The smallest work of Jack London. Jack London: works (list)

Years of life: from 01/12/1876 to 11/22/1916

North American writer, journalist. He is best known as the author of adventure stories and novels. In the USSR, D. London's works were widely known and popular.

Born San Francisco, Mia John Griffith Cheney at birth. The future writer's mother, Flora Wellman, was a music teacher. The writer's father, astrologer William Cheney, insisted that Flora have an abortion, but she refused and even tried to shoot herself, but was unsuccessful.

In late 1876, Flora married John London, a disabled veteran of the American Civil War. The boy's name began to be John London (Jack is a literary pseudonym). After some time, the family moved to the city of Oakland, neighboring San Francisco, where London graduated from school.

D. London's family was poor and he began an independent working life early and tried a huge number of professions. I sold newspapers as a schoolboy. At the age of fourteen he entered a canning factory as a worker. He was an “oyster pirate,” catching oysters in San Francisco Bay, which was prohibited. In 1893, he hired himself as a sailor on a fishing schooner, going to catch seals on the shores of Japan and in the Bering Sea. Subsequently, he also worked as an ironer in a laundry and as a fireman.

London's first essay, “A Typhoon Off the Coast of Japan,” which launched his literary career, was published on November 12, 1893.

In 1894 he took part in the march of the unemployed on Washington, after which he spent a month in prison for vagrancy. In 1895 he joined the Socialist Workers Party of the USA, later a member of the Socialist Party of the USA, from which he left in 1914 due to loss of faith in its “fighting spirit”. Having prepared independently and successfully passed the entrance exams, Jack London entered the University of California, but after the 3rd semester, due to lack of funds for his studies, he was forced to leave. In the spring of 1897, Jack London succumbed to the gold rush and left for Alaska. The search for gold was unsuccessful and in 1898 D. London returned to San Francisco, after which he began to seriously study literature.

D. London's first northern stories were published in 1899, and already in 1900 his first book was published - a collection of stories “Son of the Wolf”. In 1902, London visited London, which gave him material for writing the book “People of the Abyss,” which became popular in the United States. In the same year, the writer married Elisabeth Maddern and had two daughters. Upon returning to America, he gave lectures in different cities, mainly of a socialist propaganda nature, and organized departments of the General Student Society. In 1904-05 London works as a war correspondent during the Russo-Japanese War. Upon returning, he divorces his wife and marries her ex-girlfriend Charmaine Kittredge. In 1907 the writer undertook a trip around the world. In 1909, D. London's most famous novel, Martin Eden, was published.

In recent years, London has been experiencing a creative crisis, which is why he began to abuse alcohol (he later quit).

D. London died on November 22, 1916 in the town of Glen Ellen (California). In recent years he suffered from kidney disease and died from poisoning from morphine prescribed to him. It is not known for certain whether the writer’s death was the result of an accidental overdose or whether he committed suicide.

During the writer's lifetime, forty-four of his books were published - novels and stories, articles and stories, plays and reports. Six collections were published after the death of the writer. A total of fifty books in seventeen years of literary activity.
D. London was already a very wealthy man by 1907, his fee reached 50 thousand dollars per book (at that time this was a huge amount).

Bibliography

(estimates: 3 , average: 3,67 out of 5)

Jack London, whose real name is John Griffith Cheney, was born in the middle of winter - January 12, 1876 in the States. The parents of the future writer cannot be called ordinary: John’s mother was always stubborn, self-willed, and besides, she was involved in spiritualism; his father was an astrologer and loved adventure, which was inherited by Jack London.

Little John received the surname “London” when he was not even a year old. During this time, his mother married a Civil War veteran, John London. Soon the stepfather's surname became the writer's creative pseudonym. By the way, Jack is just a shortened version of the name John.

Jack was accustomed to hard work since childhood: as a schoolboy, he sold newspapers. To earn money, he got up before dawn. Both before and after classes the boy returned to work. Oddly enough, this did not stop him from reading: as a child, Jack liked adventure literature most of all.

Jack London loved the sea no less than books, so at the age of thirteen he bought a small boat with his own money. On it he took boat trips, fished and read.

