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Jack London. Jack London was a prolific writer, one of the most widely read
American writers of the early 20th century. During his ...
Jack London. Scott ... In 1905, while living with Charmian in Glen Ellen, California,
Jack London decided to settle permanently there. In ...
Jack London. Scott ... In 1905, while living with Charmian in Glen Ellen, California,
Jack London decided to settle permanently there. In ...
Jack London. "I wrote ... style. Jack London descended from the family of his mother
Flora and astrologer and journalist William Chaney. The ...
Jack London Stories, The Red O. The Red One Jack London was one of
America’s greatest authors. His works were of tales from the ...
Submitted by flyinion on December 18, 2007
Category: Biographies
Words: 1080 | Pages: 5
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Jack London
The story of Jack London’s life really is one of rags to riches. He was born in San Francisco on January 12, 1876 as John Griffith Chaney. I’d like to take you through the story of his life and examine a few of his significant literary works along the way.
The Dictionary of Literary Biography Volume 78 says that “the biographical consensus is that his father was William Henry Chaney, a "Professor of Astrology" with whom his mother, Flora Wellman, was living as a fellow spiritualist and common-law wife in 1875.” (DOLB 78). However it goes on to point out that “Chaney had deserted her in a rage of denial when he learned of her pregnancy” (DOLB 78). In 1876 Flora married John London. John was a Civil War veteran. He was also a widower who had to put his two daughters into an orphanage while he worked. Upon their marriage the Dictionary of Literary Biography Volume 212 says that “Flora’s child was renamed John "Jack" Griffith London” (DOLB 212).
After marrying John the new family moved to Oakland California. When this happened Jack was introduced to the world of books by visiting the Oakland Public Library. He began reading at a young age because he was a lonely child. One of his favorite books was Ouida's Signa. Signa is the story of a great Italian Composer who rose to fame from being the illegitimate son of a peasant girl. Perhaps this story inspired Jack in some way as he also rose from a similar status, though he composed works of literature instead of music.
His mother had a bad habit of wasting money on get rich quick schemes. Because of this, even as a boy Jack was forced to do part time work to help support the family. He held a wide range of jobs. Some were simple and part time like being a newspaper delivery boy. After finishing grade school however, he went to work at a cannery. He worked up to “eighteen hours a day at ten cents an hour stuffing pickles into jars” (DOLB 78). That...
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