The Call of the Wild

By Jack London

Commonly considered to be Jack London's tour de force, The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a domesticated dog ripped from a comfortable life when he is stolen from his home on a California ranch. Sold to a pair of men in Canada, Buck is trained as a sled dog in cold wilderness of the Klondike region. However, Buck's ordeal has only begun, as he is forced to learn how to overcome both in the brutal conditions and as the primal social facets as a member of a dog sled pack.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media
• Release date: Nov 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781520045627

Jack London

Jack London was born in San Francisco on January 12th 1876, the unwanted child of a spiritualist mother and astrologer father. He was raised by Virginia Prentiss, a former slave, before rejoining his mother and her new husband, John London. Largely self-educated, the teenage Jack made money stealing oysters and working on a schooner before briefly studying at the University of Berkeley in 1896. He left to join the Klondike Gold Rush a year later, a phenomenon that would go on to form the background of his literary masterpieces, The Call of the Wild (1903) and White Fang (1906). Alongside his novel writing London dabbled in war reportage, agriculture and politics. He was married twice and had two daughters from his first marriage. London died in 1916 from complications of numerous chronic illnesses.

Book preview

Chapter I. Into the Primitive

"Old longings nomadic leap,

Chafing at custom's chain;

Again from its brumal sleep

Wakens the ferine strain."

Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego. Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland. These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.

Buck lived at a big house in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley. Judge Miller's place, it was called. It stood back from the road, half hidden among the trees, through which glimpses could be caught of the wide cool veranda that ran around its four sides. The house was approached by gravelled driveways which wound about through wide-spreading lawns and under the interlacing boughs of tall poplars. At the rear things were on even a more spacious scale than at the front. There were great stables, where a dozen grooms and boys held forth, rows of vine-clad servants' cottages, an endless and orderly array of outhouses, long grape arbors, green pastures, orchards, and berry patches. Then there was the pumping plant for the artesian well, and the big cement tank where Judge Miller's boys took their morning plunge and kept cool in the hot afternoon.

And over this great demesne Buck ruled. Here he was born, and here he had lived the four years of his life. It was true, there were other dogs, There could not but be other dogs on so vast a place, but they did not count. They came and went, resided in the populous kennels, or lived obscurely in the recesses of the house after the fashion of Toots, the Japanese pug, or Ysabel, the Mexican hairless,—strange creatures that rarely put nose out of doors or set foot to ground. On the other hand, there were the fox terriers, a score of them at least, who yelped fearful promises at Toots and Ysabel looking out of the windows at them and protected by a legion of housemaids armed with brooms and mops.

But Buck was neither house-dog nor kennel-dog. The whole realm was his. He plunged into the swimming tank or went hunting with the Judge's sons; he escorted Mollie and Alice, the Judge's daughters, on long twilight or early morning rambles; on wintry nights he lay at the Judge's feet before the roaring library fire; he carried the Judge's grandsons on his back, or rolled them in the grass, and guarded their footsteps through wild adventures down to the fountain in the stable yard, and even beyond, where the paddocks were, and the berry patches. Among the terriers he stalked imperiously, and Toots and Ysabel he utterly ignored, for he was king,—king over all creeping, crawling, flying things of Judge Miller's place, humans included.

His father, Elmo, a huge St. Bernard, had been the Judge's inseparable companion, and Buck bid fair to follow in the way of his father. He was not so large,—he weighed only one hundred and forty pounds,—for his mother, Shep, had been a Scotch shepherd dog. Nevertheless, one hundred and forty pounds, to which was added the dignity that comes of good living and universal respect, enabled him to carry himself in right royal fashion. During the four years since his puppyhood he had lived the life of a sated aristocrat; he had a fine pride in himself, was even a trifle egotistical, as country gentlemen sometimes become because of their insular situation. But he had saved himself by not becoming a mere pampered house-dog. Hunting and kindred outdoor delights had kept down the fat and hardened his muscles; and to him, as to the cold-tubbing races, the love of water had been a tonic and a health preserver.

And this was the manner of dog Buck was in the fall of 1897, when the Klondike strike dragged men from all the world into the frozen North. But Buck did not read the newspapers, and he did not know that Manuel, one of the gardener's helpers, was an undesirable acquaintance. Manuel had one besetting sin. He loved to play Chinese lottery. Also, in his gambling, he had one besetting weakness—faith in a system; and this made his damnation certain. For to play a system requires money, while the wages of a gardener's helper do not lap over the needs of a wife and numerous progeny.

