Jack London Books & Movies

Wandering the rows of books always makes me feel excited. It's like I'm one of those Victorian era explorers, pushing my way through the dense jungle as I seek something new and undiscovered. I move forwards carefully, looking for signs of something wonderful hidden around me, hoping to unearth a treasure. And then I'll have a coffee.
That's how I would describe my average quest for a new book to read. I venture into a bookstore, thrilled at the prospect of finding a gem, and prowl the shelves with the expectation that there is something wonderful there, I just need to spot it. I enjoy the musky smell of paper books and relish the experience of turning each page, not knowing what I will encounter with every flip.

But like all great adventures, there are perils. Most dreaded is the risk that I will find nothing at all and go home empty handed. But that's not as bad as it might sound. Thanks to a vast reservoir of books that I know I will enjoy. That reservoir is the online treasure trove of books by the great Jack London.

A whole new series of adventures opened up for me when I realized that I could find the books of one of my favorite authors online. Not only that, but I could get those books instantly and for free! Read on and you'll be able to enjoy those same experiences for yourself.

Jack London (1876-1916), famed adventurer, journalist, explorer, social activist, oyster pirate and American author has provided us with some of the most exciting adventure books available on Kindle. And the best part is, they are 100% free to download and read!

Jack wrote with an engaging realism that was so captivating because his fictional works were largely based on his own, real life experiences. London's life was filled with colorful deeds and extreme hardships, including a thirty day stint in jail that was so degrading that it became one of the defining moments of his life.

Download Jack London books for your kindle FOR FREE from the links below.

Jack London was clearly a lover of dogs as is evidenced in the number of books he wrote that prominently featured canine protagonists including Jerry of the Islands, Michael, brother of Jerry, White Fang and the much loved The Call of the Wild. While I never thought I would, nor even could, enjoy any novel written from the point of view of an animal, I genuinely enjoyed these books. In particular I found Jerry of the Islands charming and heart warming.

But, as has so often been done, it is easy to get wrapped up in the almost child like appeal of these adventure stories and overlook the brilliance of the writing. In these novels, London demonstrates his masterful skills as a storyteller and we become completely wrapped up in the story and the protagonist, quickly and completely forgetting that our hero is a dog!

This 1935 screen adaptation of one of Jack London's most famous novels, The Call of the Wild, is my favorite movie based on London's work. Clark Gable, as Jack Thornton, is funny and magnetic, a true leading man. Trivia: while they were working together on this movie, Clark Gable and Loretta Young had a fling that resulted in a daughter out of wedlock.

Charlton Heston can do no wrong in my opinion so when he's given such rich and exciting material as Jack London's The Call of the Wild, the results are screen magic. I first saw this movie as a young boy and found it to be a little disturbing to be honest. The scene where the dog has to pull the sled made a powerful impression on me. Interestingly, Charlton Heston was not a fan of this movie.

White Fang is the companion novel to London's best known work The Call of the Wild. Set in the rough and tumble days of the Klondike gold rush in the Yukon Territory of Canada at the end of the 19th century, this narrative follows the life of White Fang, a dog-wolf mix. Written largely from the point of view of Fang, this compelling tale will change the way you look at and interact with your own pets.

Jack's classic adventure novel has been expanded into a TV series suitable for the whole family. Set against the backdrop of the magnificent Rocky Mountains, this series narrates the exciting experiences of a wolf-dog and his human companion, a teenager played by Jamiz Woolvett. A truly wonderful boy and his dog story.

This animated series, based on Jack London's book is a great way to get your children interested in literary classics. In this four-episode collection a 12 year old girl, Wendy, and a wolf-husky mix, White Fang, share thrilling adventures in Alaska's rugged Klondike territory. Together they explore the wilderness, encounter wolf packs, gold thieves, American Indians, otter poachers, treacherous avalanches and much more.

Now we've come to my personal favorite, The Sea Wolf. Inspired by Jack's own experiences when, in 1893, he signed on to the sealing schooner Sophie Sutherland, bound for the coast of Japan. This amazing tale of high seas thrills and drama is an absolute must read for anyone and everyone. Part adventure tale, part psychological thriller, this book ranks among the very best sea stories ever written.

The antagonist, Wolf Larsen, is the brutal, amoral captain of the sealing vessel Ghost and proves the old maxim that great villains make great entertainment. Wolf is such a savage, fearful creature that he should always appear at the top of any 'greatest fictional villains' list. What makes this character even more exciting is that he is based on an actual person, Captain Alex MacLean (see link further down the page).

If you appreciate great literature and thrilling tales, download The Sea Wolf for your Kindle (it's free!) Jack London's stellar talent has never been more incandescent than the blistering drama etched onto these pages. It's a book you will find yourself reading over and over again for years to come.

Read all about the real life mariner that Jack London based his electric character, Wolf Larsen, on in another free book from Don MacGillivra. His name was Captain Alex MacLean and his tale is another great salty yarn for all fans of action and stories of the 7 seas.

Read a sample of this book HERE.