The Road

By Jack London

The Road is an autobiographical memoir by Jack London, first published in 1907. It is London's account of his experiences as a hobo in the 1890s, during the worst economic depression the United States had experienced up to that time.[1] He describes his experiences hopping freight trains, "holding down" a train when the crew is trying to throw him off, begging for food and money, and making up extraordinary stories to fool the police. He also tells of the thirty days that he spent in the Erie County Penitentiary, which he described as a place of "unprintable horrors," after being "pinched" (arrested) for vagrancy. In addition, he recounts his time with Kelly's Army, which he joined up with in Wyoming and remained with until its dissolution at the Mississippi River.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WS
• Release date: May 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9782291028369

Jack London

Jack London (1876-1916) was not only one of the highestpaid and most popular novelists and short-story writers of his day, he was strikingly handsome, full of laughter, and eager for adventure on land or sea. His stories of high adventure and firsthand experiences at sea, in Alaska, and in the fields and factories of California still appeal to millions of people around the world.

Reviews for The Road

[stbalbach_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sketches of people, places and events by a teenage London who rode the rails during the 1890s looking for adventure. He begged, stole and generally whatever he could not to work. Lots of flavor in the slang terms and details of riding trains. Remarkable how innocent and simple the times were, yet also brutal. I've read better tramping memoirs from this period, there are good moments and some snoozers. Worthwhile. Significant for biographical details about London.

[jbreedlove_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great find. Learned alot about JL, the 1890's, and the way America used to be. An honest telling of his days being a 'profesh' hobo and by default about an America long gone buy. He lived during the times of reaction to the Robber Barons. Probably not too popular because JL was an obvious racist but most from that time were. He only lived to 40 but he squeezed a lot out of hos life for sure.