Jack London: 1876-1916

Jack London was born on January 12, 1876 in San Francisco. He was deserted by his father and raised in Oakland by his mother.

London's youth was marked by poverty. At the age of ten he became an avid reader, and borrowed books from the Oakland Public Library.

After leaving school at the age of 14, London worked as a seaman, rode in freight trains as a hobo and adopted socialistic views as a member of the protest armies of the unemployed.

Without having much formal education, London spent much time in public libraries, and at the age of 19 was admitted to the University of California in Berkeley. During this period he had already started to write.

London left the university before the year was over and went to seek a fortune in the Klondike gold rush of 1897. His attempt was unsuccessful. He spent the winter near Dawson City. In the spring he returned to San Francisco his notebook full of plans for stories. For the rest of 1898 London again tried to earn his living by writing.

In 1901 London ran unsuccessfully on the Socialist party ticket for mayor of Oakland. He steadily produced novels, nonfiction, and short stories, becoming one of the most popular authors in his lifetime.

In 1902 London went to England, where he studied the living conditions in East End and working class areas of the capital city.

London had purchased in 1910 a large tract of land near Glen Ellen in Sonoma County, and devoted his energy and money improving and enlarging his Beauty Ranch. He also traveled widely and reported on the Mexican revolution.

Debts, alcoholism, illness, and fear of losing his creativity darkened the author's last years. He died on November 22, 1916