The Call of the Wild
Jack London's 1903 novella follows Buck, a domestic dog taken to the Klondike gold rush and forced to become a sled dog.
- Author
- Jack London
- First published
- 1903
- Setting
- Klondike Gold Rush, 1890s
- Genre
- Adventure novella
- Read it if you like
- A fast adventure with a dog as the hero and the far north as the setting.
- On screen and stage
- Several films, including one in 2020
Overview
Buck, a large dog living comfortably in California, is stolen and sold into the Yukon gold rush, where dogs are needed to pull sleds. He learns the “law of club and fang”, survives rivals and harsh owners, and gradually draws on older instincts. The story follows his path from pet to leader of the wild.
Themes
- Instinct and civilisation
- Survival
- Leadership
- Nature
Background
London spent time in the Klondike in 1897–98 and used the experience for his northern stories. The novella was published in 1903 and made him famous.
Why it endures
It is brisk, readable and widely taught, and it shows London's blend of adventure and naturalism.
Quotes
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.