Born on 12 January 1876 in San Francisco to a rich single mother, Flora Wellman, he was known by his full name as John Griffith London but later adopted the name "Jack" in his teenage stage. Since his mother became ill, John was raised by an ex-slave woman named Virginia Prentiss. Jack's biological father was named William Chaney, and he was a journalist sheet, but his mother, Flora, later married Jack's stepfather, John London. Jack, his girlfriend, and his stepfather moved to Oakland, where he enrolled in a high school and finished his grade. He later joined the University of California in Berkeley where he sought to know his biological father, Chaney William who denied him claiming that he was impotent. Jack was frustrated when he was disowned by his father. The frustration was traumatizing and affected him greatly making him to drop out of the university and decided to move to Klondike.
In his teenage life, London worked as a casual laborer in several factories in San Francisco, exposing him to hard labor and long working hours to make his ends meet. John then later joined high school when he attained 19 years and trained himself as a writer after becoming a resourceful reader. He started writing jokes, stories and poems after collectively acquiring knowledge from other writing materials and submitted to several publications but never succeed. London joined university although he did not manage to graduate; he continued to study and added the skills on his field of writing. While at the university at Berkeley, Jack London spent his good time in Heinold`s saloon where he met his friends, sailors and adventures like Alexander Mclean who influenced his writing (Lundberg, 33). He later became a prolific journalist and an author after the publications accepted his work thereby producing magnificent works such as “The Call of the Wind” which was celebrated by everyone. London married two wives and the first, Elizabeth Maddem in April 7, 1900 whom they later divorced married his second wife, Charmian Kittredge in 1905. Jack London then died on 22 November 1916 of kidney problem. Although, most sources believed he committed suicide, London in his field of writing inspired many lives hence living a legacy that is membered to the recent years.
The History of Jack London`s work
His stay in Yuko during the 1897 winter season provide London a platform to begin wring his first stories and in 1899, managed to publish his first book “Overland Monthly” that motivated his motive to pass across his message and teachings as a writer. In 1903, he published another book, “The Call of the Winter” that marked his glory in the American literary account. He rose to fame and his work and became a disciplined writer producing at least 500 work (Arthur). Novels, stories, political essays and soothing poems that changed the lives of many. London became successful in his work and attracted the attention of many people; he was the public figure during his era and his work still has great impacts in the modern generation.
The Impact of Jack London in American Literary History
He began his work as a prolific writer in the year 1893 after his life as an adventure, London managed to get home when the distressing sealing voyage weathered and started narrating his tales of the occurrences at the sea to his mother. His mother Flora, who played a critical role in London`s life and his career and termed as a public figure, inspired John to write about his life in Klondike which made him famous. He wrote many inspiring stories and poems that touched almost every aspect of life.
John London rose to fame from his work as an American creative journalist, social activist and a novelist ranked amongst the prominent and first writers to be celebrated across countries and able achieve success of his work in writing. He fought through all difficulties working in hostile environment to make dreams come true, forcing everything to work perfectly in his way. He had rough time to nature his career in writing and refused the nature of the society to pull him down. His literary work had a great impact on the social lives of the American citizens. In his book, “The People of Abyss” published in 1903, London raised his criticism on capitalism and how it relates to poverty. The story changed the attitude of many Americans back in the days who languished in poverty because of their beliefs that those that belong to lower class deserved little in the society while those from high class were entitled to everything. John through the art of writing broke the division that existed between different clusters of life in America and brought the sense of sharing resources and equal treatment (Lachtman). Although myth cropped up depicting London a racialist but in a clear sense, his work brought different ethnic groups together.
John supported the recognition of women identity in the America the time when their voices were never heard in the society. He used women characters in his writing revealing their strength and independent efforts to build the nation. Given that he was weak in managing his wives and daughters, London had respect for women hence his work empowered when and made them feel they had a role to play in the society or the entire state. London took advantage of his title as a public figure during his time to fight against unnecessary prohibitions. He was in the forefront in breaking taboos that limited development in the country; he influenced the establishment of tourism ad in Hawaii. He also reinforced socialism in the American art disputing division amongst different forms of arts and stimulated the connection between writing and movie industries. London became the first writer to be able to incorporate the art of writing and reading into visual, he managed to covert his novels and books into films. For example, “The Sea Wolf,” one of his novels made the ground for the first American full-length movie in the art industry. London also influenced the idea of Art and Design through the construction of his wolf house by use of rocks and lumber (MacGillivray). He managed to transfer the techniques such as manure spreading and terracing from Japan to California because of his love for agriculture, which he practiced in his Ranch in Glen Ellen. London provided a platform on which other writers in American and other parts of the world evolved and succeed; they emulated his efforts, struggle and learnt from his life history in the art of writing. Despite the accusation of plagiarism by other writers of his days, London did not give up on his dream of becoming a creative writer. Through his persistent struggle and perseverance, he achieved his goal and reached as many people across the world.
Jack London Ability to influence American Literary History
London had several factors that led to his substantial influence in American literary history throughout his life since. He was so much concern with the physical surroundings and reflected in most of his writing works. The environment at Klondike really tormented him and he felt that he could make a good story out of it. London believed that putting his life history on a paper would serve as a motivation to people who strive in life and make his writing work real. He developed story structure from what he heard, saw and touched himself in the pangs of Klondike. He always incorporated what he got from the newspaper, tales from people, rumors circulating around and borrowed story structures to come up with his own written story plots (London 12). He somehow faced criticisms that his work was full of plagiarism, but he used the victimization to correct his mistakes and fine up his work. He faked things around until he made it through. He began his work as a prolific writer in the year 1893 after his life as an adventure, London managed to get home when the distressing sealing voyage weathered and started narrating his tales of the occurrences at the sea to his mother. His mother Flora, who play a critical role in London`s life and his career and termed as a public figure, inspired John to write about his life in Klondike which made him famous. He wrote many inspiring stories and poems that touched almost every aspect of life.
London had strong perception about the way things were conducted in the society and rose against those that he felt were not right. The ego and individualism influenced greatly his success as a writer. He was one man who would stand alone to dispute taboos and wrong cultural beliefs that he strongly believed would ruin the growth of art industry in future. Despite his support to Communal Darwinism and logical racism during his day, London maintained his protection against the exploitation of American rich culture and felt that separation between the ethnic groups will have a negative impact on the growth socialism (Gid). London however faced the critical challenges on his writing, he had perceived some issues in different perspective but he was limited to the norm of life in his days. Therefore, London was forced to write his stories basing on what people wanted at the time, which made him seen as a racist.
In summary, it is worth noting that jack seemed complex in his work but his standard on issues brought a great positive impact on the literary history not only in America but also in other parts of the world. Through London`s writing work, a good number of people have had wide range of experience and have learnt different techniques of surviving in either environment. The name of Jack London and the changes he made in art industry remained painted in peoples’ minds even after his mysterious death.
Bibliography
Arthur, Calder-Marshall. The Bodley Head Jack London. London: Bodley Head, 1966. Print.
Gid, Powers Richard. The Science Fiction of Jack London: An Anthology. Boston: Gregg, 1975. Print.
Lachtman, Howard. Young Wolf: The Early Adventure Stories of Jack London. Capra: Santa Barbara, 1984. Print.
London, Charmian K. The First Story Written for Publication. First Edit. California: Jacklondon Press, 1922. Print.
Lundberg, Murray. “The Life of Jack London as Reflected in His Works.” An Explore`s Guide to the North 6.2 (2007): 274–281. Web.
MacGillivray, Don. Captain Alex MacLean. Second Edi. Washington D.C.: University of Washington Press, 2009. Print.
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