When Jack turned fifteen, he had to get a job in a canning factory, since the family had almost no money left to live on. The conditions at the factory were terrible, the wages were pitiful, and people were injured every day. Energetic Jack could not stand the monotonous mechanical work, so he began to look for alternative ways to earn money. So he began to engage in illegal oyster fishing and, beginning to lead a riotous life, spent all his earnings on drinking bouts. Having come to his senses in time, Jack hired a ship for legal work - catching fur seals.

In general, in his youth, the future writer managed to try almost all the “delights” of life: after working on a ship for six months, he joined the march of the unemployed, and as a result lived for the same amount of time with vagabonds. During this period, Jack decides to get an education and start a writing career. Now he began intellectual work: he graduated from high school and even passed the entrance exams to the University of California, Berkeley. But since young London did not have enough money, he had to give up his studies.

Jack began writing his first stories and novels at the age of 22. All his works were constantly returned from the editorial offices of newspapers and magazines, which soon served as the basis for writing a novel. After six months of persistent unsuccessful attempts, his story was finally published.

The dizzying success became a real gift of fate for Jack London: now he earned incomparably more than ever and could afford everything he wanted. Yes, the writer, who grew up in poverty, highly valued his wealth.

Jack London lived only forty years, but managed to write more than two hundred stories, novellas and novels. His works became known throughout the world, and “White Fang” and “Hearts of Three” were included in the school curriculum. But the main thing is not even this, but the fact that this man, thanks to his perseverance, courage and hard work, managed to make his dream come true.

Jack London, bibliography

All books by Jack London:

Novels

  • 1902 - “Daughter of the Snows”
  • 1903 - ""
  • 1903 - “Letters from Campton to Wes”
  • 1904 — " "
  • 1906 - ""
  • 1908 - ""
  • 1909 - ""
  • 1910 — “Time-can’t-wait”
  • 1911 - “Adventure”
  • 1912 — “The Scarlet Plague”
  • 1913 - ""
  • 1914 - "Mutiny on Elsinore"
  • 1915 — "

For a large circle of Russian readers, Jack London is one of the most beloved authors. Surprisingly, the love for him has not subsided for many years. In the Soviet years, only collections of fairy tales for children by Hans Christian Andersen could compete with his novels in popularity. From 1918 to 1986, more than 77 million copies of various London novels, stories and stories were published in the country. He was loved and continues to be loved by children and adults, schoolchildren, students and pensioners.

Today, interest in the writer’s work has not faded. And if there is some decline, it is associated with a general decline in interest in reading in general. Few writers are published in huge numbers: for many children, computer games have replaced books, and adults simply do not have any free time for literature. Nevertheless, the name of Jack London remains at the top not only of adventure literature, but also of philosophical, life-affirming literature, which could only be born under the hand of a strong and strong-willed person.

List of works by Jack London

Almost all of Jack London's works convey the message that a person must fight to the end, no matter how bad and difficult it may be for him. In his works, he glorified courage, humanity, strength of will and character, the strength of convictions and faith in a just cause. Therefore, you can always find from this writer.

List of works by Jack London (novels and stories in chronological order):

  • Daughter of the Snows;
  • Travel on the Dazzling;
  • Call of the Wild;
  • Campton's letters to Wes;
  • Sea wolf;
  • A game;
  • White Fang;
  • Before Adam;
  • Iron heel;
  • Martin Eden;
  • Time-cannot-wait;
  • Adventure;
  • Scarlet Plague;
  • Fierce beast;
  • Moon Valley;
  • Mutiny on Elsinore;
  • Interstellar Hulk;
  • Little mistress of a big house;
  • Jerry the Islander;
  • Michael, Jerry's brother;
  • Hearts of three.

Video about one of the best books by Jack London “Martin Eden”

He also wrote more than 200 stories. During his lifetime, 16 author's collections were published:

  • Son of the Wolf;
  • God of his fathers;
  • Children of Frost;
  • Male fidelity;
  • Moonface;
  • Love of life;
  • Stories from the Fishing Patrol;
  • Lost face;
  • South Sea Tales;
  • When the gods laugh;
  • Temple of Pride;
  • Smoke Bellew;
  • Son of the Sun;
  • Born in the night;
  • The power of the strong;
  • Tasman turtles.

