Books With Flair

A best-seller from its first publication in 1903, The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a big mongrel dog who is shipped from his comfortable life in California to Alaska, where he must adapt to the harsh life of a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush. The narrative recounts Buck’s brutal obedience training, his struggle to meet the demands of human masters, and his rise to the position of lead sled dog as a result of his superior physical and mental qualities. Finally, Buck is free to respond to the “call” of the wilderness. Over a hundred years after its publication, Jack London’s “dog story” retains the enduring appeal of a classic. This Broadview Edition includes a critical introduction that explores London’s life and legacy and the complex scientific and psychological ideas drawn upon by London in writing the story. The appendices include material on the Klondike, Darwin’s writings on dogs, other contemporary writings on instinct and atavism, and maps of the regions in which the story takes place.

The Call of the Wild (1903) and White Fang (1906) are world famous animal stories.

Examines Jack London's The Call of the Wild from the Yukon Gold Rush to the animal rights issues confronting our society today.

Teachers have found The Call of the Wild--from the very earliest days of its publication in 1903--to be a novella rich in instructional possibilities in history, geography, and ethics as well as literature. In this resource book for teachers, Daniel Dyer provides an array of activities--traditional and nontraditional--to accommodate a wide range of students, teachers, schools and communities. Dyer’s instructional ideas will stimulate exploration of such subjects as California and Klondike history and geography; tranportation by rail, ferry, steamship, and dog teams; techniques of gold mining; breeds of dogs; and subarctic flora and fauna--as well as the novel’s great literary themes.

Jack London's The Call of the Wild became an immediate literary sensation upon publication, selling out its first print run and gaining critical acclaim nationwide. The popular adventure story follows Buck, a sled dog, whose transformation from a domestic pet to the Alpha male of a pack demonstrates defining American themes such as survival, determination, cunning, and loyalty. This informative volume explores the life and work of Jack London, with a focus on the nature-based themes of pastoralism and wildness within The Call of the Wild. It also includes a selection of modern viewpoints on wilderness and nature, allowing readers to connect the themes of the text to the issues of today's world.

Great Stories in Easy English