his greatest writing. Set in the harsh wilderness of the Yukon territory, “The Call of the Wild” is a story embodied with a realism indicative of London’s prospecting experience. The tale follows the struggle of Buck, the domesticated pet of Judge Miller and his family, who is snatched from a pampered lifestyle in California’s Santa Clara Valley. When Buck is stolen by the gardener’s assistant, Manuel, who sells him to finance his gambling addiction, he faces an arduous journey to the Yukon territory where he must adapt to the brutal reality of life as a sled dog. One of the finest examples of London’s literary talent, “The Call of the Wild” exhibits why he would become one of the most popular writers of his day. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