After the writer’s death, three more collections were published:

  • Red deity;
  • On the Makaloa mat;
  • Dutch valor.

The most famous works of London

One of the writer’s most famous works is the novel “Martin Eden.” The main character is, in fact, London itself. His biographers find many similarities between him and the character he invented.

In this work, the author clearly shows that true humanity, love of beauty, and loyalty live not in the hearts of representatives of the upper class, but among ordinary workers, people from the people. A knowledgeable reader will immediately determine that the worldview of the prose writer was seriously influenced by such philosophers and sociologists as Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Nietzsche.

The tragedy is based on the protagonist’s desire to understand the cultural values ​​of the past. Martin Eden, who has not received any education, suddenly begins to study various sciences and reads books avidly. After a while, he himself becomes a writer, but not a single publishing house accepts his manuscripts. When success comes to him, Martin realizes that the desire for fame and fortune is nothing.

If you name the best books by Jack London, then you cannot ignore the political novel The Iron Heel. Both books were created by the author in the period from 1906 to 1909. He finished writing “Martin Eden” in 1909, and “The Iron Heel” in 1907 (in the same period, a collection of articles “Revolution” and a collection of essays "The Road").

Among London's earlier works, the novel The Sea Wolf can be noted. The main character, Captain Wolf Larsen, pays with his life for misunderstanding the importance of other people on the team and believing too much in his own exceptionalism.

Jack London's stories for children

Jack London is even better known for his works for children and teenagers than for his political novels and social tragedies. The list of Jack London's books for children is quite impressive. First of all, the novel should be called “The Call of the Wild.”

Although it is classified as children's literature, this writer's work is one of the earliest in his bibliography and is also interesting to mature readers. The plot takes place during the gold rush. A sled dog named Beck is trying to survive in difficult northern conditions. He develops difficult relationships with his relatives, he passes from one owner to another, and at the end of the novel it is described how he is drawn to the wild nature, which wins in himself, and he becomes the leader of a wolf pack.

The novel is not very long and is often published in the same book with the adventure story “White Fang”. As in The Call of the Wild, the main character is not a man, but a beast. This time - a wolf nicknamed White Fang. As a wolf cub, he first became acquainted with the human world. During his life, he encounters human malice and kindness many times. All the twists and turns of fate lead to the fact that he, a wolf by blood, becomes a sled dog, and devotion to man acquires the status of law for him. In this work, the author, in his characteristic manner, through cruelty, glorifies the justice of nature.

Jack London also has stories for children. At the same time, the writer’s work is not usually divided into literature for children and literature for mature readers. Most of his works are written in simple language, they are easy to read, and everyone finds something of their own in them. Children are interested in how the heroes of London cope with difficulties and how they seek adventure. People brought up on his books know how to value kindness and justice. Well, London is close to older readers because he had a very good sense of wild nature and understood the essence of human nature. In some works he foresaw future political cataclysms (the novel “The Iron Heel”), and in others he spoke about the futility and uselessness of an individual’s selfish desires.

Films based on works of London

Films based on Jack London's books were released repeatedly in both the USA and the USSR (and then in Russia), Canada, and Germany. Domestic audiences are best familiar with the film adaptation of the novel “Hearts of Three.” It must be said that the novel itself was written during a period of creative crisis in the biography of Jack London, and is not considered a strong work. Nevertheless, the Russian-Ukrainian film was very much loved by the Russian-speaking public. The main roles in the film were played by Vladimir Shevelkov, Sergei Zhigunov and Alena Khmelnitskaya. It is curious that in the novel the main characters, Henry and Francis, are like two peas in a pod. In the film, these characters are not even remotely similar.

A film based on the novel “Martin Eden” was not made in the Soviet Union, but there is a television play released in 1976. In 1982, the play “Theft” was also released in the format of a television play.

Quite often, directors turned to the novel “The Sea Wolf”. Interestingly, in the first film adaptation in 1913, London personally took part in the filming as an actor, playing a sailor in one episode. In our country in 1990, a 4-part film based on “The Sea Wolf” was shot. Wolf Larsen was played by Lyubomiras Laucevicius. A short series in 2009 was also shot by American director Mike Barker. Film masters Tim Roth and Sebastian Koch played in the adventure drama.

