Top 5 Books by Jack London (2021)

Jack London (born John Griffith Chaney) is a famous American novelist and journalist. The author is known for his unique style of writing and the diversity of his works, which range from adventure novels and romantic stories to science fiction.

Written more than a century ago, these books are still best-selling. In order to know these works better, here is a list of the top five picks of the best Jack London books. Each masterpiece from this selection is highly ranked on Amazon and has multiple reviews from readers.

Rated List of Best Books by Jack London

Rank	Review	Name	Publication date	Pages	Rating
1		The Call of the Wild View Details	2017	110	9.9
2		White Fang View Details	2017	92	9.8
3		Tales of the North View Details	2009	488	9.6
4		The Sea-Wolf View Details	2019	334	9.4
5		The Scarlet Plague View Details	2020	82	9.2

The Call of the Wild: The Original 1903 Edition

This is one of the best books written by Jack London, which is considered one of his most famous works. It was first published in 1903. The story is narrated from the point of view of the dog named Buck, a 140-lb St. Bernard and Scotch Collie mix. He led a happy life as a pampered pet until the gardener of the family stole him and sold to a stranger to pay off his gambling debts.

After that, the dog had several owners and often was starving and ill-treated. After a series of events, he was taken to Alaska to serve as a sled dog. Buck tried to survive in the Alaskan wilderness during the Klondike Gold Rush. To come out alive, he lost the virtues of civilized life and reverted to a wild state.

White Fang (Chump Change Edition)

White Fang was created as a companion story of The Call of the Wild where the author described the opposite situation. Jack London showed the civilization of a wolfdog in the Yukon Territory during the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1890s, which transformed from wild to tame.

Again, the novel was written from the point of view of an animal. It was published 3 years after The Call of the Wild, in 1906.

As a cub, White Fang was taken from his mother she-wolf. He started his own journey and faced the harsh laws of the North. He examined the violent world of wild animals and the world of people, which was equally violent and where only the fittest survived. Luckily, at the end of the story, White Fang was taken to California where he found a caring and gentle master.

Tales of the North: Nonstop Adventure and Heroic Exploits

If you enjoy reading London’s adventure stories nonstop, opt for this hardcover 488-page edition that includes his 4 greatest novels (The Call of the Wild, White Fang, The Sea-Wolf, and Cruise of the Dazzler) and 15 other famous short stories.

The volume of the book is big enough and allows taking pleasure in multiple stories that depict courageous people and brave animals.

This publication contains original illustrations.

The Sea-Wolf: 1904 Psychological Adventure Novel

The Sea-Wolf is another adventure novel from Jack London. Thanks to the popularity of the earliest novels of the author, the first 40,000 copies of that novel were sold immediately before publication.

The book narrates about the literary critic Humphrey van Weyden who survived after an ocean collision and was rescued by Wolf Larsen, the captain of a seal-hunting schooner. Being cynical and brutal, that man was also highly intellectual and intelligent. Due to his exceptional physical strength, he terrorized the crew and ruled over the ship.

The Scarlet Plague: Jack London’s Classic Work

The Scarlet Plague is a post-apocalyptic novel published in 1912. The story is distant from the universe that most people associate with usual London’s books, which portray oceans, brave men, and beautiful nature.

The action takes place in the 2070s, 60 years after the uncontrollable pandemic, the Red Death, has depopulated the Earth.

The main protagonist James Howard Smith, a former English professor, is one of a few left alive. He recounts the end of civilization talking to his grandchildren. Will these illiterate post-apocalyptic savages be able to re-establish humanity and civilization?

Interesting Facts

While reading a book, you may ask yourself about what inspired the author to create a certain story or if there are any unknown events related to the book. Read some interesting facts about Jack London’s top selection.

These facts may also inspire you to read any from the mentioned books or re-read them again.

Conclusion

The success of Jack London in the literary world dates back a hundred years ago, but his writings still appeal to millions of people worldwide. These stories are based on his own experiences in Alaska, at sea, and in the factories of California. They represent a man whose imagination and wild creativity gave birth to the most thrilling books that were ever written.

Each generation of readers finds something new in these books and learns something about themselves. With this selection, you may find out why this author became so popular.

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