"Strikingly handsome, full of laughter, restless and hard on himself — one of the most attractive and romantic figures of his time."
The city of Oakland loves to drape itself in Jack London and his aura. There is a Jack London Square, a Jack London Street, and many houses with commemorative plaques. Still more of his fame benefits the small town of Glen Ellen in Sonoma — with its Beauty Ranch, today the Jack London State Historic Park. On the way there you pass through Jack London Village, a dreamy five-house hamlet with a beautifully restored water mill.
There is a Jack London Society in Texas, plenty of senior literary scholars teaching Jack-London-studies in universities, and a host of websites — including this one. What keeps London so present, so palpable, despite all this academic appropriation, is the fact that through every success he remained "one of us."
He was born neither in Oakland nor in Glen Ellen but in San Francisco, at 615 Third Street between Bryant and Brannan, on January 12, 1876. The house burned in the 1906 earthquake; a plaque marks the spot anyway. John Griffith London was an illegitimate child, his mother Flora Wellman conceiving him in a relationship with William Chaney — journalist, lawyer, promoter of astrology. Late in 1876 Flora Wellman married John London, a partially disabled Civil War veteran, who adopted Jack.
A boy obsessed with books, life nonetheless took him into harness too early and put him to work in a cannery for more than sixteen hours a day. Barely fourteen, he once worked thirty-six straight hours; his life revolved entirely around the cannery: eat, sleep, go to work. Many of his stories and books would later work through this early childhood trauma.
All I wanted was a quiet place in the country to write and live in the natural; that something we all lack and know nothing of.
By the age of twenty-nine he was internationally famous through The Call of the Wild (1903), The Sea-Wolf (1904), and other literary and journalistic work. He was divorced from Bessie Maddern, his first wife and mother of his two daughters Joan and Little Bess, and married Charmian Kittredge. Between 1900 and 1916 he produced over fifty books — fiction and nonfiction — hundreds of short stories, and countless articles.
On November 22, 1916 — with the United States on the verge of entering the World War — Jack London complained of severe nausea after dinner and left the table. Shortly afterwards he died of gastrointestinal uremia. In his forty years he had suffered from several illnesses, including a kidney insufficiency that was at times excruciating. Nonetheless, until the last day of his life he was full of plans and full of boundless enthusiasm for the future.
Expanded chronology by Tarnel Abbott, great-granddaughter of Jack London.
Born as John Griffith Chaney in San Francisco, son of Astrologer William H. Chaney and Flora Wellman. William Chaney denies fathership and disappears. WhileFlora recuperates from difficulties of childbirth, the infant is suckled by Virginia Prentiss. The wet nurse, who is a former slave, remains close to Jack all of his life. Through Mrs. Prentiss, Flora meets John London.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle The U.S. war against the Indians of the Great Plains (Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho Nations) still being waged, General Custer and 200 soldiers die in the Battle of Little Big Horn Typewriters that work are developed but only type capital letters until 1878 Lewis Carroll writes poem "the Hunting of the Snark" Leo Tolstoy is writing "Ana Karenina" Mark Twain writes "Tom Sawyer"
Flora Wellman Chaney marries Civil war Veteran John London. The infant John Griffith Chaney is renamed John Griffith London, henceforth known as Johnny then Jack.
Withdrawal of Federal troops ends post Civil War "Reconstruction" period in Southern U.S.
John London's daughters, Eliza (age 10) and Ida (age 7) are removed from the orphanage and brought into the household.
Ku Klux Klan unleashes wave of terror against blacks to reassert white power in Southern U.S. Thomas Edison invents phonograph
Jack attends school in Alameda. John works a truck farm, Flora teaches music and kindergarten.
U.S. President James Garfield assassinated Henry James publishes "Portrait of a Lady"
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Robert Louis Stevenson publishes "Treasure Island"
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Explosion of Krakatoa
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European powers continue to carve out colonies in Africa at the "Berlin Conference"
John London purchases a farm in the Livermore Valley. Jack discovers the world of reading and in later years recalls the impact of Washington Irving's THE ALHAMBRA and Ouida's SIGNA on his young mind.