Films based on White Fang are very popular. The first film adaptation of the work was released in the USSR in 1946. Then in 1973 directors from France and Italy turned to the story. The Hollywood version was released in 1991. And three years later, White Fang 2 was filmed in Hollywood; the film had virtually no connection with London’s original work.

Film based on the book by Jack London

There are other films based on the stories of Jack London. For example, in 1993, the television series “Alaska Kid” was released, a joint production of Russia, Poland and Germany. The series is based on several works by London. The film takes place during the gold rush, the main characters are passionate about the idea of ​​​​searching for gold, for this passion they have to endure various disasters, experience hardships and find themselves in difficult situations, from which they, of course, find a way out.

In total, more than a hundred film adaptations of the writer’s works are known. Films based on the works of Jack London are also interesting to different audiences. They are usually loved by both adults and children.

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Jack London) - famous American writer. Born January 12, 1876 in San Francisco. At birth he was given the name Griffith Chaney. He worked in the genre of literature, the author of several dozen world-famous works.

His birth, or rather the story of his birth, is not a very bright story. His mother Flora Wellman was a music teacher and was actively involved in spiritualism, i.e. calling spirits. She claimed that she was in constant communication with the Indian leader, but it was very difficult to prove this. She lived with William Cheney, who was an astrologer. Having learned about her pregnancy, the father of the future writer forced her to have an abortion, but she refused and tried to commit suicide, but as a result she only slightly injured herself by shooting from a pistol.

After Jack's birth, London was placed in the care of Virginia Prentiss, a former slave. For Jack, she became a second mother. In 1876, his mother married John London and took her son with her. Since then they began to call him Jack London.

Not yet becoming a writer, Jack London eked out a half-starved existence. He sold newspapers and books, worked in a canning factory, caught oysters illegally, was an ironer, fireman and sailor. It was working as a sailor that became one of the greatest impressions in his life. Later he wrote many sea works about this, in particular The Sea Wolf.

The beginning of his literary career dates back to 1893. Then his first essay was published, called Typhoon off the coast of Japan. For this work he received his first prize. He began to work closely with fiction only in 1899, when, after returning from Alaska, he wrote a whole series of stories about the northern lands. These books, stories and novels brought him worldwide fame. Some of the most famous are White Fang, Hearts of Three, The Call of the Wild and so on. In total, he wrote about 40 books during his life. In addition to his adventure works, D. London also wrote several works: Goliath, Scarlet Plague, When the World Was Young and some others.

In the last years of his life, he began to abuse alcohol heavily, as he was experiencing a severe creative crisis. He even had to buy a plot for a new novel. He bought it for $78,000 from another writer, Lewis Sinclair. The novel was called “The Murder Bureau,” but Jack London was never destined to write it.

On November 22, 1916, at the age of 40, in the town of Glen Ellen, the famous writer, who gave the world many amazing books that are still studied in schools in many countries, died of morphine poisoning. He was not a drug addict at all - morphine was prescribed to him for the kidney disease uremia. His grave is located in Jack London State Park, Glen Ellen.

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Books by Jack London:

White Fang

Daughter of the Snows

Moon Valley

Little mistress of a big house

Smoke Bellew

Sea Wolf

Call of the Wild

Scarlet Plague

In Eddo Bay

In a distant land

Great mystery

Great magician

Enemy of the whole world

John - barley grain

Yellow scarf

Pearls of Parley

For those who are on the way

Law of life

Green serpent

Golden Canyon

Sperm whale tooth

Moon Valley

Interstellar Hulk

Voyage on the Snark

Northern Odyssey

Hearts of Three

Scary Solomon Islands

Son of the Sun

The path of false suns

A thousand deaths

Temple of Pride

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The most legendary American writer is Jack London (books). The list contains the best works of the author, for which he became famous throughout the world.