The Judge was at a meeting of the Raisin Growers' Association, and the boys were busy organizing an athletic club, on the memorable night of Manuel's treachery. No one saw him and Buck go off through the orchard on what Buck imagined was merely a stroll. And with the exception of a solitary man, no one saw them arrive at the little flag station known as College Park. This man talked with Manuel, and money chinked between them.

You might wrap up the goods before you deliver 'm, the stranger said gruffly, and Manuel doubled a piece of stout rope around Buck's neck under the collar.

Twist it, an' you'll choke 'm plentee, said Manuel, and the stranger grunted a ready affirmative.

Buck had accepted the rope with quiet dignity. To be sure, it was an unwonted performance: but he had learned to trust in men he knew, and to give them credit for a wisdom that outreached his own. But when the ends of the rope were placed in the stranger's hands, he growled menacingly. He had merely intimated his displeasure, in his pride believing that to intimate was to command. But to his surprise the rope tightened around his neck, shutting off his breath. In quick rage he sprang at the man, who met him halfway, grappled him close by the throat, and with a deft twist threw him over on his back. Then the rope tightened mercilessly, while Buck struggled in a fury, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and his great chest panting futilely. Never in all his life had he been so vilely treated, and never in all his life had he been so angry. But his strength ebbed, his eyes glazed, and he knew nothing when the train was flagged and the two men threw him into the baggage car.

The next he knew, he was dimly aware that his tongue was hurting and that he was being jolted along in some kind of a conveyance. The hoarse shriek of a locomotive whistling a crossing told him where he was. He had travelled too often with the Judge not to know the sensation of riding in a baggage car. He opened his eyes, and into them came the unbridled anger of a kidnapped king. The man sprang for his throat, but Buck was too quick for him. His jaws closed on the hand, nor did they relax till his senses were choked out of him once more.

Yep, has fits, the man said, hiding his mangled hand from the baggageman, who had been attracted by the sounds of struggle. I'm takin' 'm up for the boss to 'Frisco. A crack dog-doctor there thinks that he can cure 'm.

Concerning that night's ride, the man spoke most eloquently for himself, in a little shed back of a saloon on the San Francisco water front.

All I get is fifty for it, he grumbled; an' I wouldn't do it over for a thousand, cold cash.

His hand was wrapped in a bloody handkerchief, and the right trouser leg was ripped from knee to ankle.

How much did the other mug get? the saloon-keeper demanded.

A hundred, was the reply. Wouldn't take a sou less, so help me.

That makes a hundred and fifty, the saloon-keeper calculated; and he's worth it, or I'm a squarehead.

The kidnapper undid the bloody wrappings and looked at his lacerated hand. If I don't get the hydrophoby—

It'll be because you was born to hang, laughed the saloon-keeper. Here, lend me a hand before you pull your freight, he added.

Dazed, suffering intolerable pain from throat and tongue, with the life half throttled out of him, Buck attempted to face his tormentors. But he was thrown down and choked repeatedly, till they succeeded in filing the heavy brass collar from off his neck. Then the rope was removed, and he was flung into a cagelike crate.

There he lay for the remainder of the weary night, nursing his wrath and wounded pride. He could not understand what it all meant. What did they want with him, these strange men? Why were they keeping him pent up in this narrow crate? He did not know why, but he felt oppressed by the vague sense of impending calamity. Several times during the night he sprang to his feet when the shed door rattled open, expecting to see the Judge, or the boys at least. But each time it was the bulging face of the saloon-keeper that peered in at him by the sickly light of a tallow candle. And each time the joyful bark that trembled in Buck's throat was twisted into a savage growl.

But the saloon-keeper let him alone, and in the morning four men entered and picked up the crate. More tormentors, Buck decided, for they were evil-looking creatures, ragged and

Reviews for The Call of the Wild

[angelarenea-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Maybe it's because I'm not a dog, but I just don't find it interesting being in the mind of Buck. I was very excited to read this because so many people raved about it, but it just didn't hold my interest even as a child.

[ron18-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's pretty hard to find fault with this story or the way it's told. It was particularly engaging to read while my family is in the process of rehabilitating a very fearful rescue dog. Jack London is among the go-to authors for perspective on how we think when you pare away frivolous comforts - and that's exemplified in CotW.