U.S. policy has left only about 2000 bison alive, the main staple of the economy of the Plains Indians, effectively forcing the surviving Indians onto reservations French Artist Henri Tolouse-Lautrec begins work in Paris
Eliza London, Jack's step-sister, marries Captain James Shepard, a widower many years her senior.
Discovery of gold in Transvaal, South Africa Slavery abolished in Cuba Statue of Liberty, a gift from the French unveiled in New York
John London purchases a home on east 17th Street near 23rd Avenue in Oakland. A succession of moves for the family. Jack discovers the wealth of reading available to him through the Oakland Public Library and the guidance of Librarian Ina Coolbrith (later Poet Laureate).
Robert Louis Stevenson publishes "Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
Jack attends Cole Grammar School in West Oakland, befriends Frank Atherton, works as news paperboy
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle' first Sherlock Holmes story published Edison & Swan produce a household electric lamp French "union " of Indochina, colonizing Vietnam & Cambodia. Britain annexes Burma.
Buys a small skiff and teaches himself to sail.
Slavery abolished in Brazil George Eastman produces roll film camera Edward Bellamy popularizes the ideal socialist utopia in his futuristic novel (set in 2000), "Looking Backwards" Vincent Van Gogh paints "Sunflowers" Robert Louis Stevensons sets sail for the South Seas
Works in cannery, pressure of family's poverty leads Jack to frequently work overtime, 18-20 hours at a stretch.
Massacre of Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee by U.S. Cavalry.
Graduates from Cole Grammar School (8th grade). Disgusted with factory drudgery and low wages, turns Oyster pirate; buys sloop "The Razzle Dazzle" with money borrowed from Virginia Prentiss. Becomes a master sailor on San Francisco Bay. Is known as the "Prince of the Oyster Pirates". Eventually becomes disillusioned with pirate life.
Britain claims East & Central Africa; Factory Act prohibits employment of children under age 11 in Britain French artist Paul Gauguin paints in Tahiti Famine in Russia follows crop failure. Construction on Trans- Siberian Railroad begins
John London works as a watchman, the family is living at 971 West Street. Jack hired by Fish Patrol to stop the oyster pirates. Makes a suicide attempt when falls in deep water while drunk but changes his mind. Gives up Fish Patrol, joins a rough gang, is given the moniker " Sailor Kid" learns how to hobo as a "Road Kid".
French occupy Benin, West Africa Ellis Island in New York Harbor is opened by the U.S. government to process immigrants
Family moves to 1321 22nd. Ave. Jack signs on as sailor on the three-masted schooner 'Sophia Sutherland', for a seven month sealing voyage along the coast of Japan and the Behring Sea. After returning to Oakland, works in jute mill for 10 cents per hour. At the urging of his mother, Flora, Jack enters a contest for a descriptive article. His essay:" Story of a Typhoon Off the Coast of Japan", wins first prize ($25.00) in the competition and is published in the San Francisco Call. His competitors include students from Stanford and the University of California. In addition to being his first time published, this is the first time Jack earns money by writing.
U.S. forces depose Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii France annexes Laos, Ivory Coast becomes a French colony New Zealand becomes first country granting women the right to vote Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's "New World Symphony" performed in New York. Norwegian Artist Edvard Munch paints "The Scream"
Works shoveling coal for street railway power plant. Discovers how exploited he has been by doing the work of two men. Joins Kelley's army, the western contingent of "Coxey's Industrial Army of the Unemployed", a group of the unemployed who marched on the capital in Washington D.C. Thousands of other have-nots from all over the United States participated in this trek. Coxey's contingent marched out of Massilon, Ohio (family home of Jack's mother, Flora) with 100 men. Jack keeps diary. Deserts and strikes out on his own. Visits Chicago to see the World's Columbian Exposition, collects mail and money sent by Flora. Spends time in St. Joseph, Michigan with Flora's sister, Mary Everhard who encourages his ideas about writing (later names protagonist of THE IRON HEEL after a cousin: Ernest Everhard ). Roams as a tramp. Arrested for vagrancy in Buffalo, New York, spends 30 days in Erie County jail in violation of his legal rights. In Boston, encounters intellectual, educated hobos who introduce him to the modern world of ideas (Darwin/ Nietzsche/ Marx). Meets Frank Strawn-Hamilton. Learns to think of education as a means to social ascent and socialism as the promise of the future
(Source re JL :JL&HT) French military convicts Dreyfus, a Jewish French military officer, of treason; world wide protest and the efforts of many advocates leads to a new trial-eventually his name is cleared Rudyard Kipling publishes "The Jungle Book"
Returns to Oakland determined to finish High School and go to University. In addition to attending Oakland High School, works as a janitor at the school. Publishes articles and essays in the Aegis, Oakland High School's literary magazine. Out of place among his fellow students "middle class boys and girls". Joins Henry Clay Debating Team. Embarks on intense regimen of self education; becomes friends with Oakland Public Library's Frederick Irons Bamford, Reference Librarian and Fred Jacobs. Bamford and Jack share an interest in socialism, Bamford exposes Jack to the writings of Ruskin, Carlyle, Arnold and Morris. Fred Jacobs while not a socialist, shares the similar experience of working his way through high school. Fred introduces Jack toTed and Mabel Applegarth. Also to his fiancé, Bess Maddern who is going to night school in hopes of entering University. Bess Maddern would later become Jack's first wife. In addition to these new friends, spends time with British socialist Jim Whitaker who teaches him boxing and fencing.