Martin Eden

The novel tells about the difficult fate of a poor guy who later became a writer. Martin's life was turned upside down by his meeting with Ruth, an intelligent, educated girl who immediately fell in love with the young man. Experiencing such strong feelings as love, Martin changes externally and internally, stops communicating with old acquaintances and suddenly realizes how insignificant the world and its love are. Further

Little Mistress of the Big House

The work, released shortly before the death of Jack London, is dedicated to the relationships of strong personalities. The novel is full of love intricacies and intrigues, but this does not prevent it from being noble. According to the writer himself, this is his best work, in which he managed to truly convey the feelings and emotions that love evokes in people’s hearts. Further

Hearts of three

The exciting story of the young millionaire Francis and his cousin Henry Morgan, whose distant ancestor was the famous pirate captain. The brothers go in search of an ancient treasure and when a charming girl named Leoncia joins them, they both fall in love with her. The novel has been filmed many times both in the West and in Russia. Further

You can subjugate a person, but you cannot kill his desire to be free - the main theme of a little-known work in Russia. Crazy by the standards of those around him, the main character knows how to leave his body and travel through ancient countries and eras. His physical body is locked, but does that matter if the soul moves freely at any time... Continue

A work called a road novel because of the hero’s constant wanderings in search of a place where he would be truly happy. In the novel, Jack London expresses his protest against socialism and sees a future in farm life. After several years of searching and wandering, the main characters leave the city, finding their happiness in life on a farm in the Valley of the Moon. Further

The world of big business is cruel and knows no mercy. Having acquired money and long-awaited power, the main character of the novel suddenly realizes that true human values ​​are loyalty, love and a strong family. He gives up financial well-being and remains to live with the woman he loves far from the city. The novel was banned in the Soviet Union and was not published for a long time. Further

Professor Darrell was sentenced to death and awaits punishment in prison. During a harsh punishment in a straitjacket, he unexpectedly finds himself in his previous incarnations in different countries and eras: the intelligent Count Guillaume de Saint-Maur in France of the Middle Ages, a nine-year-old boy who did not chicken out in a moment of danger, the head of the legion under Pontius Pilate... Continue

Jack London's first novel, Daughter of the Snows, tells the story of the travels of a young American woman, Frona Wells. Many years later, she returns to her father, having received an excellent, comprehensive education, but without losing human sincerity and simplicity. The book includes several stories from different years, describing the life of treasure hunters during the gold rush. Further

One of Jack London's best novels. After a storm on the ship, the captain of the schooner "Ghost" saves the life of a young sailor, Humphrey. To survive and be able to protect his love, the young man will have to fight a cunning and cruel captain who promotes a special philosophy. Only true love will help Humphrey overcome obstacles and become a real sea wolf himself. Further

White Fang

The harsh North leaves a mark on the souls of people and animals. The main character of the story, a wolf named White Fang, learned to survive even in the most terrible conditions. Jack London describes in detail the psychology, behavior and actions of White Fang, showing how care and affection towards the animal teaches him to give love. And for a tame wolf, love was worth more than life. Further

Adventure

The novel "Adventure" tells about the dangerous life of white colonists among the cannibal natives in the Solomon Islands. The work depicts in detail the ways of life, traditions and rituals of the indigenous peoples of some of the most mysterious islands on Earth. In the Soviet Union, the novel was called racist and was banned from publication for sixty-four long years. Further

Iron heel

The writer, as if looking into the future, accurately describes the society that appeared several years after the publication of the novel. And to this day, the work has not lost its relevance: billionaires, terrorists, spies... Nineteen years have already passed, and, despite all efforts, no one has been able to figure out who dropped the bomb. It was some member of the Iron Heel, but how could he get past our agents undetected? Further

Scarlet Plague

In 2013, an unknown virus hits the Earth, killing people in a few hours. A disease called the Scarlet Plague takes over the planet, leaving only a few alive. Jack London's book "The Scarlet Plague" talks about a new society where completely different rules apply, similar to the laws of the animal world and absolutely wild for modern man. Further

An exciting story about a dangerous voyage in the southern seas on a sailing ship sailing to Cape Horn. After the tragic death of the captain, the crew of the sailing ship was divided into two groups. Conflicts among the sailors and the raging elements force the main character to stop silently observing what is happening and finally become himself - a strong-willed and strong person with leadership qualities. Further