[john_warner-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When I initially read this American classic, I was in either elementary or high school. It had all the elements to entice a young boy. It is an adventure which occurs during the Yukon gold rush. The story's protagonist is Buck, an 140 lb St. Bernard and Scotch Collie mix, who is abducted from an easy life as the pet in St. Clara, California, and sold to dog traders who eventually sells him to mail couriers as a sled dog in the Yukon Territory. Buck will need to tap in to his more primeval instincts if he is to survive the harsh northern conditions. The third reason I chose this book is that it was short at less than 100 pages. I had recently read Moby Dick and I needed a break!It has been good revisiting some of the classics I read as a youth. They become more enjoyable when you understand better literary themes and metaphors.

[othemts · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Believe it or not, I've never read The Call of the Wild (1903) by Jack London, which one would think is a requirement of being a kid in America. And I still haven't read it, although on a whim I listened to my library's audiobook copy, albeit not very carefully. Narrated in an appropriately macho fashion by Frank Muller, The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck a farm dog who is kidnapped from Northern California and forced to pull sleds for for miners in the Yukon gold rush. A cushy pet learns to fight for food and compete for leadership of the pack through fighting and violence, and eventually becomes alpha dog in a wild wolf pack after his owner dies.Yes friends, before I read this book I knew it had something to do with Alaska and dogs, but I had no idea that the entire book is about a dog from a dog's point of view. Granted, the book is very symbolic in that we humans sit very tenuously on the edge of civilization and brutality and savageness (and London wrote this before the World Wars, the Holocaust, and all the horrors of the 20th century that tested humanity). Still, as a book about dogs it's a very good and accurate look at what may be going on in a dog's mind.

[stevenjohntait · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book. Everyone should read it.

[col2910_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis.......The story takes place in the extreme conditions of the Yukon during the 19th-century Klondike Gold Rush, where strong sled dogs were in high demand. After Buck, a domesticated dog, is snatched from a pastoral ranch in California, he is sold into a brutal life as a sled dog. The novella details Buck's struggle to adjust and survive the cruel treatment he receives from humans, other dogs, and nature. He eventually sheds the veneer of civilization altogether and instead relies on primordial instincts and the lessons he has learned to become a respected and feared leader in the wild.Published back in 1903 after the author had spent sometime in the aforementioned Yukon.I was looking for something a little bit different and quick to read after getting bogged down by another book which I wasn't enjoying. I had previously heard of this book, hasn't everyone(?) but can't recall reading it ever during my near half-century of years, not even in the dim and distant days of school. Glad I made the effort though.Gripping, exciting, moving.......a testament of an indomitable spirit, bravery, determination, loyalty, fearlessness, and probably another dozen or so admirable attributes. Sad in places, but ultimately an uplifting and rewarding read.I wouldn't put it past me finding more from London in the future.4 from 5Down-loaded free from the internet.

[heggiep · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this book a few pages at a time (distracted by Facebook, Instagram & Twitter - the usual suspects). When I finally finished it I felt I had read a wonderful, though quite violent, story. Yes, despite flaws, a great tale.

[firewild · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Trust, betrayal, loyalty and animal cruelty. A heart wrenching story about the life of dogs during the gold rush from an animal POV. I am not always a fan of such an approach but it worked well here. Highly engaging (worked well for an audiobook) but not black and white, as I could relate even to the most "evil" characters. I guess that's why it's a "classic" (mental note: "Read more classics"=).

[tripleblessings_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Stolen from his family home in California, whipped and brutalized, the big dog Buck quickly learns the harsh law of survival among the men and dogs of the gold-crazed North. He goes to the Klondike during the 1897 gold rush, becomes a sled dog, and fights his way to become a feared leader, even killing his rival. When he finds the one man he can love and trust, they make a formidable team. But ultimately Buck's instincts draw him to join the wild wolves of the north.

[jodyjoujou_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My first book ever to read when I started Middle school. One of my favorite lit books. Its a great book because it plays on all the different level of the readers' feelings. Sometimes I felt angry, sad, and some chapter and plot made me happy, excited. Overall I recommend it for anyone who needs to get into reading this book will make you want to read more.

[ague_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I rated this book a 9 out of 10. It is a great adventure story about a dog, and thus little or no dialogue takes place.

