Jack London with Call of the Wild

London’s Childhood Born in 1876 on the Barbary Coast of San Francisco Raised by mother, Flora Wellman, and stepfather, John London Childhood marked by poverty & unhappiness

London at age 8 with dog Rollo

Became an avid reader at age 10 when an Oakland librarian encouraged him to escape his life of poverty through reading. Bought his first sailboat at age 12—loved to sail

Youth—Adventure/Responsibility Dropped out of school at age 14 & had series of low-paying jobs: Seaman delivered paperssweatshop worked in canneryfreight train hobo cleaned local saloon

Forming Ideas/Attitudes Experiences that shaped London’s life and attitudes: -oyster pirate -seal hunter in the North Pacific -1894—arrested & jailed in Niagara Falls for vagrancy -adopted socialistic views Educated self by reading in public library Attended University of California at Berkeley Left school after 1 year to seek his fortune in gold fields

Adventure Traveled to Klondike Gold Rush in 1897 Spent one winter at Split-Up Island, near the Stewart River Did not find gold; had a wealth of experiences he would later use to write stories and books Returned home to support himself and his family by publishing his writing

Jack London outfitted to travel to the gold fields of the Klondike Gold Rush

Adult Life An avid sailor—loved his boat, the Snark

Aboard the Snark with friends

Married twice—two daughters

Bess Maddern—London’s first wife Becky and Joan London—London’s daughters

Charmian London Jack London’s second wife

London owned and loved a ranch in Sonoma Valley

London’s Directions to his ranch at Glen Ellen

The Londons at home

London—the Author Began avidly writing in 1897 He commonly spent 15 hours a day writing Daily quota of 1000 written words a day Became recognized as a talented & successful writer

Jack London wrote 50 books and 1,000 articles between 1899 and 1916.

The Londons several weeks prior to his death

Jack London died on November 22, 1916. A memorial for he and his second wife, Charmian Kittredge, is located at Glen Ellen.