(JL Source:JL&HT¹) Jose Marti leads revolution against Spanish rule in Cuba H.G.. Wells publishes "The Time Machine" French Lumiere brothers first showing of motion pictures
Officially joins the Oakland branch of the Socialist Labor Party. Frustrated and appalled at the idea of two more years of High School, borrows money from step-sister Eliza Shepard to enter "cramming" Academy (a college preparatory academy), but after completing the full two years worth in one semester, the extraordinary student is dismissed and his money refunded in full (he makes the other students look bad, which is bad for business). Begins "cramming" on his own, studies 19 hours a day in preparation for entrance exams at The University of California, Berkeley in August. Is tutored by Bess Maddern in mathematics and Fred Jacobs in physics. Takes and passes University entrance exams, enters University of California, Berkeley and completes first (Fall) semester. Writes first sociological essays, brief stories about his trip to Siberia.
(Source for JL: JL&HT) In response to ongoing Pogroms in Russia and the Dreyfus Affair, Political Zionism founded by Hungarian Theodore Herzl who calls for creation of a Jewish state Ethiopia's independence recognized by Italy
From step relatives, learns to his shock that John London is not his father. Locates and corresponds with William Chaney who refuses to acknowledge his paternity, an even greater shock. Disillusioned with academia, the lack of political sincerity on the part of both the students and the professors, and feeling the pinch of poverty, quits the University. In a test case to challenge the constitutionality of a law which infringed upon free speech, Jack volunteers and is arrested for speaking in public without permission of the mayor. Writes feverishly but unsuccessfully on a borrowed typewriter with only capital letters. Exhausting work in a steam laundry leaves no energy for reading or writing. One of the first who follows the gold rush to Alaska "Grubstaked" (funded) and accompanied by his elderly brother-in- law, Captain James Shepard. Departs aboard the "SS Umatilla" for PortTownsend Washington, then aboard the "City of Topeka " for Juneau Alaska. Warned of the arduous journey ahead (such as the Chilkoot Pass), Shepard returns to Oakland. Step-father John London dies. Struggles to survive, spends winter in cabin in the Klondike, finds no gold, suffers from scurvy. Gains wealth of material for future writing.
(Source for JL :JL&HT) Apache groups continue to battle the U.S. government in resistance to forcible removal to reservations. Bram Stoker publishes Dracula. Mosquito as source of malaria identified by D. Ronald Ross. The Klondike-Goldrush
Travels by rough boat down the Yukon River, makes notes for future writing. Works his way home as a coal stoker. Returns ill and broke to California.Unable to find work, briefly tries prospecting in the California Mountains. Begins writing about the "White Frontier" in the high north. Flora supplements family income of her small pension by teaching music, also takes Johnny Miller, son of John London's daughter, Ida, into her home where he is raised. Jack's friend and Bess Maddern's fiancé, Fred Jacobs enlists and dies enroute to Manilla (Spanish American War) .
