War of the Classes

Jack London grew up in abject poverty, scraping by through a combination of both legal and under-the-table ways of making money since he was a boy. He was a sailor and at one point became swept up in the Klondike gold rush.

'The Call of the Wild', the timeless story of sled-dog Buck, brought him overnight fame throughout the literary world, and set him on the path to worldwide readership. London, entirely self-educated, cited Darwin, Marx, and Nietzsche among his main philosophical influences. This, he argues, caused him to lean towards socialism. His writings took place prior to the rise of Communism in the Soviet Union.

Nonetheless, 'War of the Classes', first published in 1904, is not merely an account of London’s sociopolitical musings, but also an overview of his impoverished, yet excited and hopeful generation.

If you enjoyed Roman Polanski's 2005 movie 'Oliver Twist', this book will prove an endless source of fascination for you.



Jack London (1876–1916) was an American writer and social activist. He grew up in the working class, but became a worldwide celebrity and one of the highest paid authors of his time. He wrote several novels, which are considered classics today, among these 'Call of the Wild', 'Sea Wolf' and 'White Fang'.