The Call of the Wild by Jack London

The Call of the Wild is one of the USA’s most loved novels. The book was Jack London’s third novel and was first published in 1903.

It is the time of the Klondike Gold Rush and people flood north in the hope of making their fortunes. This migration spells trouble for Buck, the St. Bernard/sheepdog cross who is the hero of the story, as big, strong dogs like him are in demand.

Abducted violently from a comfortable, domesticated life with his indulgent master in California, Buck is thrown into the wilderness of north-west Canada to become a sled-dog. It is a brutal environment and Buck must learn to survive in this harsh land where the rule is to kill or be killed.

Through his many adventures, our hero begins to adapt by discovering his innate skills and abilities. But, as Buck leaves his old life behind, so deeper instincts stir and he is drawn by “the call of the wild.” Shocked at his own bloodlust and awed by the mysterious revelations of long-buried memories, Buck has to confront the different aspects that make up his true nature.

In many ways the book evokes the beauty and bounty of North America at the end of the nineteenth century, but underlying this idyll there beats a dark and savage heart. In this natural world, the trappings of civilization have no meaning and only the voices of the ancestors can guide you.

This edition has been completely reset in fresh type. Small editorial alterations (one of which makes the book more suitable for use in schools) have been made and the spelling style changed to modern US English.

The cover is a facsimile of the first edition’s cover images.