Jack London
(John Griffith) (1876-1916)Jack London
(John Griffith) (1876-1916)Jack London, whose life symbolized the power of will, was the most successful writer in America in the early 20th Century. His vigorous stories of men and animals against the environment, and survival against hardships were drawn mainly from his own experience. An illegitimate child, London passed his childhood in poverty in the Oakland slums. At the age of 17, he ventured to sea on a sealing ship. The turning point of his life was a thirty-day imprisonment that was so degrading it made him decide to turn to education and pursue a career in writing. His years in the Klondike searching for gold left their mark in his best short stories; among them, The Call of the Wild, and White Fang. His best novel, The Sea-Wolf, was based on his experiences at sea. His work embraced the concepts of unconfined individualism and Darwinism in its exploration of the laws of nature. He retired to his ranch near Sonoma, where he died at age 40 of various diseases and drug treatments.
Information about Jack London's literature can be found by calling or writing Winnie Kingman at the Jack London Book Store at (707) 996-2888, located at 14300 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, CA 95442. They'll soon have a working Web Site. (I will provide the URL link when established.)
The
Jack
London State Historical Park web site is maintained by the Parks and
Recreation in Sonoma.
Jack
London LodgeThe last saloon stands in the heart of Glen Ellen. Along with the classic late 1800's bar is a charming motel filled with artist's touch of antiques and a setting fit for a wedding. Within the main building is the Calabazas Creek Cafe, an excellent restaurant frequented by locals. Room reservations can be made by calling (707) 938-8510, restaurant at 996-4401 and the bar at 996-3100.
Should anyone or group wish to list an upcoming or annual event, please let me know and I will start a calendar.
November 8th, 1997: Well, I'm on my way to Isla de Cozumel for about three months of scuba diving with Aldora Divers. I should be back about mid-February, unless I'm having too good of a time. You can email me, Jim McLeod, alias the Webmaster, and with any luck, I'll try to get back to you within a week.
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