THE BOOK FAIR
READ AND FULFILL YOUR LIFE
Jack London
The Call of the Wild
Author: Jack London
Published: 1903
Genre: Classic
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 101
Review:
Jack London was born John Griffith Chaney, in San Francisco, CA, in 1876. The author wrote of social reform and worker’s rights, particularly demonstrated in, “The Iron Heel“. “The Call of the Wild” represents the regression of the civilized being to the untamed, uncivilized, primordial being. Young and talented, Jack London died of illness, in Glen Ellen, CA, in 1916, at forty years old.
Buck, a St. Bernard and Scotch Sheppard mix, lives a contented life, well cared for and well fed in the home of Judge Miller, in Santa Clara Valley. Buck enjoys outdoor activities with the family and regular walks with the Judge. Thereby, Buck has no reason to suspect when Manuel, the gardener, takes him for a walk, that he will be sold to cruel, Yukon, dog traders.
Buck quickly learns the cruelty of such men who with clubs and whips beat him mercilessly. Buck, with other stolen dogs, endures the rocky sea ride and awakens one morning in Alaska to the smell and touch of snow. Buck, bought by Perrault and Francoise, French Canadians, becomes a sled dog. Buck, through the whip, and bites of the other dogs, learns to work with the team. Buck soon learns to appreciate his masters knowledge of how much to feed him and how hard to drive him. Buck enjoys the outdoors, the companionship of the dogs, and in spite of rivalries, the teamwork of the sled team. As time passes, Buck dreams of home, but does not to miss it. He does however, miss his friend Curly, who was killed by a pack of wild huskies, soon after their shipped docked.
Buck is later sold to new owners, Hal and Charley, who know nothing of the wilderness, dogs or sledding. Their interests lie only in gold. Hal refuses advice and beats the dogs to pull his overloaded sled. Hal, at first, over feeds the dogs then nearly staves them as the rations diminish; with few dogs surviving the journey, Buck wearily pulls Hal to the destination of White River.
After days of hard traveling, the dogs need rest. Hal, eager to move on, begins to whip the dogs. John Thornton, camped by the river, watches the display. When he can no longer abide the abuse of the animals, he demands Hal to stop, then unceremoniously, cuts Buck loose. Hal pays no heed to Thornton’s warning of the dangers of weak ice ahead, and plunges on with the sorely treated remaining dogs.
Buck, safe with John Thornton, begins to live again. Buck lives for John Thornton, loving him wholly, like no other. Buck also loves the wild forest, adores the odors of the damp earth, the comfort of the tall grass, the catching of his own food, and the howl of the wolves nearby.
As Buck’s love for Thornton grows, so does his love for the wild. Buck lives a secret life when alone in the woods. One day he comes upon a lone wolf in the forest. In no time the two sniff one another, each estimating the other, then satisfied, lope off to explore the terrain together. Only sometime later does Buck return to camp and for days refuses to leave Thornton’s side. Buck, perceptive of danger, comes to Thorton’s aide more than once, and is apprehensive for Thorton’s safety.
But Buck cannot resist the drive that overpowers him. Buck needs to hunt and he tires of small game. Buck sets his sights on a wounded moose, follows him for days, hounding the animal, allowing the moose no rest. When Buck finally returns to camp, he finds the Indians have wreaked disaster. Unthinking, he takes deliberate revenge upon the Yeehats, tearing into one, then another, showing no mercy. Later, Buck searches for Thornton and soon finds the end of his scent at the river. An endless void fills Buck. Lonely and empty, Buck moves about the camp.
Buck soon comes to realize, however, that as long as men hold no club or whip, they are no match for him. Buck rests in the camp but as night comes, he listens to the sounds of the forest and the howls of the wolves. Aware that he has no more ties, Buck ventures into the woods and soon joins his brothers.
Extraordinary writing; unforgettable story. Author of several books, Jack London promoted social causes but also believed in the potential of the individual.
White Fang
Author: Jack London
Published: 1906
Genre: Classic
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 188
Review:
Jack London, in the novel, “White Fang”, asserts the belief that savaged beings can be civilized with care, tenderness and love, and more, that abused beings can be brought to love.
The pup is born to his wolf-dog mother in a small alcove; he is the lone survivor of three pups. The she-wolf teaches her pup survival in the wild, and when threatened, defends him with her life. One day, when the pup is a few months old, and out for a usual day of discovery, the pup discerns a new scent in the air.
The pup unwittingly comes upon Indians; one of the men reaches down and pets him. The pup, then watches bewildered, as his mother strides up to the interlopers, who call her Kiche. Kiche and the newly named, “White Fang,” venture to the Indian village. White Fang, separated from his mother, suffers the cruelties of the camp dogs. Gray Beaver admires the wolf-pup’s attempt at fighting off the other dogs, even though he is smaller. Gray Beaver rewards White Fang with food, but punishes him with harsh beatings for any offense. At the change of season, the tribe packs to move the camp. White Gang hides in the woods ignoring his master’s call. The next day, lonely and hungry, the pup picks up the scent of his tribe and finds Gray Beaver.
It is when White Fang saves Gray Beaver’s son from other boys that the wolf’s fame is spread among his tribe, and other tribes. One day, Gray Beaver takes White Fang to the city where he trades. In the town, a white man, Beauty Smith, decides he wants to own White Fang. After some time, striking a bargain in liquor, Gray Beaver sells White Fang to Smith. White Fang, sensing evil in Smith, returns to Gray Beaver for which he receives a severe beating. After several attempts to return to Gray Beaver, and subsequent beatings, White Fang stops.
Smith, a cruel man, forces White Fang into dog fights. After many months of misery, and after one particularly cruel fight with a bull dog, White Fang is rescued by Weedon Scott. Slowly, with great patience, kindness and love, Scott teaches White Fang that all men are not cruel. After months of dedication, determined to rehabilitate the abuse done to White Fang, the wolf begins to learn that feelings other than pain and fear are possible.
Brilliant novel. The “White Fang”, as is the “Call of the Wild”, remarkable and unforgettable.