Spanish American War, U. S. gains the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico Cuba wins independence from Spain, but is occupied by U.S. military Britain & France claim Egypt Pierre & Marie Curie discover radium
To the Man on Trail published by the "Overland Monthly" for fee of $5.00 Is offered job at the Post Office but turns it down Begins correspondence with Cloudsley Johns, a writer, critic, and an early fan The "Atlantic Monthly", a leading U.S. magazine accepts "An Odyssey of the North" for publication in January 1900 , fee of $40.00. Meets Anna Strunsky, a brilliant and charming Stanford University student of Russian Jewish descent. Their challenging relationship, stimulated by differing opinions, led to co-authorship.
Socialist Labor Party goes through faction al diputes in these years Second trial of French officer Dreyfus sparks international protest Second Boer War begins Composer Jean Sibelius writes symphony "Finlandia"
An Odyssey of the North published in "Atlantic Monthly". Moves household (Flora London and Johnny Miller) to East 15th Street A Son of the Wolf published by Houghton Mifflin. This is London’s first book, a collection of his best short-stories, which is often called the "beginning of the modern American short-story". In a move which surprises many, but fits with his own plans, marries his friend and former tutor, Bessie Maddern on the same day his first book is published, April 7.
Turn of the century Boxer Rebellion in China Famine in India Paris, France: opening of the World Exhibition and the Paris Metro Kodak Brownie Box Camera available for $1.00K Sigmund Freud publishes "The Interpretation of Dreams"
Birth of daughter Joan. Becomes member of the new "Socialist Party". Runs for mayor of Oakland on the Socialst balllot. The God of his Fathers & Other Stories published by McLure, Phillips, second collection of short-stories.
Formation of U.S. Socialist Party Commonwealth of Australia formed Britain's Queen Victoria dies Ashanti Kingdom in Africa annexed by the U.K. U.S. President McKinley assisinated, Theodore Roosevelt becomes president Russia occupies Manchuria Marconi sents first Morse code radio signals across Atlantic
Moves family to semi-rural Piedmont Hills Children of the Frost, another collection of short-stories published by Macmillan Publishes Cruize of the Dazzler (Century)and the novel A Daughter of the Snows (Lippincott) Daughter Bess (later known as Becky) born. Travels to London, one of the wealthest capitals on earth, initially hired as a war-correspondent to write about the Boer War in South-Africa, but the war ends prior to his arrival in London. So he decides to stay and investigates "under cover" the situation of "The People of the Abyss...."
Second Boer War ends Republic of Cuba declared Catastrophic eruption of Mount Pelee buries St. Pierre, Martinique, leaving as the only survivor, a prisoner in the city jail. French laws improve working conditions Italian tenor Enrique Caruso's 1st record sells one million copies Beatrix Potter publishes "The tale of Peter Rabbit"
William Henry Chaney dies in Chicago, Illinois The Kempton-Wace Letters co-authored by Anna Strunsky, published (Macmillan) The Call of the Wild published(Macmillan), London's all-time bestseller, an allegoryi n which a dog abandons civilization and returns to the origins of nature. Sells all rights to publisher for $2000.00 Falls in love with Charmian Kittredge and decides to separate from Bess. Jack moves into Frank Atherton's home in Oakland The People of the Abyss published (Macmillan) With this inflammatory book Jack London discovers the investigative social report as a new genre: Sociology narrated as a gripping account.
Panama gains independence Pogroms in Russia Turkish massacre Bulgarians ending Macedonian uprising Dutch government forces end to strike of railroad and dockworkers by calling in troops Attempting to limit immigration, U.S. imposes $2.00 per person tax on all immigrants Wright brothers invent a successful powered aircraft, first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C. First Ford Model A automobile sold
Hired by Hearst to cover the Russo-Japanese war. Under adventurous circumstances, Jack London, the only Western reporter to do so,reaches the front of the Russian-Japanese war. Faith of Men & Other Stories published(Macmillan) Bessie M. London sues for divorce, on grounds of desertion, Anna Strunksky named in the case. The Sea Wolf published (Macmillan) and becomes book of the season in the US in the following year, 1905.
