The Call of the WildA 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. |
Contents
A Brief Chronology | |
A Note on the Text | |
The Klondike in Reality and Myth | |
Darwin on Dogs and | |
Outside and Inside Dogs in the Northland | |
Instinct Memory Recapitulation and Atavism | |
Londons First Dog Story | |
From Letter to George P Brett 24 July 1903 | |
From Letter to George P Brett 10 August 1903 | |
From Letter to Marshall Bond 17 December 1903 | |
From Letter to Karl E Harriman 12 December 1910 | |
From Letter to Frank A Garbutt 5 February 1915 | |
Reviews of The Call of the Wild 1 From New York Times Saturday Review of Books and Art 25 July 1903 | |
From Outlook 25 July 1903 | |
The Plagiarism Issue | |