[arielfl · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I read this to help out my daughter who was assigned this book to read over the summer between sixth and seventh grade. I hated it. I wish they could have picked a better book. I could name 100 off the top of my head. My daughter is the greatest dog lover ever, she lives for dogs and this book was non stop violence against them. There were times that tears were pouring down her face. I think it's cruelty to make her read this book. All of the dogs die and in gruesome painful ways. If you are into reading about dogs being tortured then this is the book for you. After watching all of his friends drown Buck, the main dog character finally achieves a little kernel of happiness with the one person in the book who actually seems to care for dogs. Of course that is cruelly ripped away from him by some made up some blood thirsty Native Americans. Nice stereotype there. Other people are referred to as "half breeds". Not too PC. Thanks for tormenting school kids everywhere and making my daughter cry Jack London.

[dandelionroots · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

These tales are so brutal."All the easy moral maxims of social life are tested - and most found wanting - in this ferocious landscape. This sometimes seems to be one of London's driving motives, as though his calling is to remind everyone of the chill below the warmth of our cozy social conventions." (Tobey Hiller)

[msaucier818 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was a nice change of pace for me as I hadn't read a classic story in quite some time. I must say, I really enjoyed this short novel centered around the dog Buck. I think it is a very interesting idea to center a book around a dog, and London pulls it off beautifully. It takes us through the entire life of the dog, from his life on a farm to his days as a sled dog in Alaska. The transformation Buck makes from domesticated pet to primitive, instinctual animal is fascinating to read and think about. The descriptive language used by the author is outstanding. Overall, I can see why this is considered a classic and I look forward to reading more of him.

[eadieb-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this audio and enjoyed the story very much. I can't believe I never read this before. I loved Jack London's intuitive feeling for animals. This story traces Buck's sudden entry into the wild and his education in survival among the wolves. Jack London's writing is exceptional and makes him one of the greatest American storytellers. If you haven't read this yet, you should as it is a quick, easy and thrilling read.

[hopeevey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was quite impressed by this book. I expected a simple, canine adventure story. I did get an adventure story, but the most interesting part was the inner journey. As you read it, keep in mind that Mr. London sets up Buck as a person. It's easy to identify with him, and more difficult to identify with most of the humans in the story. It's definitely food for thought.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Honestly, the best part about this book was that it was narrated by Jeff Bridges. I love animal books but I feel as if I really would have enjoyed this much more in my youth. The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a mixed breed dog who is stolen from cozy home and his lush life as a house dog to be taken up north to be a sled dog during the Yukon Gold Rush. Buck quickly acclimates to the tough life and sets himself apart from the other dogs with his strength, smarts, and cunning. Told entirely through Buck's perspectives, this was one of the first popular books that had an animal as a narrator. To me the most interesting parts were about the wilderness, the scenery, and the people; it was a fascinating time during the late 1800s! Even though it is a little violent, this is a great kids book, especially for animal lovers!

[liscarey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another childhood favorite.

[goldletter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One I haven't read, but plan to. It has several pastel colored illustrations.

[bap1012 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Had a hard time with the violence of this book. I know it's a classic but it was not a rewarding read for me. I'm sure it was a shock when first published.

[mausergem_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The call of the wild, a fantastic book which strokes every reader’s vanity and pride, is about a southern dog, Buck who is taken from his farm and sold up north to draw sledges in the Arctic. The story is about his struggles with the new conditions and new masters.The book beautifully describes the transformation of a domesticated dog to wildness. A very powerful book.and a must read.

[debbiemccauley-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jack London’s book was first published in 1903 and this complete and unabridged hardcover reproduction does justice to the story with an attractive cover and illustrations throughout. Buck is a pampered half German shepherd, half saint Bernard dog who is king of his world which entails looking after Judge Miller’s Californian raisin farm. He is kidnapped by a servant and sold to pay gambling debts. This is when his education really begins ‘Again and again, as he looked at each brutal performance, the lesson was driven home to Buck: a man with a club was a lawgiver, a master to be obeyed’ (London, 2002, p. 29). The book is set in the time of the Klondike gold rush and Buck must learn to survive in the Yukon where men will do anything, nothing too low, for gold. ‘He had been suddenly jerked from the heart of civilisation and flung into the heart of things primordial’ (London, 2002, p. 37). The savagery of these working dogs in this harsh country is explored in Bucks witnessing a dog’s horrific death. ‘Two minutes from the time Curly went down, the last of her assailants were clubbed off. But she lay there limp and lifeless in the bloody, trampled snow, almost literally torn to pieces’ (London, 2002, p. 39). This book is riveting, a work of art. Jack London has so honed his craft that he can transport one into the very heart and soul of his character. I was hardly able to put this book down, even though the pure savagery at times had me cringing and close to tears, empathising with Buck and feeling his pain. ‘He is at times savage but ultimately he possesses a dignity, a wisdom, and even a sort of moral code that is so often lacking in the human world’ (Kilpatrick, W., et al., 1994, p. 173). When Buck is drawn to the wolf pack and finds the community he desires, the sense of happiness is overwhelming. This book is a masterpiece and should be read by all.

