The Call of the Wild, White Fang & To Build a Fire (Modern Library Classics)

These three stories are amongst London's best fictional works- some say they *are* the best, especially, "The Call of the Wild" and "White Fang", it all depends on one's taste, of course, but rest assured, these stories are gripping and the intrigue of their moving plots keeps one glued to the book.As a freind once said of "Call..." and "...Fang": "These are just about the two doggone best [canine] stories I have ever had the pleasure to read!". Indeed.All three stories are set in Alaska during the gold rush days of the late 1800's and London spent time there to absorb the feeling of this beautiful, but unforgiving land. He is so descriptive of the landscape, one feels like they are there themselves. This is the magic of London's writing- he so expertly drops the reader right into the scenery and the characters. Indeed, we see and feel what they see and feel- even the animals- especially, the animals, for they have personalities that engage and create both sympathy and admiration for their trials, tribulations and triumphs. London is one of those that the measure of literary genius is judged by and taking in just about any of his works will demonstrate why.The basic storyline of the "The Call of the Wild" has a dog named "Buck" who is living in a comfortable setting in California, suddenly yanked away by black-market dog thieves who are selling them to the ravenous needs of the gold prospector's supply market where they are then pressed into the tortuous dogsled industry. Buck eventually gets free and joins his native soul-brothers, the wolves. From the human world back to his ancestral roots, hence, the calling of the wild instinct."White Fang" is the antithesis of Buck`s situation: a wolf pup raised partly by Indians, wolves, and eventually being absorbed all the way into the human world... you guessed it, in California where he settles into the same basic comfortable world that Buck was torn from. The tale of how that turn-of-events happens is as engaging as Buck's story."To Build A Fire" is a very short read and describes a man and the unforgiving, harsh winter of the Alaskan outback. He finds himself trapped by an intense snow storm and soon realizes that this normally easy trek is turning dangerous. What will happen? London skillfully gives us the psychological drama of harsh realities setting in.For those that have not yet taken in any of London's work, this book is a good place to start. One might then want to take in more, including London's non-fictional work.

TO BUILD A FIRE is a moving and powerful story. Did you ever, maybe, wonder why or how you came about a decision ??

This book has "The Call of the Wild", White Fang", and "To Build a Fire", all three great classics. I bought this for my Grandson, who learned just a little bit about it in school. I want him to read something out of his normal Harry Potter, Wings, and Dragons, etc. I also got the book "The Very Best of Robert Service". He has many great stories of the far north, such as "The Cremation of Sam McGee", and many others. I thought they would go together well and spark an interest in trying out other types of books. Very pleased with both books.

If you haven't read these stories since high school, do your self a favor and read them again. Great stories and well written.

I got this version for my daughter, who has to annotate her reading for school (and thus needs to write in a book). I was looking for one that was relatively inexpensive and got this one. I am very happy with the purchase.The books are classic Jack London - Call of the Wild documenting the transformation of a tame dog into a wild one, and White Fang moving the opposite direction. These were some of my most loved books as a teenager and I still have almost all the detail in my head. Interested in adventure in the wilderness? These are highly recommended.

I got 2 of these books as I do volunteer tutoring at the local elementary school. This year, one of my "students" is a 4th grade boy. We established our very own 2-person Book Club and read the same book and then discuss it when we meet each week. I love that books like this have re-kindled an interest in reading for him. Because if you can enjoy reading, you can take yourself anywhere in our wonderful world.

Wonderful to reread old classics from my childhood

LOVE this book - read it years ago & loved it - had to have my own copy. Its a great story, especially if you love dogs.

I had read small portions of The Call Of The Wild in school, MANY years ago. Reading the stories in this hard-to-put-down book was an absolute pleasure. I learned much about another aspect of our Canadian history through the eyes of Jack London, a brilliant writer.

Good book ..but the print is small for kids toread and no pictures or illustration to make it fun while reading

One of the truly great books

It's a great book. However the cover and the pages basically the book itself doesn't appear to be sturdy enough to carry in my backpack and read it in the metro daily.

Classic