Jack London
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“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them, I shall use my time.”
– Jack London 1876-1916
Jack London was a very adventurous man. Traveling throughout his life and witnessing events influenced his writing. London wrote stories of brutality and adventure based on his life experiences.
London was also influenced by the socialistic theories of Karl Marx. Londons rough view of the world changed dramatically as he studied the works of Marx. Often Londons writings attacked social abuses and advocated Marxist beliefs. In the summer of 1902 Jack London lived in the slums of London, England, gathering material for his book “The People of the Abyss.” He found the underworld of that great city beyond his belief; broken, and without hope, and he wrote of it as he found it. It is a remarkable book and perhaps unique as a presentation of existence below the level of life.
London traveled to many places throughout his life. He built a ship and named it the Smark. The Smark had many technical difficulties but London managed to make it to Hawaii and had his ship repaired. Once his ship was fixed London traveled all across the pacific islands. After traveling to Japanese waters, London met baby wolves. Meeting the wolves was an inspiration to write about the wild. London spent much time around the wolves and witnessed how they lived and interacted with each other. London wrote many stories that involved the behavior of wolves and how they acted in the wild.
Jack used Darwins theory of “survival of the