JACK LONDON: Adventures, Ideas, and Fiction

by James Lundquist ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 21, 1986

A short, concise biography that covers the main aspects of the writer's life in a direct manner. An effort is made to see London in the context of his time and to be frank about many things that make him so controversial to this day. London was traveler, sportswriter, athlete, bon vivant, novelist and an indefatigable, that lifelong student. How he managed all this and kept himself in the public eye (even Hemingway couldn't match his he-man image) is both intriguing and dazzling. He was blessed with great stamina and, for the most part, was a likable, generous, friendly man. Some have called him a racist, but at least in the case of Jack Johnson, London admired his boxing prowess and merely stated the prevalent thought, i.e., the white hope notion. His socialism was real, but it did not prevent him from living well. He was a phenomenon, self-educated to a great degree, working-class, prolific and dynamic. Ford Madox Ford once described him as a boy who didn't want to grow up. Whatever his faults, he captured the public's admiration like a modern rock star, then died at 40. This biography gives a good blow-by-blow of London's life and does it without hokum. This should encourage people to take another look.

Pub Date: Jan. 21, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Ungar--dist. by Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1986

Categories: NONFICTION