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Jack London was a prolific writer, one of the most widely read American writers of the early 20 th century. During his short life, he wrote fifty books, plus many articles and short stories. Besides being one of the most widely read authors, he was also the highest-paid. However, Jack London did not spend all of his time writing. Besides being an author, he also was a gold prospector, a homeless, a pirate, a sailor, and a factory worker. London was determined to live an adventurous life: I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time. (Parks and Recreation) This attitude fueled Jack London s daring life. But his brash spirit eventually lead to his demise.
London lived a short life, dying at age 40. He was known to be strikingly handsome and was a celebrity. His passionate writings were famous for his ideas on the struggle of survival and the questions of death. London s novels were usually based on nature and adventure, coming from real life experiences, which appealed to millions of readers. Jack London was born on January 12, 1876 in San Francisco, California.
The relationship between his mother, Flora Wellman, and his father, William Chaney, ended while Flora was pregnant. He was given the name, John Griffith Chaney. Later in her life, Flora remarried to John London. At age ten, John Chaney changed his name to Jack London.
Growing up, Jack thought that John London was his father. The London family was very poor, John being a door-to-door salesman. Unable to make a living in San Francisco, they moved to Oakland, where they leased a farm. There in Oakland, Jack began to develop his mind at school.
Unfortunately, also in Oakland was Jack s first experience with alcohol. At age seven, Jack began drinking his stepfather s beer, which lead to his problem of alcoholism. Later in his life, he wrote of his problem of alcoholism in one of his most influential books, John Barleycorn. When Jack was ten, he developed a passion for reading, visiting the Oakland Public Library nearly every day. Four years later, Jack was forced to work at a local cannery, due to his family s poor financial situation.
The harsh work was an experience he would never forget, working 18 -hour days on pay of ten cents per hour. At the age of 15, Jack borrowed $ 300 from his old wet nurse, and purchased a boat, the Razzle Dazzle. Jack abandoned his job and set out, becoming an oyster pirate. Two years later, he joined a crew of sailors, voyaging the Pacific. In 1894, Jack became a hobo, due to unemployment. In dire need of money, he set out for the Klondike, trying his luck at gold mining.
In the two years that he spent in the North, he didn t come back with a fortune of gold, but he did return with a wonderful experience, which would become a wealth of material for his novels and short stories. In 1900, London married Bess Modern. Together they had two daughters, but things became stressed and they divorced. In 1905, London married again, this time to Chairman Kittredge. He and Charmaian embarked on several daring voyages, including some on his boat, the Snark. Jack London died on November 22, 1916 in Glen Ellen, California from uremia.
His kidneys did not function properly and accumulated toxins, ultimately killing him.
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Research essay sample on Jack London San Francisco
