“The Call of the Wild” by Jack London

“The Call of the Wild” is a classic American novel written by Jack London, published in 1903. Set in the Yukon during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, the story follows a domesticated dog named Buck, who is stolen from his home in California and sold into the brutal life of an Alaskan sled dog. The novel explores themes of survival, primitive instincts, and the struggle between civilization and nature.

Dates:

• “The Call of the Wild” was first published in serialized form in the Saturday Evening Post from June 20 to July 18, 1903.
• Macmillan published The novel in book form on July 24, 1903, and it quickly became a bestseller.

Details:

1. Jack London drew inspiration for “The Call of the Wild” from his own experiences in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1890s.
2. The novel was London’s first big success as a writer, and he was paid $750 for the serialization rights to the story.
3. The original manuscript for “The Call of the Wild” was 32,000 words long, but London edited it down to around 25,000 words to fit the serialized format.
4. “The Call of the Wild” has been translated into over 100 languages.
5. The novel has been adapted into numerous films, plays, and other media, with the most recent film adaptation released in 2020, starring Harrison Ford.
6. “The Call of the Wild” is considered a classic of American literature and is often studied in schools as part of the curriculum.
7. The success of the novel led to a sequel, “White Fang,” published in 1906, which is often seen as a companion piece to “The Call of the Wild.”

Effects on Pop Culture:

• “The Call of the Wild” has influenced countless works of literature, film, and television that explore the relationship between humans and nature and the theme of survival in the wilderness.
• The novel has also contributed to the enduring popularity of stories set during the Klondike Gold Rush.
• The character of Buck has become a symbol of the power of nature and the struggle to adapt and survive in harsh environments.

Prominent People and Countries:

• Jack London, the American author of “The Call of the Wild,” was a prolific writer and considered one of the first American authors to achieve worldwide fame and financial success.
• The novel is set in the Yukon Territory, Canada, during the Klondike Gold Rush, which attracted thousands of prospectors from the United States and other countries in the late 1890s.
• Famous adaptations of “The Call of the Wild” have starred prominent actors, including Clark Gable, Charlton Heston, and Harrison Ford.