Russian expansion into Manchuria leads to Russo-Japanese war Helen Keller graduates with honors from Radcliffe College Theodore Roosevelt elected to 4 year U.S. Presidential term Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov experiments with creating "conditioned reflex" in dogs J.M. Barrie's play "Peter Pan" performed
Runs as Candidate for Mayor of Oakland on Socialist ticket receives 981 votes. War of the Classes published (Macmillan) revolutionary essays. The Game published (Macmillan), a novel about boxing. Spends summer at Wake Robin Lodge, Glen Ellen, Sonoma County Tales of the Fish Patrol published (Macmillan) Buys 129 acre Hill Ranch, Glen Ellen Starts thinking about long sea voyage Begins a four-month socialist lecture tour, where Jack London puts foward his essay Revolution again and again. In this essay he calls openly for a coup Divorce from Bessie M. London final. Marries Charmian Kittredge in Chicago,Illinois. Honeymoon in Jamaica and Cuba
Norway gains independence from Sweden Earthquake in India's Lahore province claims 10,000 lives Revolution begins in Russia but is crushed Sinn Fein Party founded in Ireland Albert Einstein formstheory of relativity Group of Expressionist artists, "Die Bruke" form in Germany "Les Fauves" artists Matisse, Braque, Derain, Vlamink and Dufy shock the Paris art world with their wild colors
Begins to build the yacht "Snark" (named after a being in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland). Reports on the San Fancisco earthquake for Collier's Weekly "The Story of An Eye-Witness" published in May 5 edition. Because of the inflated cost of supplies and labor caused by the rebuilding of San Francisco after the earthquake, and the unscupulousness of certain individuals, the cost of the project skyrockets, it becomes a media-event of high interest. The Londons take a brief vacation, horseback trip through Northern California Moon-Face & other Stories published (Macmillan) White Fang published (Macmillan) Scorn of Women published (Macmillan) In the background London writes his "great socialist novel" The Iron Heel...
Spain and France agree to share control of Morocco In France, Dreyfus declared innocent Devastating earthquake in San Francisco levels much of the City Film companies worldwide set up studios in New York City First (voice) radio broadcast
Leaving Charmian's aunt, Ninetta Eames, in charge of the ranch and business affairs the Londons depart for a proposed seven year voyage around the world. The Snark sets sail Discovering that Charmian's Uncle, Sailing Master Roscoe Eames, is incompetent, London teaches himself navigation and arrives safely in Hawaii Stay in Hawwian Islands, Visits and writes of the leper colony of Molokai The Road published (Macmillan) his wonderful account of adventures as a hobo, a colorful painting of his time.
Indian patriot Gandhi leads civil disobedience campaign supporting rights of Indians in South Africa U.S. supports revolution in Nicaragua New Zealand becomes a dominion of the British empire Spanish artist Pablo Picasso creaties the first Cubist painting "Les Damoiselles d' Avignon"
Stay in the south-sea, Hawaii, adventures with headhunters, visit of a leper's colony etc.
Return to California, enforced by desease. Martin Eden, autobiographical novel.
Enlarges his ranch to a model of modern agriculture.
dito; South Seal Tales a.m.
dito; Smoke Bellew , written only for the market but very successful and enyoable return of the Alaska-Theme. Journey on a four-mast vessel round Cape Horn (Basics for "The Mutiny of the Elsinore").
Sinking of the Titanic
On the surface the most successful year. Jack London’s - best money making author of the world -, in his private life a year of catastrophes: alienation form his daughters, troubles with bess, loss of unborn children by Charmian, failures in agricultures, Wolf House burns down. weiter... John Barleycorn , the bible of the Prohibition movement- written by a notorious drinker.
a.o. The Valley of the Moon, a sentimental eulogy of the landlife as escape from proletarian drudgery.
World War I
War correspondent in Mexico. The Star Rover, Novel about re-incarnation and a harsh pillory of punishment in state prisons.
22.11. dies on kidneys failure after 14 hours of agony on his Beauty-Ranch at Glen Ellen, Sonoma-County.
Four places without which the work cannot be thought.
Oakland
Cannery, oyster pirating, Berkeley studies, return.
Klondike
One winter that feeds his entire early work — Call of the Wild, White Fang, To Build a Fire.
The Snark
27-month voyage 1907–1909, Hawaii to the Solomons.
Beauty Ranch & Wolf House
The ranch in Glen Ellen — the Wolf House burned down in 1913 before the Londons could move in.