[yogimarley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A classic. London captures your imagination with an adventure story told through the eyes of a (involuntary) sled-dog. The progression from what equals slavery to eventual freedom provides a unique context. Bucks ability to adapt is interesting, making the best of his situation. His growth through the book can easily parallel anyone moving from their late teens to adulthood. I have issues with London as a person (primarily his bigotry towards the Chinese); however, I can't deny his lasting legacy in adventure writing. This story is timeless...

[sigmundfraud · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

loved it. I had never read Jack London before.

[qoomomo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story is about a dog, named Buck. At first, he lived in Mr.Miller's house in Santa Clara Valley, but he was stolen by someone who wanted money. After he was stolen, he was bought by another man with a lot of money because he was very clever and strong dog which could work in the cold and snow of the north.But why he had to work in such place? Because men wanted to find gold and become rich!Buck confront a lot of danger..I felt I had to be more strong! Buck was very strong not only physically, but also mentally. And I also thought that animals love wild, and they have feelings like human. For example, if they were attacked by human, they feel bad and give them back biting or barking. I have a dog now, so I would like to cherish him more than before.

[moonimal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have such a strong memory of reading this book in seventh grade - listening to my teacher talk about Buck, and paging through one of those hardbound school editions. After reading about this book on some literary blog, I re-read it in two nights while on a business trip, and loved it all over again.What to say?"An' dat Buck fight lak two hells," was Francios answer.

[cyderry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the book telling the story of a dog named Buck. He is a magnifiicently strong animal that is stolen from his farm in California and sent off to the Yukon becoming a member of a dog sled team. The style of the story reminds a great deal of Black Beauty coming from the animal's POV. I wasn't sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised at a fast paced tale.

[annbury_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As London might have put it, a rattling good yarn, and an extraordinarily interesting study of canine character. Buck, the pet dog of a wealthy family in central California, is kidnapped, sold, and transported to the Yukon to be used as a sled dog. He suffers at the hands of men and the paws (and teeth) of other dogs, but eventually emerges as a supreme sled dog. Then, he is saved from near death by a man he comes to love as his master, and lives and works with his master and his master's partners, who mine gold in the Canadian wilderness. More and more, however, he is drawn by "the call of the wild", the lure of a truly wild life as lived by wolves. Eventually, after his master is killed in an Indian attack, he follows the call.The book was written in 1903, and the style and context show it (interesting to remember that a big chunk of North America was a trackless waste that recently). As a dog story, however, it is remarkably up to date, focussing on the dog's inheritance from its wolf ancestors. That's just now being confirmed by genetic analysis, as is the fact that some dogs (like huskies) are genetically much closer to wolves than some other breeds. A great read for dog and adventure loving kids, but also a great read for this almost-70 New Yorker.

[cyphred · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think the author really expressed the virtue of loyalty in his book. Buck never left Thorton, and even after he died returned there every year. Another theme is survival of the fittest. The author creates many tests for Buck's strength and perseverance. Buck passed all these and the author made it clear. I would recommend this book to anyone.

[bridgey_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My third book by the author, and a possible reread (I remember some parts but not sure if I ever finished it).Basically the tale tells the life of Buck ( a Saint Bernard-Scotch shepherd dog) and the life he leads. At times harrowing, we follow Buck as he is stolen from a comfortable life and sold as a sledge dog. He rediscovers the primordial instinct for survival and endures all hardships put upon him. This includes being beaten by humans, driven to near death on the sledge and still having to fight for mastery over his fellows canines.Not exactly a light-hearted read with death on nearly every page, but an excellent representation of the attitudes of the early 20th century and the will to survive.Would I recommend it? Everytime.Would I reread it? One day.Am I glad I read it? Definitely